This Isn't How the Jets Wanted to Come Out of Their Bye

Two weeks ago, the Jets daydreamed their way through a loss to the lowly Browns in Cleveland. After having an open date to think about it, the Jets have to travel to Foxborough, Mass., to take on the Patriots. The Patriots handled the Jets in the teams' first meeting this year, and few should expect the Jets to reverse that, especially with this contest on the road.

After a loss against the Colts last week, the Patriots will not be lulled to sleep in what some might call a "trap game." New England knows its margin of error for a first-round bye has grown slim -- the Pats have also lost to Denver, creating two unfavorable tiebreaking scenarios. The Jets will be fighting for their lives, and playing the Patriots on the road before hosting the Bears is not what they had in mind. The loss the Browns, besides bringing the Jets back to reality, also created a need for a split in these next two games. If they don't get, they'll be looking at a long -- and boring -- final six weeks of the season.