Monday Night Football Season 18 Episode 2 New England Patriots at New York Jets
- September 21, 1987
The 18th season of Monday Night Football continues with an exciting matchup between two AFC East rivals, the New England Patriots and the New York Jets. Both teams are looking to make a statement early in the season, with the Patriots hoping to continue their dominance over the division and the Jets seeking redemption after a disappointing 2019 campaign.
The Patriots come into the game with a 1-0 record, having defeated the Miami Dolphins in the season opener. Led by future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady, the Patriots' offense will look to continue their success against a Jets defense that ranked 25th in total defense last season. Brady will have plenty of weapons at his disposal, including wide receivers Julian Edelman and Josh Gordon and tight end Rob Gronkowski, who will be looking to build on his impressive performance in Week 1.
Defensively, the Patriots will be without star cornerback Stephon Gilmore, who is expected to miss the game with a concussion. However, New England's defense is known for their ability to adjust on the fly and should still be able to contain a Jets offense that struggled mightily in their season opener against the Buffalo Bills.
On the other side of the ball, the Jets are looking to bounce back from a Week 1 loss to the Bills in which they managed just eight points. Second-year quarterback Sam Darnold will be looking to improve on his shaky performance in Week 1, and he'll have some help in the form of running back Le'Veon Bell, who signed with the Jets in the offseason. Wide receiver Robby Anderson will also be a key player for the Jets, as he has shown the ability to make big plays downfield.
Defensively, the Jets will need to improve on their performance in Week 1 if they hope to contain a Patriots offense that put up 33 points against the Dolphins. Linebacker C.J. Mosley, who signed with the Jets in the offseason, will be a key player to watch, and defensive end Leonard Williams will need to step up his game after being held without a sack in Week 1.
Overall, this game should be a closely contested battle between two division rivals. While the Patriots are the favorites to come out on top, the Jets have the talent to pull off the upset at home. It should be an exciting primetime matchup between two teams looking to make a statement early in the season.