The New England Patriots’ 2023 season comes to an end on Sunday. It will be the New York Jets in town for the finale, in the second meeting of the year between the two teams.
There may not be any postseason stakes on the line in this one, but a certain section of Patriots fans will be deeply invested with draft positioning hanging in the balance. With a loss the Patriots are guaranteed a top-three pick, and could even move up to the second spot if the Washington Commanders beat the Dallas Cowboys. A win for the Patriots could result in them picking anywhere between second and fifth, depending on various outcomes around the league.
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Given that, many Patriots fans may be rooting for a loss for the betterment of the long-term outlook of the team. In that regard, the Patriots’ 15-game head-to-head winning streak against the Jets – which dates back to 2016 – has been a common talking point. But, would it not be a very ‘Jets’ thing to snap that streak in a game that not only holds no real implications in the season, but also helps the Patriots’ draft positioning?
What are the key matchups to watch as it relates to the ultimate outcome of this game – and with it the Patriots’ draft positioning? Let’s get into it with our final What To Watch For of the season.
The quarterback matchup
CLEVELAND, OHIO – DECEMBER 28: Trevor Siemian #14 throws the ball prior to playing the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium on December 28, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
The first meeting between these two teams – a 15-10 Patriots win in Week 3 – wasn’t exactly an offensive shootout. Mac Jones led the Patriots to just 201 passing yards for the game, while Zach Wilson had the Jets at 157.
Neither of those quarterbacks will play this Sunday. Jones was benched for Bailey Zappe midseason, and Wilson is out with a concussion. Trevor Siemian will start for the Jets in what will be his third start of the year.
Siemian has made one previous career start against the Patriots, when he was with the Denver Broncos late in the 2016 season. He completed 25 of his 40 pass attempts in that game for 282 yards with no touchdowns and a pick.
Meanwhile, both defenses come in playing well. The Patriots have forced at least one turnover in five of six games going back to the bye, and in only one of those games (Week 15 against the Kansas City Chiefs) did the opposing team get over 300 total yards. On the other side, the Jets’ defense has been a takeaway machine with six turnovers forced over the last two games.
This likely isn’t a game that will be won at the quarterback position. Rather, it may come down to which quarterback makes fewer mistakes. That being said, the level of quarterbacking won’t be the only thing holding back these offenses…
Let it snow?
FOXBOROUGH, MA – JANUARY 03: A general view as snow falls during a game between the New England Patriots and the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on January 3, 2021 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images)
It’s been a while since the Patriots played in a really good snow game. That’s expected to change this week.
Currently, the forecast for Foxborough includes three to five inches of snow on Saturday night, with another three to five on Sunday accompanied by winds in the mid-teens. Winter football may finally be back in Foxborough (speaking of, check out our podcast on the top snow games in Patriots history).
What does that mean for the game? If the footing isn’t great on the field, running the ball becomes very difficult. It could result in both teams putting the ball in their quarterbacks’ hands and emphasizing screens or other short passes.
Bill Belichick’s last game
DENVER, COLORADO – DECEMBER 24: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots watches from the sidelines during the 2nd quarter of the game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field At Mile High on December 24, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
Finally, there’s the overarching question about whether or not this will be Bill Belichick’s last game with the Patriots. The rumors and speculation about Belichick’s future with the team that have been building over the past few months will come to a head next week – but first, this game. While this game may have no playoff significance this year it certainly has historical significance if it ends up Belichick’s final one with the franchise.
The question is, will there be any sort of recognition of that possibility? It’s unlikely the team will do anything official, but will fans chant for Belichick? Bring signs? Will Belichick himself acknowledge the crowd in any new way at the end of the game?
Some of that is probably dependent on the way the game goes. We won’t truly know the historical context of this game until after it’s over, but it’s still something to keep in mind as it’s going on.
