The Week 3 clash between the New England Patriots and AFC East-rival New York Jets will be an interesting one. This, after first-year head coach Adam Gase set a lofty ambition for his team, which is to overtake the Patriots in the AFC East. Now the fans can see if Gase and the Jets can back up their talk when they collide on September 22 at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots will visit the Jets in Week 7 (October 21).
Gase’s ambition was recently made public by newly acquired linebacker C.J. Mosley, who signed a five-year deal worth $85 million. That includes $51 million in guaranteed money.
Per NJ.com, Mosley said Gase told the team during their offseason workout that he took the Jets job because he wants to go after the team that’s been winning every year in the AFC East, obviously referring to the Patriots. “Gase said that's one of the main reasons he came here and we all believe that and the guys that are new additions to the team, we're pretty much here for the same reason,” said Mosley.
Gase confident in new-look Jets
According to Mosley, Gase told the team that the Jets have the attitude and the players to craft the game plan that could fulfill the goal. Aside from Mosley, the Jets also added running back LeVeon Bell and slot receiver Jamison Crowder from the free agent market.
Bell signed a four-year deal worth $52.5 million ($35 million guaranteed).
It will be a tremendous task for the Jets, as the Patriots have won 15 of the last 16 AFC East titles. They failed to win the AFC East in the 2008 season after quarterback Tom Brady tore his ACL in Week 1. The Jets also have only one winning season in their last eight seasons.
Patriots 2019 regular season schedule
Per multiple sources, the Patriots will open their regular season against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who will play for the first time without wide receiver Antonio Brown and Bell, in Week 1 (September 8). The Patriots will go on the road in Week 2 when they take on former coach Brian Flores and the Miami Dolphins before they take on the Jets in Week 3.
The Patriots will embark on back-to-back road games in Week 4 (September 29) against the Buffalo Bills and against the Washington Redskins in Week 5.
In Week 6, they will take on the New York Giants, the Jets in Week 7, and the Cleveland Browns in Week 8. After a Week 10 bye, the Patriots will travel to Philadelphia to face the Eagles on November 17. They will take on the Dallas Cowboys in Week 12. The Patriots will face the Houston Texans in Week 13 and the much-anticipated AFC championship rematch with the Kansas City Chiefs comes in Week 14. The Patriots will have the Cincinnati Bengals (Week 15), Bills (Week 16) and the Dolphins (Week 17) as their last three opponents.