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.