Week 16 Preview: Patriots at Jets

Photo courtesy of Yahoo Sports

OUT
Patriots: CB Kyle Arrington (hamstring), RB LeGarrette Blount (shoulder), OL Dan Conolly (knee), WR Julian Edelman (thigh/concussion) 

Jets: DB Jaiquawn Jarrett (shoulder), S Rontez Miles (shin)

DOUBTFUL
Patriots: None

Jets: None

QUESTIONABLE
Patriots: LS Danny Aiken (finger), OL Cameron Fleming (ankle), LB Dont'a Hightower (shoulder), DE Chandler Jones (hip), WR Brandon LaFell (shoulder), LB Rob Ninkovich (heel), RB Shane Vereen (ankle), LB Chris White (ankle)

Jets: None

PROBABLE
Patriots: QB Tom Brady (ankle)

Jets: DB Antonio Allen (hand), G Willie Colon (knee), K Nick Folk (hip), WR Percy Harvin (ankle), RB Chris Johnson (knee), C Nick Mangold (finger), S Calvin Pryor (shoulder), DL Muhammad Wilkerson (toe)

The Patriots still have a lot to play for this week. While they have already clinched the division, their seeding in the AFC playoffs is still not secure. While unlikely, there's a chance that they can still finish third in the conference. 

A win clinches them a first round bye. 

So obviously, New England is going to show up today in New York, but they will do so without Julian Edelman, their versatile slot receiver, and LeGarrette Blount, who has looked awesome in his return to the Pats and poaching the running back duties from Jonas Gray. 

While that may hamper the Pats' ability to completely dominate the game offensively just a little bit, it would be quite the shocker if they didn't win. 

In addition, the Jets don't have any incentive to win. Rather, it's better off that they keep losing to put themselves in a better position for next year's draft. I'm not worried about where the Raiders or Jaguars finish in the standings, because neither team is going to draft another quarterback one year after taking Derek Carr early in the second, and Blake Bortles third overall, respectively. 

The teams that do frighten me, however, are the Titans and Buccaneers. Especially Tampa. It's possible that if they pick before the Jets, Tennessee may see a player that they really like that isn't a quarterback, such as Amari Cooper or Randy Gregory. Tampa Bay, on the other hand, will take Marcus Mariota if he's available. If the Jets lose out and the Bucs beat either the Packers (highly unlikely), or the Saints, New York has a chance at their QB of the future. If not, it looks like it's time for Jameis Winston in the Big Apple, which is quite the risk. 

Back to this game for a second. The short version of this is: once again, the Jets are going to lose. 

Bold and Unnecessary Predictions That I'm Making Anyway

• Darrelle Revis will be booed relentlessly before the game. A bunch of stupid Jets fans will give him a not so warm welcome. 

• The Jets will rush for 150 yards. The Pats are just about as good against the run and the pass, which of course means that the Jets are going to stay on the ground all day. 

JETS (+10) over Patriots. 

Patriots 27, Jets 19.