Patriots-Jets Week 7 Thursday Night Football Predictions
BOSTON (CBS) -- It's a quick week for everyone as the New England Patriots host the New York Jets on Thursday Night Football.
While the Patriots have less time to prepare for their game on the field, our experts have less time to break it all down. But don't worry, they have seen plenty of the Patriots and Jets over the years to make their predictions.
Here is how the 98.5 The Sports Hub, WBZ NewsRadio 1030 and WBZ-TV Sports teams see Thursday night's game playing out:
Scott Zolak, 98.5 The Sports Hub
The issue will be with the rain and weather conditions, but you have a mentally tough quarterback in Tom Brady going against Geno Smith, who I don't think will be able to handle the elements.
Scoring will be down based on the weather conditions, but it's a get-through game for New England. Win by any means necessary; it's not about style points in this one.
Patriots 20, Jets 6
Andy Gresh, 98.5 The Sports Hub
It's the Jets and Geno Smith, so offensively there isn't much there. However, Im worried because of the short week. Bodies have to respond and guys like Vince Wilfork, who has to shoulder a big load up front, are now depended on more with Jerod Mayo out.
I expect the Jets to run right at the Patriots and test them in the run game. I think the Patriots will respond.
It comes down to if the Patriots can score 28 points, which I think they can and will do against this defense. I don't think the Jets can score more than 17 points.
Patriots 24. Jets 16
Jon Wallach, 98.5 The Sports Hub
On paper this looks like a mismatch. The Jets are spinning wildly out of control and Rex Ryan is likely to get fired. They have trouble on both sides of the football, and the Patriots are playing well.
But the Jets always seem to give the Patriots problems, and that worries me a little bit. You're not sure who you are going to get or who is going to play on the offensive line, and the Jets defensive front is one of the best in the league. Still, I think the Patriots are better talent-wise.
I don't think the weather will be much of a factor. It will be a nail-biter for the first quarter and a half, but ultimately in the end the Patriots will win.
Patriots 23, Jets 14
Rob 'Hardy' Poole, 98.5 The Sports Hub
There has never been two safeties scored in a game before, that I know of. Until this week.
Patriots 38, Jets 4
Walt Perkins, WBZ NewsRadio 1030
Thursday night's weather could make for an interesting night. Heavy rain might make holding onto the pigskin difficult. The conditions exist for both teams, of course. Even with the loss of their leading tackler and rusher, I see the Patriots pulling away methodically over the course of the night.
Patriots 44, Jets 30
Steve Burton, WBZ-TV
This will not be a trap game for the Patriots. In fact, they plan to win it for Jerod Mayo and Stevan Ridley, two key players who were lost to knee injuries.
The Patriots have beaten the Jets the past two years on Thursday Night, and this week they will keep that streak alive.
Patriots 24, Jets 10
Dan Roche, WBZ-TV
I think this game comes down to one match-up and one only: Tom Brady vs Rex Ryan/Dennis Thurman's defense.
If Ryan and Thurman can find a way to disrupt and hurry Brady in the passing game then the Jets have a chance. They are tied for second in sacks this season with 19, so they have been getting to the QB. Brady and his offense have been doing a much better job with protection the past two games, and if that continues the Pats win going away.
Patriots 27, Jets 13
Levan Reid, WBZ-TV
This is a tough stretch for the Patriots with four games in 18 days, but here's the silver lining: This last game is against the Jets.
No one is saying this game will be easy, as division games are always tough. But this Jets team is dysfunctional at the moment.
Geno Smith is regressing instead of progressing. The offensive line used to be a strong point, but that doesn't seem like it's the case right now for these Jets. New York is playing as if they have no direction and now they are coming to Foxboro to take on a Patriots team that may have found their identity.
The Pats will have to make up for the key losses of Stevan Ridley and Jerod Mayo, so we'll see how the plan works for that. But they have too much talent on offense (and pretty much across the board) to feel threatened in this game.
The Pats should end their tough stretch with a victory.
Patriots 30, Jets 14
Catch Patriots-Jets on Thursday Night Football on WBZ-TV and 98.5 The Sports Hub — the flagship stations of the New England Patriots. Pregame coverage begins on 98.5FM at 5:30pm, with three full hours of postgame coverage following the game. WBZ-TV begins coverage with a special Patriots GameDay on Thursday at 7pm, and wraps everything up with Patriots 5th Quarter on myTV38 following the game.
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