Patriots could make history in Week 3 with another dominant defensive performance

Swallowing up the Jets offense on Sunday could lead to an all-time great stretch for New England's defense.

Over the first two games of the regular season the New England Patriots' defense has given up a whopping total of three points to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Miami Dolphins. Not only does that low point total display their elite prowess, which has seemingly carried over from their dominant performance in Super Bowl LIII despite turnover in the offseason, but it also puts them on a historical pace that can be achieved in Week 3. 

According to NFL analyst Gil Brandt, if New England gives up nine or fewer points to the New York Jets during their Week 3 game, the Patriots would be the first team in the Super Bowl era to give up 12 or fewer points over a season's initial three games. 

If the Patriots allow nine or fewer points, they’d establish the fewest points allowed over a season’s initial three games in the Super Bowl era:

2009 Broncos 16
2005 Colts 16
2004 Seahawks 13
2001 Packers 13
1980 Eagles 16

— Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) September 19, 2019

Against a Jets offense that scored just three points against the Cleveland Browns last week,  that historical feat seems very reachable. 

Still without Sam Darnold and now Trevor Siemian, who underwent season-ending ankle surgery earlier this week, New York's offense will be led by third-string QB Luke Falk, who was drafted in the sixth-round of the 2018 draft by the Tennessee Titans. He was waived by the team before the 2018 regular season began and spent the remainder of the season with the Dolphins. 

Though Falk had a strong debut in a Jets uniform, completing 20-of-25 passes for 198 yards, 10 of those completed passes went to running back Le'Veon Bell out of the backfield, which doesn't provide much spark on an offense that had no other options down field. 

If New England can contain Bell, which they have a knack of doing to a team's No. 1 threat, then Falk will be forced to throw the ball down the field, which bodes well for the Patriots' secondary, who currently lead the league with five interceptions. Doing that will for sure keep New York's point total down and put the Patriots atop the aforementioned list.