Jets Community Leader Angel Navedo and Patriots Community Leader Mike Dussault had another email conversation this week to discuss Thursday’s battle for sole possession of first place in the AFC East.
Their analysis and insights into what it will take for their respective teams to pull out the win and take a major step toward the playoffs below:
MD - Alright Angel, our teams took care of business on Sunday, setting up a battle on Thursday night that will go a long way toward determining who wins the AFC East.
But first, I have to say I am pretty disappointed in your Jets for running up the score on the hapless Rams.
Why couldn't you guys just let them stay close like we did? If the Pats learned anything from 2007, it's that it's really classless to run up the score—and karma comes back to bite you. I hope you're happy with yourself for doing that to the poor Rams.
AN - I don't think we ran up the score at all. Brett Favre was benched for Kellen Clemens in the fourth quarter. The Jets took a knee to kill the clock while inside the five, and they even settled for a few field goals throughout the game. Personally, I think it could've been a lot uglier.
MD - Alright, I'll buy it. From all the highlights I've seen, I still can't figure out where you guys got 49 points anyway.
AN - I was at the game, and it still feels kind of unreal with how many points they put up. It all happened so quickly.
MD - As for my Pats, the score against the Bills wasn't as close as it seemed. Our run defense was rock-solid yet again. I like our chances to prevent Thomas Jones from another three-TD day.
AN - The game may not have been close, but the fact that your guys had to play four quarters of football to secure the win could work against them in a short week.
I wouldn't expect Jones to run for three touchdowns again, but we have to wonder how fatigued your guys are going to be after two tough games and a short week.
MD - Well, after the offense's 19-play drive in the fourth quarter that closed out the game, I'm not too worried about our defense being that tired. Plus, you’re guys are the ones who have to get on a plane—even if it is a short flight.
On the other side of the ball, Matt Cassel has been running the offense with great efficiency and continues to get better each week. They are converting third downs, sustaining long drives, and are starting to finish with touchdowns once they get in the red zone more consistently.
AN - Cassel is definitely playing with a lot more confidence. His mobility added a dynamic to the Pats' offense that never existed with Brady. His touchdown run against Buffalo was a really heads-up play that he might not have made in Week Two.
MD - The first time we faced each other was in the wake of Brady's injury. The game was a tight battle that came down to the end. I'm sure this one will be the same way. What are your Jets doing now that they weren't doing in Week Two?
AN - The operative term there is, "Week Two." My Jets were still working on making sense of the playbook. The chemistry wasn't totally there yet. The offense was still fairly basic while Favre adjusted.
Yes, it was Cassel's first start—but he's been in the system for years and was surrounded by winners that were talented enough to keep him on his feet.
MD - Well, being "in the system" is one thing, not having played in a real game since high school is another. I think the fact that everyone was considering the Patriots as dead in the water after Brady went down went a long way toward how well they played.
No team can handle adversity like the Pats.
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