An exciting new episode of the Jets-Patriots’ “Border War” will come to life Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
The Zach Wilson-Mac Jones era is about to begin. It’s an era that both the Jets and the Patriots hope will be long and productive and worthy of being labeled as an era.
Both Wilson, whom the Jets scored with the second overall team, and Jones, whom the Patriots picked with the 15th overall team, lost their respective NFL debuts on Sunday. But both showed flashes of the reasons why they were written so highly and begin as novices.
Wilson, after fighting during the first half of the 19-14 loss to the Jets in Carolina, finished 20 for 37 (54.1 percent) for 258 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.
Jones, the first rookie to start as a quarterback in New England since Drew Bledsoe in 1993, completed 29 of 39 passes (74.4 percent) over 289 yards with a touchdown and no picks in the Patriots ’home loss 17 -16 against the Dolphins.
It is likely that one of the two youngsters will reach dinner on Sunday up to 1-1 in his career.
The Patriots are separated one year from their divorce from Tom Brady after 20 years of incredible memories and a trophy case full of Lombardi trophies. With Brady’s migration to Tampa last year, Belichick was heading to Cam Newton. That didn’t go so well. Newton was released a few weeks ago and now Belichick is in Jones.
The Jets, without the rich history of quarterbacks and with a sterile case of trophies, go to whoever can lead them to their first playoff spot since 2010.
They desperately expect Wilson, the 22-year-old from BYU with a one-arm bazooka that shook a tremendous first half on Sunday to go 14 for 21 for 174 yards and two TDs in the second half, showing a dynamic pocket awareness and escape capability in the process (he was fired six times and beaten 10 more times).
“The play is never over when he has the ball in his hands,” Belichick said of Wilson on Boston’s WEEI radio. “You can get out of trouble, run. He can do all the throws, he has a very good arm. He’s had a lot of production at BYU, so I’m sure this will translate to the NFL throughout his career.
“He’s a guy who really has to do a good job on long balls, intermediate passes, long plays and his ability to run with the ball. It has good receivers, good goals and they will open at home. I’m sure there will be a lot of energy down there. We have to agree with that and play a good football match “.
Jones was also not discouraged, which did not surprise his former Alabama teammate, Jets defender Quinnen Williams.
“Man, Mac Jones is my ‘Bama’ brother,” Williams said. “Amazing person. I could see him grow from a real first year to what he is now. initial job.Mac is a competitor.You have to remember that he had to sit behind Tua [Tagovailoa] and Jalen [Hurts]. He had to go through a lot to get where he is. He had to work hard. ”
Another era begins on Sunday: between Belichick and young Jets debutant Robert Saleh, who will coach his first home game at MetLife Stadium. While Saleh (as Rex Ryan famously said a few years before him) sure has no interest in kissing Belichick’s rings, he filled him with praise.
“I do not know [Belichick]Saleh said. “I know about him, obviously. I think everyone does. He’s one of the greatest of all time. His schemes, his staff decisions, everything has stood the test of time.
“He has won in many different ways. He’s won without a quarterback, he’s won with quarterbacks, he does it all. So it’s always a big challenge to go against him and his schemes, both offensive and defensive, and special teams.
“He’s been coaching the Patriots since I started coaching, so seeing how his legacy grows and that coach he is is an honor to share the same field with him.”
One day, Jets fans expect Belichick to have the honor of training on the same field as Saleh and training against Wilson.
Let the new era begin and let it be long and rich in plots.