The long-standing rivalry between the New England Patriots and New York Jets resumes this Thursday on “Thursday Night Football” with a fresh perspective.

As these AFC East foes square off at MetLife Stadium, it will mark the first time since 1999 that Bill Belichick is absent from the New England sidelines.

Throughout Belichick’s time, the Patriots dominated the Jets, compiling an impressive 37-11 record against them and their seven different head coaches since 2000.

Now, the Jets have a chance to write a new narrative against a Patriots squad adjusting to the leadership of new head coach Jerod Mayo. Both teams have something to prove this season.

After a surprising victory over the Bengals in Week 1, the Patriots hit a setback, losing a close game to the Seahawks in overtime. Fans are eager to see the No. 3 overall pick, Drake Maye, step in, as he’s currently sitting behind Jacoby Brissett.

The Jets are also trying to find their balance following an uneven beginning to their season: They suffered a tough defeat against the 49ers in Week 1 and faced challenges against the Titans in Week 2. Although they managed to secure a win, it wasn’t pretty.

The Patriots-Jets rivalry gets reignited tonight. YSL News Sports will deliver live updates, highlights, and more from this Week 3 “Thursday Night Football” game below:

Current Score: Jets vs. Patriots

• Jets: 7
• Patriots: 0

Update on Aaron Rodgers’ Performance

The Jets quarterback is having a strong start, completing 8 out of 9 passes for 63 yards and a touchdown over two drives against the Patriots. His only incomplete pass was a good back-shoulder throw to Garrett Wilson, who couldn’t keep his footing on the sideline.

Rodgers also seems to display improved mobility compared to the earlier weeks, having scrambled once for a 5-yard gain and securing a first down on that play.

Touchdown! Rodgers to Lazard for the Jets’ First Score

The Jets are the first to score as Rodgers connects with Lazard for a 10-yard touchdown. The play was executed quickly at the line of scrimmage, allowing Lazard to evade a defender before reaching the end zone.

The Jets successfully completed the extra point, taking the lead with 7-0.

Penalty on Patriots’ Tavai

Patriots linebacker Jahlani Tavai stopped Breece Hall at the line of scrimmage after Hall caught a pass from Rodgers. However, Tavai’s aggressive tackle resulted in a 15-yard personal foul penalty, giving the Jets a chance to score a field goal.

Patriots Struggle in First Possession

Jacoby Brissett faced heavy pressure during the Patriots’ opening drive, with the Jets’ defense making their presence felt. It seems like coach Robert Saleh intends to frequently blitz Brissett to exploit New England’s weakened offensive line, which is missing key players Vederian Lowe and Sidy Sow.

Jets First Drive Ends with a Punt

Despite a strong start from Aaron Rodgers, the Jets’ first drive ended in a punt due to a holding penalty on Morgan Moses and a subsequent sack, forcing them into a challenging second down. Ultimately, the Jets chose to punt rather than attempt a long field goal, giving the Patriots the ball at their own 20-yard line.

Game Details: Jets vs. Patriots

• Date: Thursday, Sept. 19
• Time: 8:15 p.m. ET

This matchup is scheduled to kick off at 8:15 p.m. ET, in line with all of Amazon’s “Thursday Night Football” broadcasts for the 2024 NFL season.

Where to Watch ‘Thursday Night Football’

• Live stream: Amazon Prime
• Local TV: Fox 5 (New York) | Fox 25 (Boston)

Al Michaels (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (commentary), and Kaylee Hartung (sideline reporting) will be covering the game on Amazon.

Predictions for Patriots at Jets

Here are the picks from the YSL News Sports team for the “Thursday Night Football” clash:

• Lorenzo Reyes: Jets 21, Patriots 17
• Tyler Dragon: Jets 24, Patriots 16
• Richard Morin: Jets 23, Patriots 22
• Jordan Mendoza: Jets 17, Patriots12

Jets vs. Patriots Betting Lines, Odds, Over/Under

The Jets are favored to win against the Patriots, as per the BetMGM NFL odds. If you’re considering placing a bet, check out the top mobile sports betting apps offering NFL promotions in 2024, such as the ESPN BET app and the Fanatics Sportsbook promo code.

• Point Spread: Jets (-6.5)
• Moneyline: Jets (-275); Patriots (+220)
• Over/Under: 38.5

Oldest NFL Players in 2024

In the NFL for 2024, there are only two players over the age of 40: Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Bears tight end Marcedes Lewis. Interestingly, both were teammates on the Green Bay Packers in earlier stages of their careers.

Here is the complete list of the oldest players in football:

1. QB Aaron Rodgers, Jets: 40 years old (December 2, 1983)
2. TE Marcedes Lewis, Bears: 40 years old (May 19, 1984)
3. K Matt Prater, Rams: 39 years old (August 10, 1984)
4. K Nick Folk, Titans: 39 years old (November 5, 1984)
5. QB Joe Flacco, Colts: 39 years old (January 16, 1985)
6. C/LS J.J. Jansen, Panthers: 38 years old (January 20, 1986)
7. C/LS Jon Weeks, Texans: 38 years old (February 17, 1986)
8. P Thomas Morstead, Jets: 38 years old (March 8, 1986)
9. C/LS Morgan Cox, Titans: 38 years old (April 26, 1986)
10. QB Josh Johnson, Ravens: 38 years old (May 15, 1986)
11. DL Calais Campbell, Dolphins: 38 years old (September 1, 1986)

Why Isn’t Drake Maye Starting?

Although he hasn’t been named the starter yet, it looks like New England has a strategy to gradually transition Maye into that role.

The team is providing Maye with a considerably high number of first-team offense reps during practice, as indicated by head coach Jerod Mayo, who mentioned the need for a careful balance between preparing Brissett for game week and preparing Maye for his future career.

Is Haason Reddick Playing Against the Patriots?

Jets supporters eager to see their significant offseason acquisition will have to wait a bit longer. The pass-rusher brought in from the Eagles is still on holdout and hasn’t participated in the 2024 season yet.

“Everyone has their own process, and I believe that when he arrives, we will welcome him warmly, support him, and he will become a part of this team,” Jets head coach Robert Saleh stated earlier this season.

Could the Jets Be a Good Fit for Bill Belichick in 2025?

One of Belichick’s key strengths would likely be on the offensive side of the game. Despite facing challenges at the end of his time in New England, his experience leading Tom Brady makes him a solid candidate to guide Aaron Rodgers. If he recruits a promising young offensive coordinator, the Jets might find themselves more optimistic about their offense than they currently are under Saleh.

If Belichick intends to hire recycled coordinators, the Jets may not take to him as favorably. Nevertheless, if they decide to part ways with Saleh after 2024, it’s likely they would at least interview Belichick, who was once famously let go back in 2000 when he began his time with the Patriots.

Other landing spots could also make sense for Belichick.

Aaron Rodgers Could Make More NFL History in 2024

If Aaron Rodgers performs at his usual level in 2024, he has the chance to further establish himself as one of the all-time great quarterbacks in NFL history.

Rodgers is currently just 1,963 yards shy of Hall of Famer Dan Marino, who holds the eighth spot on the all-time passing yards list. This target may be within reach for Rodgers if he connects well with his skill players, especially wide receiver Garrett Wilson.

It’s also quite possible that Rodgers could pass Matt Ryan for seventh place by the end of the season, as he trails Ryan by just 3,394 yards.

Of course, while yards are important, touchdown passes are even more critical: Rodgers has some catching up to do with his former teammate Brett Favre. He is 30 touchdowns behind Favre for fourth place overall—a mark achievable, but it will require a return-to-form Rodgers to reach it. – Joe Rivera

Career Passing Yards List:

1. Tom Brady (2000-2022): 89,214
2. Drew Brees (2001-2020): 80,358
3. Peyton Manning (1998-2015): 71,940
4. Brett Favre (1991-2010): 71,838
5. Ben Roethlisberger (2004-2021): 64,088
6. Philip Rivers (2004-2020): 63,440
7. Matt Ryan (2008-2022): 62,792
8. Dan Marino (1983-1999): 61,361
9. Aaron Rodgers (2005-present): 59,398
10. Eli Manning (2004-2019): 57,023
11. Matthew Stafford (2009-present): 56,580

Career Passing Touchdowns List:

1. Tom Brady (2000-2022): 649
2. Drew Brees (2001-2020): 571
3. Peyton Manning (1998-2015): 539
4. Brett Favre (1991-2010): 508
5. Aaron Rodgers (2005-present): 478
6. Philip Rivers (2004-2020): 421
7. Dan Marino (1983-1999): 420
8. Ben Roethlisberger (2004-2021): 418
9. Matt Ryan (2008-2022): 381
10. Eli Manning (2004-2019): 366
11. Matthew Stafford (2009-present): 358

• NFL Team-by-Team Passing Yardage Leaders

Aaron Rodgers for Vice President? Close, But Not Quite

There were strong rumors indicating that Rodgers could be named as Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s running mate in the 2024 presidential election, but this did not materialize.

RFK Jr. confirmed he was in discussions with Rodgers but ultimately chose California lawyer Nicole Shanahan—as unrelated to the football Shanahan family—as his VP candidate instead.

Kennedy ended his presidential campaign, saving us from a potential Rodgers cabinet position. – Joe Rivera

Who is the NFL’s highest-paid edge rusher?

In 2023, Nick Bosa signed a five-year, $170 million deal with the San Francisco 49ers, making him the highest-paid edge rusher and the top-paid defensive player in the NFL. Jets’ edge rusher Haason Reddick aspires to join this elite group, but his ongoing holdout makes that unlikely at the moment.

C.J. Mosley missing from Jets roster for ‘Thursday Night Football’

On Thursday night, the Jets will be missing an important defensive player as linebacker C.J. Mosley is sidelined due to a foot injury. Mosley, a five-time second-team All-Pro, joined the Jets in 2019.

Robert Saleh’s coaching record with the Jets

Since his hiring before the 2021 season, head coach Saleh has led the Jets to a 19-34 record, yielding a win percentage of .358.

Under Saleh’s leadership, New York has yet to reach the playoffs.

Weather forecast for Jets versus Patriots game

The weather at MetLife Stadium will be perfect for football on Thursday night. Temperatures are expected to be around 77 degrees at kickoff and should not fall below 70 during the game, based on the Weather Channel’s predictions.

There is only a 1 percent chance of rain during the game, with a gentle breeze expected, reaching a maximum of 5 mph. Therefore, weather conditions should not significantly affect gameplay.

Youngest NFL players in 2024

Audric Estime, a running back for the Denver Broncos, was the only other player close to turning 21 when the season started, making his debut on September 8, just two days after his birthday.

As of September 1, the 25 youngest players in the NFL were all under 22 years old, listed as follows:

• Braelon Allen, RB, Jets (20 years, 225 days)
• Audric Estime, RB, Broncos (20 years, 360 days)
• Nate Wiggins, CB, Ravens (21 years, 4 days)
• Cam Little, K, Jaguars (21 years, 15 days)
• Malik Nabers, WR, Giants (21 years, 35 days)
• Trey Benson, RB, Cardinals (21 years, 42 days)
• Keon Coleman, WR, Bills (21 years, 107 days)
• Calen Bullock, S, Texans (21 years, 124 days)
• Xavier Worthy, WR, Chiefs (21 years, 127 days)
• Mekhi Wingo, DT, Lions (21 years, 137 days)

Patriots inactives: Out three starters

The Patriots will be missing three starters in their game against the Jets: left tackle Vedarian Lowe, left guard Sidy Sow, and middle linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley. Additionally, they’ve opted to make Marco Wilson inactive, who was the team’s No. 4 cornerback in the season’s early games, in favor of Alex Austin and Marcellus Dial.

Patriots owner had chosen Jerod Mayo as Bill Belichick’s possible successor five years ago

In a pregame interview with Amazon Prime’s Taylor Rooks, Patriots owner Robert Kraft disclosed that he had identified Jerod Mayo as Bill Belichick’s eventual successor five years ago.

“Jerod has gained a lot of knowledge from Bill, especially in technical aspects,” Kraft stated. “Both are remarkable individuals. Over the past 15 years, I’ve gotten to know Jerod well and chose him five years ago to be our next head coach. It’s advantageous for him to learn under Bill.”

So far, Mayo seems to be justifying Kraft’s choice. He led the Patriots to a surprising win over the Bengals in Week 1 and took the Seahawks into overtime in Week 2, narrowly losing by a field goal.