This early, the rivalry in the AFC is starting to heat up after New York Jets wide receiver Quincy Enunwa made a bold declaration on CBS Sports Radio’s “Tiki and Tierney.” During the interview, Enunwa suggested that the Jets could take down the Patriots in the AFC East as soon as this season. Enunwa claimed that the Patriots are vulnerable while the Jets are capable of bringing them down this season.
Enunwa doubled down on his pronouncement during an interview with SiriusXM's "NFL Radio," adding that the Jets are hyper-confident that they can bring down the Patriots.
Enunwa’s statement is a bold proclamation as the Patriots have won nine straight division titles and dominated the AFC East in 15 of the last 17 seasons. The Jets, for their part, have not made the playoffs since 2010 and finished the last two seasons with a combined record of 10-22. The 25-year-old Enunwa missed all of last season after he underwent neck surgery. In 2018, Enunwa tallied 58 receptions for 857 yards with four touchdowns.
Jets made significant moves
The Jets made some significant moves in the offseason, taking quarterback Sam Darnold as the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. They also signed former Minnesota Vikings starter Teddy Bridgewater to a deal and retained last season’s starter Josh McCown.
The Jets also brought in linebacker Avery Williamson, tight end Clive Walford, running backs Isaiah Crowell and Thomas Rawls, wide receiver Terrelle Pryor and center Spencer Long. They also boosted their secondary as they acquired former Los Angeles Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson, who will pair with veteran Morris Claiborne.
Since 2010, the Patriots and the Jets have met 17 times, with New England winning 13 of those meetings. The Patriots are on a four-game winning streak against the Jets, including a 41-3 rout on December 24, 2016 at Gillette Stadium.
How did the Patriots fare in 2018 NFL Draft?
The Patriots acquired nine players from the 2018 NFL Draft, including offensive lineman Isaiah Wynn (No.
23) and running back Sony Michel (No. 31) and second-round selection, cornerback Duke Dawson. Days after the NFL Draft, several experts weighed in on the Patriots’ moves. Mel Kiper of ESPN gave the Patriots a B+ after they didn’t take a solid backup for quarterback Tom Brady. WalterFootball.com gave the Patriots a B after the team got extra second and third-round picks for the 2019 NFL Draft as a result of trades with the Chicago Bears and the Detroit Lions. SI.com gave the Patriots an A+, CBS Sports handed them a B, while NFL.com gave them an A.
