FOXBOROUGH — As the 4-12 Patriots wrap up their 2023 season, they’ll do it against a Jets team that Bill Belichick has beaten 15 times in a row.
“Honestly, the biggest goal is breaking the losing streak,” Jets linebacker Quincy Williams told reporters in New Jersey this week. “With it being the last game, most people’s mindsets are on their vacations and stuff, but it is not that way in the locker room. I’m actually excited this week.”
So will Belichick extend his winning streak to 16 games and end the 2023 season on a high note? Here are three predictions for Sunday’s game:
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1. It’s a real snow game
Though Belichick bemoans trusting the forecast, the crystal ball is showing a blizzard in Foxborough. For the first time since the Titans were in town back in 2009, there’s a real snow game at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots have historically been tremendous in the snow at home — they’re 11-0 — and Mother Nature should add a pretty backdrop for what could be a very ugly game on Sunday afternoon.
Victoria, Texas native Bailey Zappe is eager to play in real snow for the first time. He’s only ever had flurries.
“It’ll be exciting,” Zappe said. “We don’t really play in snow very much, so it’s going be fun. It’s going to be a great environment, last game, try to end the year out strong. So, I’m ready for it.”
Whatever the weather, Belichick has been impressed by Zappe’s ability to respond after being cut to start the season.
“In August or September, whenever it was, during the final cuts, I talked to Bailey and I thought he had a great attitude and outlook on the situation,” Belichick said. “’What do I need to do better? How can I do it? How can I improve?’ And he’s worked very hard to address those, and I think that’s shown up in his play and his performance, not just recently but going all the way back to day by day through September, October, all those days. You just take it one day at a time, and I think he really tried to embrace that.
“It’s a big credit to him — his mental toughness, his resiliency and his attitude toward competing.”
2. Elliott proves valuable
During a Week 3 slop-fest in the Meadowlands, Zeke Elliott had his first real impact game (16 carries, 80 yards) with the Patriots. The veteran will prove even more valuable in the rematch against the Jets; look for him to shoulder a heavy load in bad weather. Though the Patriots have nothing to play for in the standings, they’ll still be getting Elliott’s best.
“We play a kid’s game for a king’s ransom,” Elliott said last month. “Any time I get to go out there and play football, I’m excited. How could you not be?”
The bet here is that Elliott goes north of 100 yards from scrimmage.
3. The Patriots win
Belichick beats the Jets yet again, 9-7.
Pop Douglas scores New England’s only touchdown as the winning streak over New York hits 16. The victory hurts the Patriots’ 2024 NFL Draft pick a bit, but they still wind up in the Top 5 when the snow settles.
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