FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The Jets are too flat. The Patriots are too soft.
What was once a fight for supremacy in the AFC East now sounds more like a Yelp review for throw pillows. Losers of their last four games, the New York Jets (2-5) stumble into New England on Sunday to play the Patriots, who have lost six in a row. Even firing coach Robert Saleh didn't snap the Jets out of the slump they have been in since their last win — a 24-3 victory over New England more than a month ago.
Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers said he thought the team's energy was flat in Sunday night's 37-15 loss to Pittsburgh , and newly acquired receiver Davante Adams let them hear it in the locker room after the game. “Whatever was going on on game day, we all didn’t maybe have the same type of spirit that we usually do,” Rodgers said this week. “I just took it on me.
I’ve got to lead with that type of joy and energy each week, so that it gives permission for everybody to enjoy themselves a little bit more.” The Patriots (1-6) fired six-time Super Bowl-winning coach Bill Belichick after last season's 4-13 finish, and Jerod Mayo hasn't been able to turn things around — or even show signs of progress. After their 32-16 loss in London to Jacksonville, a team with one win coming into the game, the hard-hitting ex-linebacker said his team was “soft across the board.
” “It's got to challenge you,” tight end Hunter Henry said. “This is a physical game, and you never want that to be .