Oddsmakers Suggest Patriots' Dominance over Jets Will Survive the Season
The point spread favors the team that has won all of the last 15 meetings between the two franchises.
The New York Jets will end their regular season schedule by trying to end the New England Patriots' dominance of the long-running AFC East rivalry. Opening the week as a 2.5-point road underdog, the Jets (6-10) travel to Foxboro for a January 7 battle against Bill Belichick's crew (4-12) at 1:00 pm ET. The point spread favors the team that has won all of the last 15 meetings between the two franchises.
The New York Jets will end their regular season schedule by trying to end the New England Patriots' dominance of the long-running AFC East rivalry.
Ryan Fitzpatrick was the starting quarterback the last time that New York defeated New England. His 6-yard scoring strike to Eric Decker lifted the Jets to a 26-20 overtime win on December 27, 2015.
Fitzpatrick set a Jets' single-season record by throwing 31 touchdown passes that year. By comparison, the 2023 Jets have collectively accounted for 11 touchdown passes through 16 games.
A far cry from the Ryan Fitzpatrick vs. Tom Brady matchup of yesteryear, both teams will start backup quarterbacks this upcoming Sunday.
Having seemingly moved on from former first-round draft pick Mac Jones, the Patriots have been rolling with Bailey Zappe as their starter. He was intercepted three times during New England's 27-21 road loss to Buffalo in Week 17.
The Jets will likely hand the ball to veteran Trevor Siemian for the third week in a row. There's a chance that Zach Wilson could get one last chance to take the snaps if he can clear concussion protocol in time. Siemian is averaging only 4.9 yards per pass to go along with a 2:4 touchdown-to-interception ratio in relief of Wilson this season.
While New York has won only one true road game (Week 5 at Denver) in 2023, New England's lone home win dates back to October 22 when Jones victimized the Bills for 272 yards and two touchdowns.
Both teams have struggled mightily to score points this season. The Patriots (14.6 ppg) feature the NFL's bottom-ranked scoring offense with the Jets (15.7) sitting only three spots higher.
The projected point total (over/under) for the January 7 season finale was set at 30.5 — the lowest out of all 16 games on the Week 18 docket. Money line bettors must lay -141 odds to back the Patriots while the Jets offer +120 odds on the other side. Odds are provided by SI Sportsbook.
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