Starting at 1 p.m., follow all the action in the NFL thanks to NFL Red Zone.
Four NFL games are being shown today on the various RDS channels. Now that the Denver Broncos have defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 21-17 in the morning in London, it’s time for the confrontation between the New York Jets and the New England Patriots starting at 1 p.m. on RDS2 and the RDS.ca
The last time the New York Jets won a game against the New England Patriots, their current quarterback Zach Wilson was still playing in high school in Utah. Long snapper Thomas Hennessy, the Jets’ longest-serving player, defended the colors of Duke University. And head coach Robert Saleh oversaw the Jacksonville Jaguars linebackers.
It has been a long time.
Almost 7 years to be more precise. Since that 26-20 win in overtime from Bill Belichick’s band in Week 16 of the 2015 season, the Jets have suffered 12 consecutive losses against the Pats.
This afternoon, the surprising Jets (5-2) have the chance to put an end to this long drought, while the Patriots (3-4) occupy the last place in the East division of the AFC. By winning, the Jets would sign a fifth win in a row, which has not happened since this victory of 7 years ago against the Pats.
If his team has the better of the Jets, Belichick would sit alone second in NFL history for career wins. He is currently tied with George Halas with 324 wins (including those in the playoffs).
After being dropped from last week’s game against the Chicago Bears in favor of rookie Bailey Zappe, quarterback Mac Jones will return as the Patriots’ starting quarterback. Belichick made the announcement Thursday after analyzing Jones’ play in practice since the start of the week.
The Niners again?
49ers c. Rams
RDS2, RDS.ca | 16 h
The rivalry between the Los Angeles Rams and 49ers has been one-sided and to San Francisco’s advantage over the past few seasons.
Except when it mattered most.
Excluding the Rams’ victory in the NFC Championship Game last January, the Niners have won seven straight regular season games, most recently on Oct. 3.
With renewed optimism after their bye week, the Rams (3-3) are hoping this will be the week they win decisively against the 49ers (3-4), who have lost their last two games and are no have beaten only one team other than the Rams since Week 2.
Running back Christian McCaffrey will play his second game in a 49ers uniform since the 49ers got the better of the Rams in the fight for his services.
The 49ers’ yet-dominant defense struggled last week, allowing six touchdowns on seven offensive streaks in a loss to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. The Niners averaged 9.12 yards per play in that game, their worst yardage since 1965, and averaged 5 more yards per play than they allowed in their first six games.
Don’t Underestimate Rodgers
Packers c. Bills
RDS, RDS.ca | 20 h
Safety Micah Hyde and wide receiver Jake Kumerow know Aaron Rodgers well enough to know how much the Packers quarterback’s words resonate in Green Bay.
So when Rodgers insists the Packers’ (3-4) playoff hopes remain realistic, despite their third straight loss and the challenge of going up against the Buffalo Bills (5-1) at home, the two former Green Bay players remain on their guard.
“I’ve been around him before and I know when he’s got his back against the wall he brings them together,” said Hyde, who joined the Bills this week in a quasi-coaching role after suffering a neck injury that ended its season last month.
“You can’t take it lightly,” Kumerow added. ” You saw him. He is capable of anything”.
Well, not that much this year so far.
The Packers got off to their worst start to the season in four years under Matt LaFleur, and Rodgers is struggling to produce an injury-depleted offense, in addition to being without favorite target Davante Adams, who has was traded to Las Vegas in the offseason.
While Rodgers ranks 10th in the league with 1,597 passing yards and tied for 6th with 11 touchdowns, offense production has dropped in the past three games. After averaging 377.5 yards per game in their three wins in four games, the Packers have averaged just 270 yards in their last three games.
What’s more worrying is that those three losses came as Green Bay led twice and tied once at halftime. That includes a 23-21 loss at Washington last Sunday, in which the Packers led 14-10 at the half.
The Bills lead the league in total yards and passing yards gained, as well as the fewest yards, points and interceptions (10) allowed.
The Bills are rested after a bye week and are coming off their most comprehensive win of the season. Quarterback Josh Allen threw a touchdown pass that put the team ahead with 64 seconds left, and the defense sealed a 24-20 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs with an interception from Taron Johnson off Patrick Mahomes 13 seconds later.
