FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The final Sunday of the NFL season between a four-win team and a six-win team probably won't be all that interesting. But this is the Patriots and Jets, so even though the stakes are lower, there are still some fun storylines.
For example, the Jets (6-10) have lost 15 straight against the Patriots since 2016.
Currently, there is no player or coach on the Jets team who has beaten the Patriots.
This losing streak is the longest current losing streak against a team in the NFL. Jets players are tired of hearing that story.
“It's a big game, especially this week as we play the Patriots,” linebacker Quincy Williams said. “Honestly, the goal is to stop the losing streak. This is the last game, so most people are already thinking about things like vacation. That doesn't happen in the locker room.”
This could also be the last time the Jets face Bill Belichick as the Patriots' head coach. There has been widespread speculation that Belichick will step down as Patriots coach after this season.
He has been a tormentor for the Jets since stepping down as NYJ HC in 2000, just weeks before being officially named Patriots coach.
Belichick has won six Super Bowls since defeating the Jets, who had missed the playoffs in each of the previous 13 seasons.
When Belichick was asked this week if this was likely his last game, he responded in his usual fashion: “I'm looking forward to getting ready and working for the Jets.”
Jets coach Robert Saleh is 0-5 against Belichick and has had two disappointing losses in New England, allowing 54 points in 2021 and losing by a touchdown on a last-minute punt return last year.
“He transcends the sport in the way he prepares, his management during games, his communication, everything he does, and at least he does that,” Saleh said of Belichick. “They've been a model of consistency. They've obviously produced a lot of really good football players and they've won a lot of championships. The guy's won over 300 games. You have to stay there for a while to do that. He's a special, special football coach, but a good coach.”
While some in the Jets fan base will root for the team to lose in order to move up the draft position and hurt the Patriots' draft position, the players and coaches want to win this one. Quarterback Trevor Siemian was asked what the win meant to him.
“Massive. That's what it's all about,” Siemian said.
