New England Patriots-New York Jets rivalry goes Gen Z at QB

FLORHAM PARK, NJ – The New England Patriots-New York Jets rivalry enters a new phase on Sunday. Let’s call it the Mac & Zach era.

For the first time in the series’ 62-year history, the Patriots and Jets will face the rookie quarterbacks – Mac Jones and Zach Wilson, respectively. They are not just recruits. These are both first-round picks and are seen as the long-term answers to the job.

Wilson, 22, was drafted No. 2 overall by BYU. Jones, 23, from Alabama, was the 15th pick. Chapter I of the Quarterbacks Rivalry begins on Wilson’s field at MetLife Stadium (1 p.m. ET, CBS).

NFL Nation reporters Mike Reiss (Patriots) and Rich Cimini (Jets) take a closer look at Jones and Wilson:

What has each organization learned about their quarterback?

Reis: That Jones can handle the pressure – first as a potential franchise quarterback in the post-Tom Brady era, then on the pitch. The Miami Dolphins bombarded Jones 45 percent of the time in Game 1 of the season (second-highest in the NFL), and Jones was 9 of 13 with a duress touchdown, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels complimented Jones’ opening performance (29 of 39 for 281 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT).

“They definitely challenged us with a lot of different looks and pressures. That’s to be expected, and I think Mac handled most of that very well,” McDaniels said. “His communication, I thought, was clear. It was consistent. He was strong.”

Overall, Jones has earned the respect of his teammates and coaches with a veteran-like approach – still working out and keeping a pin even.

Cimini: That Wilson can take a punch. He was hit nine times by the Carolina Panthers in Week 1, including a late-game two-way slam, but he never flinched. You never know about a young quarterback until you see him in action in the game – how he reacts when touched. Wilson wasn’t knocked down during the preseason and he certainly didn’t get roughed up last season against BYU’s cream puff schedule, so he was a stranger before the regular season. His resilience impressed his teammates. “Dude, he’s a tough guy,” Jets wide receiver Corey Davis said. “He was touched a lot. Just to see how he reacted, there was no frustration, no anger. He was just balanced.” His overall figures under pressure were not good (3 against 13, 87 yards, 1 TD), but he improved a lot in the second half.

And the biggest concern of these rookies this season will be …

Reis: Jones took nine hits in Game 1 of the season, and Patriots center David Andrews said the team needs to do a better job taking care of him. “We were disturbed by this,” added offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo. Jones is 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighs 214 pounds, wears a protective brace on his left knee and hasn’t enjoyed the benefits of a full NFL offseason schedule, so it’s no exaggeration to say that preservation is a major concern. It ties into the challenge for all rookies in a sense – a 17-game longer NFL season compared to college.

Cimini: The obvious answer is to protect it better, but it goes further than that. The Jets can’t let Wilson fall victim to Sam Darnold Syndrome, which is incorrect QB development. They’ve surrounded Wilson with a competent set of wide receivers, which is a start, but they have to be careful not to put too much on his plate. They have to present the running game and make the attack as balanced as possible. There will be a temptation to go the other way and become happy, especially if they are playing from behind, but coach Robert Saleh cannot lose sight of the big picture. He can’t let Wilson be this year’s Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals), exposing him to injury by having him pitch 40 times per game. For Wilson’s sake, you hope this diet doesn’t repeat the sins of the past.

Tell us something people might not know about Mac and Zach:

Reis: I’ll give you a few to cover the basics. His birth name is Michael McCorkle Jones, as McCorkle is his mother Holly’s maiden name. He and his girlfriend, Sophie, have a Maltipoo dog named Rose. And Jones does breathing exercises on the sidelines during games to calm himself down. In many ways, the New England area is still learning more about Jones and what makes him tick, and these are a few things that have come up in recent weeks in interviews and on TV shows.

Cimini: When Wilson is focused on something, he usually accomplishes it. In college, he decided he wanted to learn juggling on his own. He has become a very good juggler. When he was younger he was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Classwork was a challenge in college, but he overcame it. He never let this affect his ability to learn football games and concepts. He is known to spend hours watching movies and preparing for matches.

What are the clashes like for this game?

Jones vs. the Jets: Just as Jones has faced numerous blitzes against the Dolphins, he should expect the same on Sunday. The Jets beat 41.7% of the time in their season opener loss, according to ESPN Stats & Information research, which was the fifth-highest total of any team in Week 1.

Wilson vs. Patriots: Rookie quarterbacks don’t have much success against defenses coached by Bill Belichick. The Patriots are 9-1 in their last 10 games against rookies, although they lost the most recent (Week 15 in 2020 to Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa). The last Jets rookie to beat a team led by Belichick was Geno Smith in 2013.

Straight from ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky:

On the early days of Jones: “Two things about Mac Jones: First, he was very doomed with his eyes. He knew what he was looking at and believed in what he was looking at, and was doomed where he went. Second, I thought that ‘He had made four or five of the tough, important shots while being touched. It was as impressive as anything a rookie has done. “

On Wilson’s early days: “For Zach, the game was very quick for him at the start physically, but his eyes were quick, which was a good thing. He realized that while the windows in college football can be the same size as the NFL they close faster. This is mainly because the defenders underneath are longer. The interception was a perfect example. That being said, I was really impressed with his tenacity. “