2) Jets must find offense without Wilson
Jets head coach Aaron Glenn has refused to say if Justin Fields or Tyrod Taylor will start at QB on Thursday. So far this season, Fields has gotten the call except for injury, and he’s now led two close, exciting victories in a row, even with some offensive limitations. Now they likely must do it without Garrett Wilson, who injured his knee on Sunday after a three-target, zero-catch game and was placed on injured reserve on Thursday. Without Wilson, the Jets’ WR options are limited, which could lead to a ground-heavy attack. Fields completed only six passes against the Browns, with only one catch by a wide receiver, and he’s faced heavy pressure this season. Running back Breece Hall wasn’t traded at the deadline, and he appears to be one of their few true gamebreakers, both as a runner and receiver. The problem is that the Patriots have the best run defense in the NFL, allowing only 79.2 yards per game on the ground, and they haven’t allowed a single back to cross the 50-yard rush mark in 2025.
3) Henderson hopes to put stamp on RB role
Two of the Patriots’ biggest plays in their win over the Buccaneers were TreVeyon Henderson long-bomb TD runs. The first came early in the third quarter when he took the ball inside against a tough Tampa Bay front and housed it for 55 yards. The Patriots were trailing 10-7 just before halftime, but Henderson’s TD put them up 21-10 after Stefon Diggs gave them a halftime lead with a last-second TD catch. Then when the Patriots were backed up and trying to close out the game, Henderson ripped off a 69-yard TD to essentially lock the game in the final minutes of the fourth quarter in what was a career game. He’s gradually earned more of the offensive share, especially in recent weeks with Rhamondre Stevenson banged up. Stevenson and Terrell Jennings both were limited in practice this week, so Henderson might need to be ready to be the lead back again. He now leads the Patriots in scrimmage yards (564) and has the NFL’s fifth-highest rushing average (5.3) among backs with 60 or more carries. Without Quinnen Williams, the Jets allowed the Browns to run for 4.9 yards per carry in Week 10 albeit with no runs longer than 19 yards. The Jets’ biggest problem has been forcing takeaways — only one this season — although New England has turned the ball over five times in the past three contests.
