Patriots-Jets Random Thoughts and Thursday Football Pick

There are so many weeks when, after watching the Patriots, that I remind myself how lucky we all are to be able to watch Tom Brady.

Going in to the Jets game, the offensive line was facing serious injury issues and Dion Lewis, the team's best running back through five games, was out with an injury.  Those are difficult tasks to deal with any week, let alone going against a hated division rival that sports one of the best defenses in the league.

Despite those obstacles and also with the running game being a non-factor (Brady was the team's leading rusher with just 15 yards) and 11 of Brady's passes being dropped, Brady led the Patriots to a 30-23 win by completing 34 of 54 passes for 355 yards and two touchdowns.

It is almost easy to take Brady for granted considering that he's made the spectacular look routine on too many Sundays, Mondays, and Thursdays to keep track of since becoming the starter in 2001.

Don't make that mistake.  We are lucky enough to be bearing witness to the greatest quarterback of all time and even though it seems as if this will last forever - and Brady feeds in to that belief - the fact is that it will end sooner rather than later.

Enjoy it while it lasts.

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Please, do not tell anyone what I'm about to tell you.

I really like the Jets.

Seriously.  Just let me explain.

While I will always hate the Jets franchise and everything that they stand for, this edition of their football team is one that I enjoy watching.

Their defense is physical and aggressive and while Tom Brady found a way to carve them up and score 30 points, very few quarterbacks or offenses will have the ability to do so against the Jets.

Their defensive line is stocked with premium talent.  Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson are Pro Bowl talents and the team drafted Leonard Williams - who looks like a Richard Seymour clone - in the first round.  David Harris is a very good linebacker against the run and both Calvin Pace and Quinton Coples are good pass rushing linebackers.  That front seven alone would translate to a good defense but when the secondary, led by Darrelle Revis, is added in to the equation, this Jets defense becomes elite.

On offense, the Jets are held back by the quarterback position.  Ryan Fitzpatrick is not the worse signal caller in the NFL but it's hard to believe he can do enough come January to get the Jets to the Super Bowl.  However, with receivers Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker as well as running back Chris Ivory, the Jets offense is more than good enough to make them a playoff team.

Finally, Todd Bowles is the complete opposite of Rex Ryan.  Bowles is a defensive minded coach but he avoids the media in a near Belichickian fashion and instead focuses on preparing his team for victory.  While he still has a ways to go to be considered an elite NFL head coach - I was curious why he didn't use any of his three timeouts at the end of the game when the Patriots were driving for their final touchdown - I do believe that he is the type of leader who can make the Jets a relevant threat to the Patriots in the AFC East.

***

On to the Dolphins.

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As for tonight, the short week of preparation to get ready for another heated division rivalry game - especially against a Dolphins team that has played exceptionally well in the first two weeks under interim coach Dan Campbell - has me leaning towards a Patriots victory but a Miami cover.

Dolphins (+9.5) over PATRIOTS

Last Week: 5-8
Season: 53-48-3