The New York Jets secondary faces a big test this week against the New England Patriots.
Although the Jets defense has earned a lot of kudos, especially for the defense’s sack attack, it faces a different beast in the Patriots. Quarterback Drake Maye and head coach Mike Vrabel know how to organize an aerial attack and will be ready to probe the weakest spots in the Jets secondary.
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Cornerback Brandon Stephens appears to be a particular target. Sophomore corner Azareye’h Thomas has been so solid that teams largely stay away from him, putting pressure on Stephens to cover his side of the field.
Fortunately for the Jets, safeties Minkah Fitzpatrick, Dane Belton and Andre Cisco form a solid unit capable of delivering hits. Receivers passing over the middle will need to keep their eyes peeled, lest they suffer the type of hit that knocked Cleveland rookie KC Concepcion out of the game in Week 5.
The Jets frequently blitz, so the secondary is typically used for tight physical coverage. Slot corner Jarvis Brownlee Jr., a frequent blitzer, also ranks among the NFL’s best in tackling efficiency among defensive backs.
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New England is expected to use tight ends Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper in two tight end lineups. Drake Maye will try to offset the Jets’ pressure by throwing short passes and short passes, a tactic that has worked many times for other teams. That means linebackers Demario Davis and Jamien Sherwood will need to make their presence felt.
New England beat the Las Vegas Raiders last week, as Drake Maye threw for 374 yards and four touchdowns. Receiver DeMario Douglas played a major role in this process, catching two scores. He will be deployed against Brandon Stephens, who will be tested early.
The Pats also hope to see something from AJ Brown, who is out but returned to practice this week. If activated for the game, it will be used to test Stephens on vertical shots down the court.
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If the Jets get too comfortable defending the pass, the Patriots will turn to their ground game to soften things up. The goal is to force hesitation, which will open things up in the middle area.
New England frequently deploys heavier personnel on the field. The Patriots hope to force the Jets to stick to standard base defenses or compromise their nickel packages. If the Jets try to over-index on stopping the run, Maye has shown he can take advantage up the middle.
The Patriots can punish teams that leave safeties in one fell swoop. Maye was 4-6 for 149 yards and two touchdowns on throws of 20+ yards against the Raiders. They could test the Jets at some point in the same way.
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With AJ Brown out with an ankle injury, the Patriots had to look for ways to work around the star receiver’s absence. The Pats say his participation will be a game-time decision.
This story was originally published by Athlon on October 15, 2026, where he first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon as Favorite source by clicking here.
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