6 rings: 3 key matchups to watch in Patriots vs. Jets on Sunday
We made it. Week 18.
The Patriots are a measly 4-12 as they enter their final game of 2023, ironically enough against Bill Belichick's loathed New York Jets as the head coach tries to keep his job.
As we do every week, both here at WEEI.com and on the 6 Rings and Football Things podcast feed, here's a look at three crucial clashes to keep an eye on in this weekend’s Pats vs. Jets season finale at Gillette Stadium:
- Quinnen Williams vs. Patriots interior offensive line
Starts with the pass rush,” Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said on Wednesday morning when running through their opponent in the Jets this weekend. “They have a really good defensive line – a lot of tackles for loss, a lot of pressure on the quarterback and had a lot of impressive defensive stats in games.”
He’s right. It starts with the pass rush, and it starts with their dominant defensive tackle in Quinnen Williams.
Arguably the best player in Sunday’s game Williams has tallied 38 tackles, two sacks, a fumble recovery, and an interception in just 10 games played this season. And while his numbers are down, he’s coming off of a 2022 where he recorded 12 sacks, 55 tackles, two forced fumbles, and was a First-Team All-Pro.
Protecting quarterback Bailey Zappe from the former No. 3 overall pick in Williams is a veteran center in David Andrews and a group of rookie guards in Sidy Sow, Atonio Mafi, and Jake Andrews.
While Sow has played plenty of ball this season, the latter two rookies have not. Mafi has appeared in just four games for the Patriots in 2023 while Andrews made his debut last Sunday… in place of a benched Mafi.
Needless to say, New England’s interior offensive line has their work cut out for them in the season finale.
- Breece Hall vs. Patriots’ run defense
Running back Breece Hall has been one of a few bright spots for the Jets offense this season. A second round pick in 2021, Hall has ran for 816 yards on 186 carries (4.4 yard per attempt), and has also been a factor in the passing game hauling in 44 catches for 579 yards and four touchdowns.
Hall is balling our right now,” Patriots captain defensive lineman Deatrich Wise told reporters of Hall on Wednesday. “Doing his thing.”
The Patriots’ defenders, Wise included, will need to play as they’ve done all season to stop Hall on Sunday. New England’s run defense has been sensational in 2023, allowing the least yards per carry (3.2) and second-least yards (1,399) in the NFL.
When the Patriots visited MetLife Stadium for their Week 3 contest against the Jets, they held Hall to just 18 yards on 12 carries (1.5 YPC) and just one reception for two yards. They’ll put themselves in good shape for a ‘W’ if they replicate that this weekend.
- Bill Belichick vs. Robert Kraft
The final clash this week will ultimately take place after the game, but the Patriots’ owner will undoubtedly be focusing on the on-field product during Sunday’s contest in Foxborough.
Bill Belichick’s job status is very much on the line as his team welcomes the Jets to the stadium that he built. It, of course, is not as cut and dry as “win and stay, lose and go home”, but with a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport from several weeks ago indicating that “the way New England finishes could go a long way in determining what's next,” there’s a chance this weekend’s result could sway Robert Kraft once more as they enter the offseason.
So can the head coach ultimately do enough to keep his job and sway ownership’s massive upcoming decision? Will the Gillette Stadium crowd be packed and for what could be Belichick’s final game in Foxborough? And rowdy enough to make it not?
It makes the final clash of the 2023-24 season the most fascinating of them all.
Make sure to follow Mike on Twitter @mikekadlick, and follow @WEEI for the latest up-to-date Patriots and Boston sports news!
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