NFL Football
2025-12-28 - New England Patriots at New York Jets
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : NFL Week 17
Saturday 28th December 2025 - Scheduled 1pm
6pm (British Time)
Preview
If the New England Patriots (12-3) can win out, there is still a chance they could finish with the Number 1 Seed in the Conference, but winning the AFC East would be a huge achievement in its own right. The win at the Baltimore Ravens puts them in a strong position to end the Buffalo Bills dominance in the Division and the Patriots are strong favourites to beat the New York Jets (3-12).
Motivation in the home camp will always be intensified by fact they are in a position to play spoiler for a rival, but the New York Jets are persisting with Brady Cook at Quarter Back and the team have looked like they have drawn a line under this season in recent outings.
Brady Cook is inexperienced, and that has shown, and it is going to be tough for the Jets to find anything consistent on this side of the ball.
They may look to run the ball against what has been a vulnerable looking New England Defensive Line, although the Jets have not really been very effective at that in recent games with teams knowing they do not have to be overly respectful of the passing game. You have to believe the Patriots will take their Secondary to deal with any throws that Brady Cook is able to make and that could see them double down on the efforts to stop the run and force the young Quarter Back to beat them with his arm.
The Offensive Line have not only struggled when it comes to helping establish the run, but they have not offered much pass rush protection either and so this looks like it could be another challenging test for the New York Jets.
Injuries were picked up by the New England Patriots in that battling win over the Ravens on the road and they could be without Running Back TreVeyon Henderson as well as a couple of Receivers on Sunday. However, the Patriots Offensive Line will still feel they can open up significant running lanes up front and that should bode well for Drake Maye and company.
With the problems the Jets have been having in stopping the run, New England should be in strong down and distance throughout the game.
It should mean Drake Maye does have time to target Receivers when he is dropping back to throw the ball down the field and the Jets Secondary have been incredibly vulnerable of late.
Anything other than a New England win would be a huge surprise, but the question is whether they can cover- a stronger Jets team were beaten by 13 points in Foxboro and this New England team are capable of putting up enough points and creating some turnovers to do a little better.
New York should be motivated, but they are also in a position to finish with a high Draft Pick and Brady Cook may not be ready to keep the Jets going on the scoreboard as they try and push the team chasing a high Seed in the Playoff.
Prediction
Lay the points with the road favourite.
The Pick :
New York Jets 10-27 New England Patriots
