The New England Patriots are active in Week 7 and they have a huge battle ahead. It's not that they can't beat their Week 7 opponents, but it's a divisional battle that could lead to a lot of talking from the press. Check out the schedule with TV channel info and radio coverage as the Patriots travel to Metlife Stadium on Sunday.
TV Channel: CBS Home of the AFC
Radio: ESPN Radio
The Patriots are not playing the New York Giants, which is actually bad luck or them since Eli Manning and the Giants are struggling in 2013. Instead, they face the young New York Jets and Geno Smith. While the Patriots are 5-1, the Jets are 3-3, which spells good news for the Pats and Tom Brady.
Before talking about the Patriots, let us look at the Jets and what they bring to the table.
Smith is no Brady. That is for sure. They are different kinds of quarterbacks with different expectations when they entered the league. However, Smith has shown he possesses ice cold veins when the game is on the line. All three victories the Jets have recorded in 2013 are due to Smith's heroics. His most recent late-game drive against led to an upset over the Atlanta Falcons. Smith's and the Jets' biggest weakness in 2013 has been repeating victories in back-to-back weeks, which is why they are 3-3 in 2013.
This means the game will depend greatly on what the Patriots bring to the table.
Brady is fresh of a victory over the New Orleans Saints and it was a comeback. Brady hit his young receiver, Kenbrell Thompkins for the 17-yard score on a perfect touchdown pass that traveled about 28 yards to the back of the end zone. The Patriots proved dangerous late in the game, showing they can still come back when trailing.
The Patriots are averaging a below-average 20 points per game, that's less than three touchdowns per game, but their defense will be in charge of keeping Smith in check as they have done with almost every other quarterback they have faced. The secondary has issues controlling the pass, allowing 228 yards per game, but overall, when it comes to the crunch, the defense prevents teams from getting points as opponents are averaging only 16 points per game, third lowest in the NFL.
Keeping it simple, if the Jets win this one, they keep themselves in the race. The Patriots schedule will only get easier later in the season. The deeper the season gets, the more chemistry Brady builds with his team as he proved last week.
