2) Jets must find offense without Wilson
Jets head coach Aaron Glenn has declined to say whether Justin Fields or Tyrod Taylor will start at QB on Thursday. So far this season, Fields has gotten the call except for injuries, and he’s now led two equally exciting wins in a row, even with limited offense. Now they will likely have to do it without Garrett Wilson, who injured his knee Sunday after a three-goal, catchless game and will be a question mark for this game. If he can’t go, the Jets’ WR options are limited, which could lead to a ground-heavy offense. Fields completed just six passes against the Browns, with just one free throw, and has endured a lot of pressure this season. Breece Hall wasn’t traded for running back Breece Hall at the deadline, and he appears to be one of their few real game-breakers, both as a runner and as a receiver. The problem is, the Patriots have the best run defense in the NFL, allowing just 79.2 yards per game on the ground, and they haven’t allowed a single back to break the 50-yard rushing mark in 2025.
3) Henderson hopes to put his stamp on the RB role
Two of the Patriots’ biggest plays in their win over the Buccaneers were TreVeyon Henderson’s long TD run. The first came early in the third quarter when he took the ball in against a struggling Tampa Bay performance and ran it 55 yards. The Patriots trailed 10-7 just before halftime, but Henderson’s TD made it 21-10 after Stefon Diggs put them ahead at halftime with a last-second TD. Then with the Patriots backed up and trying to close out the game, Henderson ripped off a 69-yard TD to seal 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 breaking through. Stevenson and Terrell Jennings were both limited in practice this week, so Henderson may need to be ready to lead off again. He currently 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 rush for 4.9 yards per carry in Week 10, albeit with no rushes longer than 19 yards. The Jets’ biggest problem has been forcing a sack — just one this season — although New England has turned the ball over five times in the last three contests.