Where: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass. (outdoors, turf)
When: Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)
Spread: Patriots by 10.5
Forecast: Sunny. Projected kickoff temperature in the low-60s.
Records: Patriots (Overall: 3-3, AFC East: 1-0); Jets (Overall: 3-3, AFC East: 2-0)
Past results: Two most recent meetings -- Nov. 13, 2011: Patriots 37, Jets 16; Oct. 9, 2011: Patriots 30, Jets 21. Series record: Patriots hold a 53-52-1 edge.
What matters: The Patriots have come out slower than expected, while the Jets, Bills and Dolphins are hanging tough and have created a four-way tie for first place -- or, depending on how you view it -- a four-way tie for last in the AFC East. While it’s too early in the season to place significant importance on any one game, the end result of this contest could loom big if the standings continue to defy logic and teams remain close down the stretch.
Who matters: The spotlight is on Tom Brady. The Patriots quarterback has been terrific early in games, but he’s struggled in the clutch this season, a trend that's in contrast to the reputation Brady has built over the years. Brady has completed just 35 percent of his passes with a quarterback rating of 67.3 in the fourth quarter when the score is within seven points. You want an explanation for the Patriots losing three games by a combined four points? There it is.
Key matchups: Is it even possible to look at anything other than the New England secondary after last week’s performance against the Seahawks? The Patriots made Russell Wilson look like the second coming of Steve Young. Jets coach Rex Ryan said that he will go with a balanced approach, but you have to think that he’ll at least try to air it out against a secondary that has allowed 33 plays of at least 20 yards. It doesn’t matter that New York has the 30th-ranked passing offense in the league and has run out of wide receivers. The Patriots tend to make these kind of units look good.
Injuries of note: WR Julian Edelman (hand) and S Steve Gregory (hip) look to be longshots for Sunday. G Logan Mankins (calf/hip), TE Rob Gronkowski (hip), LB Dont’a Hightower (hamstring) and TE Aaron Hernandez (ankle) continue to fight injuries.
Inside stuff: The Patriots rank 28th in kickoff returns at 20.3 yards per return. The Jets, meanwhile, only allow 19.8 yards per return. Don’t expect favorable field position.
Connections: Jets FB Lex Hilliard had a brief stint with the Patriots earlier this year. … Jets QBs coach Matt Cavanaugh was a second-round pick of the Patriots and played in New England from 1978-82. … Patriots head coach Bill Belichick spent the 1997-99 seasons as the Jets assistant head coach. … Patriots LBs coach Pepper Johnson played two seasons with the Jets (1997-98). … Patriots RB Danny Woodhead was a member of the Jets from 2008 through the first week of the 2010 season. … Patriots CB Marquice Cole played for the Jets from 2009-11.
Stat you should know: The Patriots have had 42 runs that have gained zero or fewer yards, which ranks sixth in the NFL.
Looking ahead: The Patriots head to London next week to play the St. Louis Rams. New England's bye is in Week 9.
Prediction: Patriots 31, Jets 23
Nick Underhill covers the Patriots for MassLive.com. Follow him on Twitter @CBSPats or @Nick_Underhill.
