New York Jets Must Dominate in Trenches to Beat New England Patriots

By Greg Sulik @GregSulik on October 16, 2014

The New York Jets couldn’t be facing the New England Patriots at a worse time. The Jets are on a five game losing streak, the first they’ve experienced under Rex Ryan. Tom Brady will be the fifth Pro Bowl quarterback the Jets have faced in six weeks, with former No. 1 overall pick Matthew Stafford as the only “break”. The Patriots are a two game win streak after their own mini-crisis, and they look like the dominant Patriots everyone remembers. Making matters worse, the Jets are on the road on a short week and just lost two starters to season ending injuries.

So, is there any way the Jets can pull off the improbable upset? Actually there is, and it starts in the trenches. The Pats may be better than the Jets in almost every aspect of the game, but the Jets have one major advantage: their defensive line versus the Patriot offensive line. The interior of the Patriots’ line has been in flux in all season, and the team has yet to find a combination that works. At tackle, Nate Solder and Sebastian Vollmer have played below their past standards (especially Solder), and they look vulnerable.

Muhammad Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson, and the rest of the Jets’ defensive line must be on top of their game this week. Damon Harrison is capable of dominating the interior of the Patriots’ line and shutting down the run game, something he was able to do last year as the Patriots rushed for 90 and 54 yards in their two matchups with the Jets. The Pats also just lost Stevan Ridley for the year, and the Jets have the ability to completely take away the run.

The Jets are also tied for second in the NFL in sacks, and they will be looking to get pressure on Brady. The most success the Jets have had against Brady in the past is when they’ve been able to pressure him and move him around, something they were able to do to Peyton Manning last week for much of the game. Look for Wilkerson and Richardson to attack the guards and try to get pressure in Brady’s face quickly, forcing him to get rid of the ball early or flushing him out of the pocket.

If Quinton Coples is ever going to have a breakout game for the Jets, this would be the week to do it. He, Calvin Pace, and Jason Babin will have the opportunity to beat Solder and Vollmer off the edge and add to the pressure on Brady. Rex Ryan will be sure to mix in plenty of blitzes, something that has worked in the past. The Jets have been able to rattle Brady in the past, and they have to do that again this week.

Even if the Jets dominate this game up front, they could still end up losing. However, they won’t have any chance of winning without a dominant performance from the defensive line, and it is time for Wilkerson & Co. to prove why they should be considered among the best defensive lines in football.

The Jets desperately need this win if they are going to have any hope of saving their season, and they must dominate in the trenches in order to have a shot at pulling the upset.

Greg Sulik is a New York Jets writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @GregSulik or add him to your network on Google