Patriots (1-1) at New York Jets (1-1), 8:15 p.m - Patriots defense aiming to stop Aaron Rodgers
The New England Patriots will face their first AFC East Division foe this week when they travel to face the New York Jets on Amazon for Thursday Night Football at MetLife Stadium.
This is the sixth Thursday night meeting between the two teams and the first since New England hosted the Jets on Oct. 16, 2014, where the Patriots earned a 27-25 victory. Overall, the Patriots are 4-1 in Thursday night games against the Jets.
New England pounded the ball on the ground versus the Seahawks, rushing the ball for 185 yards. If the Patriots surpass 170 yards rushing this week, it would be the first time in team history they would rush for 170 or more in the first three games.
Running back Rhamondre Stevenson has rushed for a touchdown in each of the Patriots first two games. Meanwhile, Antonio Gibson averaged 8.7 yards per carry versus the Seahawks.
Hunter Henry had eight catches on 12 targets for 109 yards; it was the second 100-yard game in a home opener. If he reaches 100 yards receiving this week, it will mark the first time that he has had back-to-back 100-yard receiving games and the first time that a Patriots receiver has had back-to-back 100-yard receiving games since wide receiver Julian Edelman in 2019.
Henry accounted for 109 of Brissett’s 149 passing yards.
“Hunter had a great game, the running game is good,” Brissett said. “Obviously we want to get more players involved. We want to spread the wealth for sure. This game is an opportunity to do that.”
How to Watch or Listen
Week 3: Patriots (1-1 ) at New York Jets (1-1), 8:15 p.m.
Location: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ.
TV: Amazon. Al Michaels (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (color), Kaylee Hartung (sidelines)
Radio: 98.5-FM The SportsHub
Roster Moves
Patriots signed defensive end Jamree Kromah to the 53-man roster from the Chicago Bears practice squad. In a corresponding move, New England placed linebacker Oshane Ximines on injured reserve and will miss a minimum of four games.
Kromah signed with the Bears as an undrafted free agent back in April. The 6-foot-4, 275-pound former transfer from Rutgers to James Madison did so after totaling 60 tackles, 11 sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery as a redshirt senior with the Dukes. He cleared waivers at the end of the preseason before signing to Chicago’s practice squad at its formation in August.
Ximines has appeared in both games this season and recorded one tackle.
Patriots elevate Joe Giles-Harris from practice squad. Giles-Harris spent the summer with the Patriots before re-signing to the practice squad. He has appeared in 17 games over the course of his career, and has 26 tackles and a sack in those appearances.
Patriots Injury Report
Patriots Offensive/Defensive Stats
Patriots Unofficial Depth Chart
Patriots in the media
The Patriots will be without Ja’Whaun Bentley, who is sidelined with a torn pec muscle. Linebacker Jahlani Tavai is expected to take over the majority of Bentley’s responsibilities moving forward.
Raekwon McMillian should see opportunity on the field with Bentley out of action.
“At the end of the day, the opportunity is there, so I have to take advantage of it. But that’s my brother. We prepare together,” McMillan said of Bentley. “Everything we do together in preparation for the games, and then on Sunday, we let it play out how it plays out. Now that he’s down, it’s another opportunity for me.”
The 6-foot-2, 250-pound McMillian is a former second-round pick during the 2017 draft by the Dolphins. He spent two seasons in Miami before he joined the Raiders in 2020. The former Ohio State product joined the Patriots in 2021 and missed two of three seasons with an ACL injury in 2021 and a partially torn Achilles’ in 2023.
On Sunday versus the Seahawks, McMillian played 41 defensive snaps, the second most on the Pats defense, and finished with six tackles and a quarterback hit.
“I feel like for me, when my brother went down, I didn’t know what was going on. But my preparation never changed,” McMillan said. “Week 1, I didn’t play any snaps on defense, and then the next week, I played 40-plus snaps.
“It’s the same preparation—I went through the same process and it paid off, with my extra conditioning as if I was going to play. Didn’t know if I was going to play. I didn’t know how many plays I was going to play. But when I got a chance, I took advantage of it.”
Tavai and McMillian aren’t household names and are far from the great linebacker tandems the Patriots have had in the past. Both players have experience playing on the same defense and being in the same linebacker room the last couple of years.
“We’ve been in the same room for the last three years together,” McMillan said. “I wasn’t on the field at the same time, but I’ve been in the film room and made all the adjustments with him. Just kept it rolling, so when it was my turn to go in the game, I wanted to make some impact plays.”
Losing Bentley is a massive blow for the Patriots, who are lacking premium talent on their roster. Tavai recognizes the loss of the leader on defense but is excited to see what McMillian can do in an expanded role on the team.
“It’s a big thing, losing somebody like Bentley,” Tavai said. “He’s one of our leaders, and definitely... it’s a tough one. We’re all pretty close in that linebacker room. That being said, it’s next-man-up mentality. It’s great that we have a guy like [McMillan] here too, because he stepped up to the challenge Sunday. Each and every week, he’s always shown that he’s that guy. I’m more than excited for [him] and for the younger guys to showcase their talents and accept the opportunities that they’ve been given.”
Patriots linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley with significant injury and will miss rest of the season
The Patriots defense was dealt with a massive blow on Monday night.