New York Jets can expose New England OL in Week 3 matchup

The New York Jets have one real opportunity to upset the New England Patriots. Here are all the details and how the team can take full advantage.

The New York Jets aren’t the only team with offensive line issues. The impenetrable New England Patriots suddenly have a very real Achilles heel: their offensive line.

Late in the offseason the Patriots realized their depth issues and shocked the football world with a flurry of trades to upgrade the trenches:

• On August 28 the Baltimore Ravens traded Jermaine Eluemunor and a sixth-round pick to the Patriots for a fourth-round selection.
• Two days later, a rare in-division trade was consummated between the Buffalo Bills and the Patriots for center Russell Bodine. He was later released by the team.
• As if two trades weren’t enough, the team also made a deal with the Arizona Cardinals for swing tackle Korey Cunningham prior to the season.

A lot of the additional action was in response to the Patriots losing their two-time Super Bowl champion center David Andrews for the season. He was hospitalized with blood clots in his lungs.

Back in Week 1 vs the Pittsburgh Steelers the Patriots also lost their right tackle Marcus Cannon to a shoulder injury and his status for Sunday is uncertain (currently listed as questionable).

While the latest injury is one of the most devastating: former first-round pick Isaiah Wynn has been placed on injured reserve. In 2018 he missed his rookie season with a torn Achilles and now he’ll be out once again.

With all the injuries to the offensive line, New England is planning on starting three backups (Marshall Newhouse, Cunnigham, and center Ted Karras), per Zachary DuPont of Boston.com.

The Jets Zone w/ @BoyGreen25 feat @RichCimini:– Details on his podcast #FlightDeck. – When Sam Darnold should return. – What the #Jets can do w/ Trumaine Johnson. – Why #TakeFlight should be optimistic about the rest of 2019.#NYJvsNE #JetUphttps://t.co/0mui3DI2Ut

— The Jets Zone (@TheJets_Zone) September 18, 2019

Despite all the injuries and unrest at the position, the team is confident in the coaching moxie of offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia who seems to always get the most out of his players. If anyone can survive this many injuries, it’s the Patriots.

So far this season, Tom Brady has only been sacked three times. Which is tied for the ninth-lowest total through two weeks of NFL action, per ESPN.

While on the other hand, the New York Jets rank 20th in the league in sacks (with a paltry four), per NFL.com.

Jets defensive coordinator Gregg Williams said the gang green pass rush would shock people in 2019 and it has, with how invisible it’s been.

If the squad has any chance to pull off one of the biggest regular-season upsets in history, they’ll need to make Brady uncomfortable.

Both teams will be operating without a full deck against each other in Week 3, whoever wins the battle in the trenches, may very well walk away with the victory.