New York Jets-New England Patriots Week 7 Thursday Game Preview

October 15, 2014

Week 7 in the NFL begins on Thursday night with an AFC East divisional matchup featuring two teams seemingly headed in opposite directions, as the New York Jets (1-5) will go on the road to face the New England Patriots (4-2) at Gillette Stadium.

Despite a reasonably competitive 31-17 loss at home to Denver last week, the Jets have been struggling lately and will be looking to end their current losing skid.

“We might be counted out but we’re not dead,” said Jets head coach Rex Ryan. “We’re going to fight our tails off. We’re a resilient bunch. As I told our team, a team that doesn’t quit is hard to beat. Our guys, we’re not quitting. We’ve just begun to fight.”

Perhaps the Jets can find hope in the last meeting between the teams, when Jets quarterback Geno Smith passed for a touchdown and rushed for a score in leading New York to a 30-27 overtime win.

“Obviously, we are frustrated. Five losses in a row has everyone frustrated,” said Smith. “But we’re optimistic. We’re always looking forward, and just have to prepare for this week. We’ve got a short week against a tough New England team on the road. It’s another test. We better be able to step up to it.”

With Smith still trying to find his way in the NFL, the Jets might be best served leaning on their solid running game on offense.

Heading into Thursday night, the Jets have the fifth-most rushing yards in the AFC (727), led by the running back tandem of Chris Ivory and Chris Johnson. Ivory leads the team with 325 rushing yards and two touchdowns, and rushed for 104 yards in the Jets’ 30-27 overtime win against the Patriots last season. Johnson is second on the team with 200 rushing yards.

In fact, since Rex Ryan became head coach in 2009, the Jets have rushed for more yards (1,367) against the Patriots than any opponent against New England.

Meanwhile, New England has moved into first place in the AFC East with a 4-2 record after last week’s 37-22 win at Buffalo.

“It was a good win for us yesterday and I thought all three phases of our team contributed,” said Patriots head coach Bill Belichick a day after the victory.

In that game, Patriots star quarterback Tom Brady passed for 361 yards and four touchdowns  – compiling a 139.6 passer rating – and surpassed Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Marino for the third-most games with at least 350 passing yards and four touchdown passes (Brady 11, Marino 10).

Since 2002, Brady has compiled a 6-0 record on Thursday, including a 2-0 mark against the Jets. His 1,700 passing yards on Thursday rank third in the AFC and his 13 touchdown passes on Thursday rank second in the conference during that span. Brady has also passed for at least two touchdowns in four of his six Thursday starts.

“The Bills are tough so it was a good win for us,” said Belichick. “We need to move on to the Jets quickly. They played very competitively against a very good football team in Denver. I’m sure we’ll get that same type of play from them on Thursday night.”


WEEK 7 INJURY REPORT – NEW YORK JETS at NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS


New York Jets 

 
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Monday
LB Trevor Reilly (knee), WR Greg Salas (wrist, ankle), T Brian Winters (knee)

Tuesday
S Josh Bush (quadricep), LB Trevor Reilly (knee), WR Greg Salas (wrist, ankle)

 
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Monday
TE Jace Amaro (knee), S Josh Bush (quadricep), G Willie Colon (knee), WR Eric Decker (hamstring), LB David Harris (shoulder), C Nick Mangold (shoulder), WR David Nelson (ankle), CB Darrin Walls (knee)

Tuesday
WR Eric Decker (hamstring), LB David Harris (shoulder)

 
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Monday
T Breno Giacomini (back), DT Damon Harrison (ankle), RB Chris Johnson (ankle)

Tuesday
TE Jace Amaro (knee), G Willie Colon (knee), T Breno Giacomini (back), DT Damon Harrison (ankle), RB Chris Johnson (ankle), C Nick Mangold (shoulder), WR David Nelson (ankle), CB Darrin Walls (knee)


New England Patriots 

 
OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)

Monday
LB Jerod Mayo (knee), RB Stevan Ridley (knee)

Tuesday
LB Jerod Mayo (knee), RB Stevan Ridley (knee)

 
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Monday
G Dan Connolly (concussion), S Nate Ebner (finger), T Cameron Fleming (finger), C Bryan Stork (concussion)

Tuesday
G Dan Connolly (concussion), S Nate Ebner (finger), T Cameron Fleming (finger), C Bryan Stork (concussion)

 
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Monday
QB Tom Brady (ankle), CB Brandon Browner (ankle), LB Jamie Collins (thigh), DE Dominique Easley (shoulder, knee), DT Dont'a Hightower (knee), DE Chandler Jones (shoulder), S Devin McCourty (shoulder), WR Matt Slater (shoulder)

Tuesday
QB Tom Brady (ankle), CB Brandon Browner (ankle), LB Jamie Collins (thigh), DE Dominique Easley (shoulder, knee), DT Dont'a Hightower (knee), DE Chandler Jones (shoulder), S Devin McCourty (shoulder), WR Matt Slater (shoulder)


By Staff of TheDailySportsHerald.com and news services

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