The Hatfields and the McCoys

It wouldn’t be a National Football League season without mentioning the rivalry between the New York Jets and the New England Patriots. Both the Patriots and Jets began as original members of the American Football League in 1960 and when the AFL and NFL merged in 1970, they have always remained in the same division. But the rivalry between the Patriots and Jets didn’t truly begin until 1985 when they met in the AFC Wild Card Game. The game would mark the first playoff game in Giants Stadium history, but it was the Patriots that would defeat the Jets by a score of 26-14 en route to their first Super Bowl appearance. The rivalry went to another level in 1997 when head coach Bill Parcells walked away from the Patriots after leading them to a Super Bowl appearamce to become the head coach of the Jets. Parcells would name Bill Belichick as Jets defensive coordinator. And when Parcells stepped down from his post in 1999, Belichick was named as the next head coach of the Jets. But a day later, Belichick decided that he did not want to be the Jets head coach and he instead headed north to become the head coach of the Patriots. In 17 seasons as the Patriots head coach, Belichick has compiled a record of 177-65 with four Super Bowl Championships. Much of Belichick’s success with the Patriots has come at the expense of the Jets as there is a real hatred between these two clubs.

In 2001, the Jets defeated the Patriots in Week 2 of the National Football League season by a score of 10-3 and during the game, New York linebacker Mo Lewis delivered a vicious hit to New England quarterback Drew Bledsoe. But as the season appeared to be a wash in Foxboro, Bledsoe’s injury paved the way for Tom Brady to become the Patriots starting quarterback. The Patriots would rally around the young Brady to win their first Super Bowl Championship in franchise history while the Jets and their fan base were left to simply scratch their heads.

In 2007, the Spygate controversy ensued when the Jets accused the Patriots of filming their signals during games which led to New England being fined $500k and forfeiting a first-round selection in 2008. During this time the Jets were coached by Eric Mangini who was a former Patriots assistant coach. Belichick was not a fan of Mangini becoming the head coach of the Jets which made their postgame handshakes at midfield salty at best.

In 2009, Rex Ryan got his crack to be the Jets head coach and during his introductory press conference in New York, he claimed that he wasn’t there to kiss Belichick’s rings. Ryan backed up this bravado as the Jets would become a thorn in the side of the Patriots during his time with Gang Green which was highlighted by a 28-21 victory over New England in the 2010 AFC Divisional Playoffs.

Now Todd Bowles is running the show as the Jets head coach and through five games under his watch, New York has a record of 4-1. Bowles doesn’t have the brash bravado of Ryan and the actions of his Jets are speaking much louder than their words.

The Jets are set to travel to Foxboro, Massachusetts this Sunday to face the Patriots with first place in the AFC East on the line. The Patriots are the defending Super Bowl Champions with a vital member of their 2014 team now with the Jets.

Cornerback Darrelle Revis was a first-round pick on the Jets in 2007 and he’s arguably the most important player in their franchise history since Joe Willie Namath. But Revis was traded by the Jets in 2013 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when both sides were unable to agree on a long-term contract. After floundering with the Buccaneers in 2013, Revis was released and ultimately signed by the Patriots. Revis is one of the best cornerbacks of this era and his lock down ability was vital in helping the Patriots win the Super Bowl last season. But when the Patriots declined to pick up Revis’ $20 million option for 2015, the Jets swooped in to bring him back into the fold as he is one of many players that has been on both sides of this rivalry.

The Jets-Patriots rivalry is another chapter in the ongoing sports rivalry between New York City and Boston. The National Hockey League has provided us with the Boston Bruins and New York Rangers who are two of the league’s Original Six squads. The NBA has given us the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics, but it has been a rivalry that has been dominated by the Celtics. And in Major League Baseball, everyone knows about the long and storied rivalry between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. For the Patriots and the Jets, doesn’t hurt that the Boston and New York media markets are two of the biggest in the United States which only helps to intensify the situation.

But when it comes to the Jets-Patriots rivalry, Belichick and Brady are public enemies one and two as this combo has torched Gang Green over the years and they’ve been engulfed in some controversy while doing it. However the Jets are hopeful that things are ready to change in 2015.

Since 2001, the Patriots have not had a losing season which has made them one of the elite teams in the National Football League. Over that same stretch, the Jets have had their fair share of ups and downs, but this year’s team could be the best that they’ve posted in a very long time due to their balance on both sides of the football which is highlighted by a defense that is tops in the NFL this season in yards allowed.

Ryan may no longer be the head coach of the Jets, but some of his brash bravado is still around at the Jets training facility in Florham Park, New Jersey as this is a team that won’t be intimidated when they take the field to meet the Patriots on Sunday; it’s just that they’ll go about it in a different way under the watch of Bowles.

But the latest edition of this rivalry will come down to the Jets defense being able to make Brady uncomfortable in the pocket which is something that many teams have failed to do and their offense which will be led by quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick must protect the football against an improving New England defense.

Independence Day was more than three months ago, but you can still expect to see plenty of fireworks when the Jets meet the Patriots this Sunday afternoon as there is no love lost between these two organizations.