The New England Patriots have dominated the AFC East for what feels like an eternity. That means teams like the New York Jets largely have to endure two crushing losses a year and not get anywhere near the division title.
However, with Tom Brady out, the Patriots have fallen down the rankings. With Aaron Rodgers joining the Jets, Green seems to have a chance for revenge.
But Rodgers won’t be on the field when the two teams meet in Week 3. Instead, center will be Zach Wilson.
How will this impact this Sunday’s game? And, at the most basic level, how do you watch the game?
Let’s break it down.
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How to watch Patriots vs. Jets game
When NFL schedule makers sit down to draft the season, they may already have New England’s trip to New York on the calendar. Although major injuries changed the game’s dynamics, it still dominated the broadcasts.
CBS will carry the action live when the AFC East rivals take the field at 1 p.m. ET. The network’s top duo, Jim Nantz and Tony Romo, will be on the call to talk about the hype Rodgers brings to the game.
If you want to tune in, even if No. 8 is out, there are still options. Users outside CBS markets can watch the game on NFL+, FuboTV or NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV. Interested fans can watch the film on Paramount+.
Can the Patriots win a game against an easier opponent?
The New England Patriots have been one of the top teams in the NFL since the turn of the new century. Now, however, fate is a little different.
The club has not appeared in the playoffs since 2021 and started the 2023 season with two losses. While there are some mitigating factors — the Eagles and Dolphins are tough foes, and New England looked decent in both games — the score is still 0-2 in the standings.
It would be naive to say that Patriots head coach Bill Belichick’s job is in jeopardy, but the way the season unfolds could still affect the future of the club. The series is no longer in dynasty mode. Can this team make some improvements to push for a playoff spot? Or is it finally time to tear it down and start rebuilding?
One game against the Jets won’t provide that answer alone, but it can start to connect the dots. New York’s defense will test Patriots quarterback Mac Jones’ ability to handle the heat, not to mention his mastery of Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien’s principles. And, considering Rodgers is missing the Jets offense, we’ll see if the Patriots defense can be a real game-changer.
The answers to these questions will tell us where the team currently stands. This, in turn, will help light the way forward.
Can Wilson and the Jets offense perform well?
At this point, we know New York’s defense can handle things. But at the end of the day, you have to score points to win football games.
This is where Zach Wilson comes into play.
You could forgive the quarterback for his inconsistent performance in Week 1. He couldn’t have predicted Rogers’ collapse, and getting into emotional entanglements isn’t easy. His performance in Week 2 – 12 of 27 passes for 170 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions – wasn’t much better, but the Cowboys’ defense did leave the Giants blank a week ago.
Now, Wilson will take on the Patriots. Their defense is strong, but New England still gave up 49 points in its first two games of the season.
To do that, the New York offense just needs to find a way to move the ball and score. The defense can carry the day, but ultimately Wilson and company have to take care of things.
A matchup against the Patriots’ solid but human defense is the perfect time to prove they can do that. If they can’t, Rodgers’ absence will become increasingly acute.
Patriots vs. Jets Betting Lines, Over/Under
When you consider the quarterback matchup between Mac Jones and Zach Wilson, the Week 3 game seems both flat and evenly matched. Oddsmakers seem to agree with the second part of that equation.
As of Tuesday, FanDuel Sportsbook had the Patriots as a slim 2.5-point favorite. The over/under was set at 37, indicating that the game was expected to be a defensive struggle rather than a penalty shootout.
