Week 7 Thursday Night Football open thread: Jets at Patriots

Thursday Night Football has not been kind to the neutral viewer this season, and tonight's game look like it's going to be another lopsided affair as top hosts bottom in the AFC East.

The 1-5 New York Jets are... "struggling" might be the kindest word to use here... behind quarterback Geno Smith.  Smith's completed 57% of his passes this year, but is still deemed preferable to Michael Vick after the veteran admitted he hadn't prepared for the game when he had to step in against the San Diego Chargers.  Rex Ryan's mob have lost five in a row since an opening weekend win against the Oakland Raiders, and have allowed 31 points in each of the last two games, losses to the Chargers and the Denver Broncos.

The 4-2 New England Patriots, by way of contrast, have racked up 80 points over the last two games, against the not-terrible defenses of the Cinncinnati Bengals and the Buffalo Bills.  If there's a glimmer of hope for the Jets, it lies in whom the Patriots are missing: leading rusher Stevan Ridley and their leading tackler Jerod Mayo, both lost to season-ending knee injuries.

Still, nothing's determined until the game is played, and last season the teams split the series.  We play the Patriots in two Sundays' time, so anything the Bears can gleam from the tape will be useful.

Have fun, and open thread responsibly ((Tm) Steven Schweickert).