Plenty of people hand out game balls after the game. That’s easy. Watch the game, see who does well, give them the game ball. We’re doing something a little different. We’re handing out a pre-game ball. Before we watch the game, let’s settle on a player or players we think might be a decisive advantage for the Jets in the upcoming game. Occasionally we might hand out a pre-blame ball. If we think the Jets are going to get slaughtered, we’ll try to identify a prime culprit.
One caveat: the quarterback
is off limits. Nothing personal against quarterbacks, but they are obviously the most important players on the field. We could give out a pre-game or pre-blame ball to the quarterback virtually every week, but that would be boring, so we’re not going to do it. We’ll try to identify somebody besides the quarterback for the glory or the ignominy.
This approach comes with the obvious drawback that predictions are difficult, especially about the future. We’re destined to get many of these wrong. No matter. We’ll have some laughs along the way. Let’s get to it.
The Jets pre-game ball for the Jets game against the New England Patriots goes to (drum roll please) – Dane Belton!
The Jets have some holes on offense going into this game. They are missing Adonai Mitchell, and Omar Cooper and Kenyon Sadiq are both listed as questionable. Breece Hall and Dylan Parham are also missing this game. Against a Patriots team currently ranked 5th in the NFL in yards allowed, the banged up Jets offense will probably not be winning any shootouts on Sunday.
The Jets defense may have to carry the day. The Patriots may be missing A.J. Brown again on Sunday after he missed the last two games with an injury. In Browns’ absence the Patriots have been relying on the running game and their tight ends in the passing game a lot. Enter Dane Belton. He has been a revelation for the Jets. He rarely misses tackles, wraps up well, is a force against the run, and has the speed to take on tight ends against the pass. If Belton and his running partner Minkah Fitzpatrick can neutralize the Patriots’ tight ends and running backs, the rest of the Patriots weapons on offense aren’t top of the NFL talent.
Against a Patriots team that has put up a combined 74 points on offense over the last two games, the Jets’ safeties will play a crucial role in slowing down Drake Maye and company. Maybe Belton forces a fumble. Maybe he sacks Maye in a crucial spot. Maybe he snags an interception. Somehow, some way, I’m looking for Belton to be a difference maker on defense on Sunday. If he is, maybe the Jets have a chance at an upset win. Dane Belton, come on down! Your breakout game awaits. You get your opportunity on Sunday. Let’s see you run with it.
What about you? Who would you give the pre-game ball to? Let us know in the comments.
