The Patriots and Jets are about to play their 134th game in a rivalry that predates most NFL dynasties. That's not just a number—that's six-plus decades of animosity, and Week 6 is the next chance for Mike Vrabel's team to add another win to what has become a dramatically one-sided ledger in New England's favor.
Here's what's wild: the Jets used to own this thing. In the late 60s and early 70s, they went 14-of-15 against the Patriots. That's dominance. But the tide didn't just turn—it got bulldozed. The Patriots flipped this rivalry on its head and haven't let up. What was once a New York show became a New England bloodbath. That's not ancient history; that's the through line of this matchup that still matters every time these teams line up.
The Jets are always a divisional pain point, and that doesn't change just because we're deep into the 2020s. Vrabel knows the grind of AFC East football—you don't get comfortable, you don't overlook anyone, and you certainly don't give divisional rivals any oxygen. With a roster featuring talent up and down the depth chart on both sides of the ball, the Patriots have the personnel to control this game. But rivalry games don't care about talent sheets. They care about execution, preparation, and mental edge.
What makes this matchup interesting is that while New England has dominated the series in recent memory, every week is its own story. The Jets present a fresh test, and Vrabel's crew needs to treat it that way. No coasting on historical advantage. No assuming the outcome. That's how you lose games you shouldn't.
Sunday's game adds chapter 134 to a story that's already been written mostly in the Patriots' favor. The question now is whether they can keep the pen.
Based on reporting from Pats Pulpit.