New England @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 22, 2019 ) N.Y. Jets 14, New England 30

The New York Jets were among the teams victimized in the red-hot start by the New England Patriots, who breezed to a 30-14 victory during the first meeting between the AFC East rivals in Week 3. The Jets will get a chance to avenge that defeat and hand the Patriots their first loss when they host the reigning Super Bowl champions on Monday Night Football.

New York was forced to go with third-string quarterback Luke Falk and was totally outclassed in the first matchup, but it hopes to turn the tables with starter Sam Darnold back in the lineup. "He's a good quarterback," New England coach Bill Belichick said of Darnold. "We saw him at the end of the year last year. He can make all the throws. Big, strong kid." The Patriots suffocated the Jets on Sept. 22, allowing only 105 total yards in posting their seventh straight win in the series, and have yet to permit more than 14 points. “I think for us, when you get locked in on trying to break the dynasty or tear them down, that’s when you start losing control of yourself,” Darnold said of not placing too much emphasis on the revenge factor versus New England, which has not played since beating the New York Giants on Oct. 10.

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Patriots -9.5. O/U: 44

ABOUT THE PATRIOTS (6-0): Tom Brady has been intercepted in each of his last three games and failed to throw for a touchown in two of them, but he finished with 306 yards and a pair of scores in the first meeting as New England opened a 30-point lead before New York scored a pair of defensive TDs. New England ranks second to Carolina with 25 sacks and leads the league in points (8.0) and total yards allowed (234.7) while limiting opponents to 73.7 yards on the ground. Wideout Josh Gordon (knee/ankle) is not expected to play Monday, but Julian Edelman is coming off consecutive 100-yard games and had seven catches for 62 yards and a touchdown in Week 3.

ABOUT THE JETS (1-4): Darnold missed three games due to mononucleosis but returned to the lineup last week and guided New York to its first victory, throwing for 338 yards and a pair of scores in a 24-22 victory over visiting Dallas. New York was limited to 128 total yards in a Week 5 loss at Philadelphia, but Darnold jump-started the offense by connecting with wideouts Robby Anderson and Jamison Crowder for a combined 11 receptions for 223 yards and a score. Running back Le'Veon Bell finally scored his first rushing TD last week but averages only 51.2 yards, including 35 on 18 carries at New England. The Jets have mustered only seven sacks in five games.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Brady has eight TDs and zero interceptions in his last three games against New York.

2. Jets S Jamal Adams, coming off a season-high nine tackles, had a 61-yard pick-six in Week 3.

3. Patriots RB James White has at least six receptions in three straight games.

PREDICTION: Patriots 26, Jets 18