Jets vs. Patriots Week 18 preview: How to watch, storylines, odds, more

At long last, the 2023 New York Jets season is only 60 minutes (hopefully not more) away from its end.

After entering the season with Super Bowl aspirations, Gang Green has found themselves in a spot they are all too familiar with in the last week of the regular season, where a loss is more advantageous than a win for what it could mean for the future of the franchise. Although the Jets have an opportunity to exorcise some demons on Sunday against a division opponent that has had their number for almost nine years now, the New England Patriots. 

Jets (6-10) vs. Patriots (4-12): How to Watch

• Date: Sunday, January 7 
• Time: 1 p.m. ET
• Venue: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA
• TV: Fox

With both teams eliminated from playoff contention, the only thing at stake on Sunday is pride and draft position. The Jets would have the No. 8 pick in the draft if the season ended last week but can move as high as No. 5 or as low as No. 12 depending on the outcomes of other games around the league. 

In their first season matchup, Gang Green was stifled on offense, being held to 171 total yards. Zach Wilson threw for 157 yards, only completing 18 of his 36 attempts. The Patriots forced Wilson to beat them and a last-second hail mary off the hands of Allen Lazard at the goal line nearly did the job. 

With the inability of the offense to move down the field, the Jets’ defense had very little time to rest on the sidelines as the Patriots ran for 157 yards on the ground. Although this is a new-look Patriots team than the one the Jets faced in Week 3.

New England has since moved on from Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe will presumably be under center for the Patriots on Sunday. Starting running back Rhamondre Stevenson is sidelined with a season-ending injury, meaning former All-Pro Ezekiel Elliot will see the majority of carries.

For the Jets, they will be looking to bounce back from one of their most devastating losses of the season last Thursday, being trounced by the Browns 37-20. Browns quarterback Joe Flacco seemingly turned back the clock against New York, throwing for three touchdowns and over 300 yards against his former team. It seemed as if the Gang Green defense hit their breaking point as they surrendered 428 total yards to Cleveland, their highest mark of the season.

This week should provide a much more favorable matchup for the Jets’ defense as New England has only gone over 300 total yards once since Week 12. With very few explosive players and a quarterback who had three interceptions last week, it’s paramount that New York’s defense shows up and stifles the Patriots’ offense.

On the offensive side, it will be on Trevor Simiean’s shoulders to finish the season out strong for the Jets as Wilson remains in concussion protocol. If New York can follow the same recipe as Buffalo last week and force turnovers to set up their offense in the red zone, it could be the recipe for breaking the 15-game win-streak New England has sustained since 2015 over Gang Green. 

Jets vs. Patriots Week 18 Odds

• Spread: Patriots -2 (-110)
• Over/Under: 30.5 (-112/-108)
• Jets ML: +114
• Patriots ML: -135

Odds courtesy of DraftKings. For more, click here.

For more on the Jets, visit AMNY.com