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I could tell you the Patriots have absolutely white washed the Jets when it came to drafting this year but you’ll probably think I’m biased, so I’ll let the excellent Jets blog “Turn on the Jets” tell you. It’s also worth noting that they fail to mention Brandon Deaderick, Kyle Love, and Dane Fletcher, all rookies who have played multiple games and contributed…

New England

• Corner – Devin McCourty – 61 tackles, 5 INTs, 12 PDs
• Tight End – Rob Gronkowski – 25 receptions, 310 yards, 6 TDs
• Tight End – Aaron Hernandez – 36 receptions, 462 yards, 3 TDs
• Linebacker – Brandon Spikes – 54 tackles
• Punter – Zoltan Mesko – 43.7 yards net average
• Linebacker – Jermaine Cunningham – 26 tackles, 1 sack

Jets

• Corner – Kyle Wilson – 20 tackles, 4 PDs
• Guard – Vladimir Ducasse – Inactive every week but one
• Running Back – Joe McKnight – Normally inactive, 4 carries, 12 yards
• Fullback – John Conner – 2 receptions, 9 yards

Let’s be honest, to this point Wilson, Ducasse, and McKnight have all been major disappointments. Drew Coleman has outplayed Wilson all season, who has struggled both at corner and punt returner. Ducasse was easily beaten out by Matt Slauson in training camp for the starting guard job and is the team’s 3rd backup OL behind Wayne Hunter and Robert Turner. McKnight…well, what can you even say about him? At least we have The Terminator leading the way for years to come at fullback.

I don’t know who’s going to win Monday night. But I do know that the Patriots have a lot more talented young players who are locked up long term. Doesn’t mean the Jets won’t continue to sign quality free agents, and from the sound of it every player in the NFL wants to play for Rex Ryan.

While this young Patriots defense has struggled what’s clear is that there are young playmakers at every level, and that bodes very well for New England’s future.

Both the Jets and the Patriots have big buts this season. Sure they share 9-2 records, the best in the NFL, but both teams have issues, or better yet, weaknesses.

We could go back and forth all day about how good the Jets and Patriots really are. The Jets have needed last minute miracles against teams that a Super Bowl contender shouldn’t need last minute miracles against. 

The Patriots have reached 9 wins despite having their pass defense consistently shredded, especially on third down where they rank last in the NFL. Statistically the Patriots look like they have the most glaring weakness, but their 9-2 record is more impressive given the opponents they have defeated. 

But the fact is you can throw the records and the statistics out the window when the Patriots and Jets play. 

What does it all mean?

Both teams have made clutch plays when they needed them most, but after Monday night one will sit at 9-3 and the other will sit at 10-2. Those records might not seem all that different, but the discussion surrounding them will be at opposite ends of the spectrum.

One team will have been exposed as the pretender and the other will be favored to face Atlanta in the Super Bowl. Whether or not either label is true will remain to be seen in each teams four remaining games.