Who: Patriots at Jets (-1.5)
When: 4:15PM ET
Where: Meadowlands, E. Rutherford, NJ
TV: CBS/DirecTV 714
Radio: ESPN 1050, WABC 770, NFL FieldPass
Webstream?: Justin.tv
Weather: Partly Sunny – 92° F
Links: TJB Chat | ESPN Intel Report | NFL Game Center

I’m heading to the stadium soon. I’ll write more later tonight or tomorrow!

The Jets come home Week 2 for their home opener for the third year in a row against the New England Patriots.  It’s the first big hurdle for this Jets team to see how really good they are.  With Matt Cassel starting for the injured Tom Brady, many fans have been licking their chops about this matchup.  This lion might be wounded, but it’s still a lion.

Storylines to consider today …

Jazz versus Orchestra — Brett Favre, the guy who likes to improvise is going up against one of the most disciplined defensive minds ever.  Can Favre prevail or will Belichick scheme him into submission?  If Favre can buy time for his receivers downfield, I think he could see some big gains, but the Patriots front seven is re-vamped and will likely be pinning their ears back today to help their teammates in the secondary out as much as they can.

Jets Run Offense v. Pats Run Defense - We saw some idea of how this running game could look this year.  But this week the team plays against a much better unit.  Pushing Wilfork off the ball will be key.  When the Jets beat the Patriots in 2006 pounding the ball was an important piece of beating that defense, which means a lot of Thomas Jones.  Against the Patriots, Leon has had some big breakers on passes and gadgets, but struggled in the run at times, which he seems to do against 3-4s.  Today the Jets face another 3-4 so Leon might not be helpful, unless they can open holes in the middle of the field and run away from ILB Jerod Mayo.

Jets Pass Offense v. Pats Pass Defense -  This seems to be the biggest advantage that the Jets have right now.  A seasoned Quarterback with loads of experience against a shaky pass defense.  Damon Huard picked it apart last weekend, can Brett Favre?  You would sure hope so.  If it’s a close game late though and the Jets just can’t seem to get the running game going, if the Jets can’t continue to move the chains and keep the clock running, it might very well be the Jets undoing.

Jets Run Defense v. Pats Run Offense – Logic would lead you to think that the Patriots will run the ball early a lot to get Cassel comfortable … and they very well might.  All the same, the ground game will have to be a big part of this win, bigger than the run Brady has led this team on, so expect to see a more physical game in the trenches.  The Jets have the personnel to stop it, it’s a question of whether they can execute on it.

Jets Pass Defense v. Pats Pass Offense – Pressure, pressure, pressure.  Tom Brady succumbed to it in the playoffs, you’d have to think that Matt Cassel would too.  The Jets had four sacks last game, a total which took them weeks last year to hit.  The Jets can and will bring the pressure early in this game on Cassel.  The longer he has the ball in his hands, the more likely he is to find Randy Moss deep or Wes Welker in the middle of the field.  Don’t allow him to get comfortable or to get time.  If the Chiefs without Jared Allen can get two sacks on this team, you’d imagine the Jets could do a lot worse.  The Running Backs and Tight Ends should see a lot of catches, but at the corners, Randy and Darrelle will be seeing a lot of each other, but look at the slot matchup to be the real determiner as to how this passing game goes.

Tale of the Tape

	QB	RB/FB	WR/TE	OL	DL	LB	CB	S

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