by Joe Buttgereit – Wannamakeabet Staff Writer
The final week of the 2017 season brings us another clash between the Jets and Patriots. Like most of recent years for the Jets, this is the final game of the year; and like most of recent years for the Patriots, the final tune-up before they wait to see who they’ll be playing in the Divisional Round of the playoffs.
Heading into the 2010 season, the series between the two was actually even, 50-50-1. The Pats then would go on a 12-4 run (including the playoffs) heading into this week, the 15th matchup of this decade. Though the Pats have owned the recent record, the games have been close. Of the last 16 games, only 4 were decided by more than 9 points. Three of those four games occurred prior to the 2013 season.
Since 2013, outside of one 38-point Patriot blowout, seven games between the two have been decided by an average of 4.4 points. In addition, six of the last seven games at Gillette Stadium dating back to 2011 have been decided by 9 points or less.
This is a game that could get funky as well. The Patriots have the luxury of controlling their own home-field destiny. If they win this game, regardless of what happens with the Steelers, they will lock up the #1 seed in the AFC. So, if this game gets out of hand in favor of New England by the 3rd quarter, Brady and the boys could get pulled to avoid any freak injuries. Even if the lead gets above the line (15.0), I can realistically see the Pats pulling players allowing the Jets to at least get back within the spread.
I see this being a 30-17 game in favor of the Patriots, so I would take the Jets and the 15 points expecting a late TD against a prevent style defense allowing the Jets to cover their end of the spread.