FLORHAM PARK (N.J.) -- Sunday marks a new phase in the New England Patriots-New York Jets competition. Let's call this the Mac & Zach era.
The Patriots and Jets will be facing rookie quarterbacks for the first time in their 62-year history -- Zach Wilson and Mac Jones, respectively. These aren’t your average rookies. Both are first-round draft picks, and they're considered long-term solutions at the position.
Wilson, 22 years old, was No. BYU drafted Wilson, 22, as the No. 2 overall pick. Jones, 23, from Alabama was the No. 15 pick. Chapter I of the quarterback rivalry starts on Wilson's field at MetLife Stadium (1:00 p.m.). ET, CBS
NFL Nation reporters Rich Cimini (Jets), and Mike Reiss, (Patriots), take a closer look on Jones and Wilson.
What can each company learn about its quarterback?
Reiss: Jones is able to handle pressure, first as a potential franchise quarterback during the post-Tom Brady era and then on the field. According to ESPN Stats & Information research, Jones was blitzed by the Miami Dolphins 45% of the season opener. Jones was also 9-of-13 with a touchdown under duress. Josh McDaniels, Patriots offensive coordinator, was highly complimentary of Jones's opening performance (29-of 39 for 281 yards and 1 TD).
"They definitely challenged us with many different looks and pressures. This is to be expected and Mac handled most of it very well, McDaniels stated. "I thought his communication was clear. It was consistent. He was loud."
Jones is a respected coach and teammate. His veteran approach to work and keeping a level head has won Jones respect.
Cimini: This Wilson is tough. In Week 1, he was hit nine times, including a two-man body smash late in the game. But he didn't flinch. A young quarterback's reaction to being hit is something you don't know until you actually see him play. Wilson was not knocked down during the preseason, and he wasn't roughed up against BYU's cream puff schedule last season. This made it difficult to predict his performance in the regular season. His determination impressed his teammates. "Man, he is a tough guy," Jets wide receiver Corey Davis stated. "He got hit a lot. It was interesting to see his reaction. There was no anger, frustration or anger. He was calm and composed. He was just poised.
The biggest concern for rookies this season is...
Reiss: Jones had nine hits in the season opening, and Patriots center David Andrews stated that the team should do a better job of taking care. Carmen Bricillo, offensive line coach, said that the incident was "disturbing". Jones, who is 6'3 and 214 lbs, has a protective brace covering his left knee. He has not yet experienced the full NFL offseason programs so preservation is an important concern. This is a direct connection to the challenge faced by all rookies: a longer 17-game NFL football season than college.
Cimini: While it is obvious to protect him more, the answer goes much deeper than that. The Jets cannot allow Wilson to be victim to the Sam Darnold syndrome, i.e. improper QB development. The Jets have provided Wilson with a competent group of wide receivers. This is a good start but they must be careful not to overload Wilson's plate. They must make sure that the offense is balanced and features the running game. It will be tempting to become pass-happy if they are playing from behind. But coach Robert Saleh must not lose sight of the bigger picture. Wilson cannot be Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals) this year, exposing him to injury with 40 throws per game. Wilson's sake, we hope that this regime does not repeat the mistakes of the past.
play 0:53 Rich Cimini, reflecting on Corey Davis' amazing day, says that Corey Davis should be expecting similar productions in Week 2 and beyond.
Let us know one thing that people don't know about Zach & Mac:
Reiss: Let me give you a few more to help cover all bases. Because McCorkle is Holly's maiden name, his birth name is Michael McCorkle Jones. Sophie, his girlfriend, has a Maltipoo named Rose. Jones does breathing exercises while playing on the sidelines to help him calm down. The New England region continues to learn a lot about Jones, his personality, and this is just a small sampling of the things that have been mentioned in recent interviews and broadcasts.
Cimini: Wilson is a great thinker and can often achieve anything he sets his mind to. He decided to learn how to juggle in college. He became a great juggler. He was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder when he was younger. He was challenged in college classroom work, but he persevered. It didn't hinder his ability to understand football concepts and plays. He can be seen spending hours on film, preparing for games.
What do the matchups look like for this game?
Jones vs. Jets: Jones was subject to a lot of blitzes in his loss to the Dolphins. He should expect similar results on Sunday. According to ESPN Stats & Information, the Jets blitzed 41.7% in their season-opening defeat, which was the fifth highest total of any team in Week 1.
Wilson vs. Patriots: Patriots defenses aren't very friendly to rookie quarterbacks. The Patriots are 9-1 against rookies in their last 10 games, but they lost the latest one (Week 15 to Miami's Tua tagovailoa in 2020). Geno Smith was the last Jets rookie to defeat a Belichick-led squad in 2013.
Straight from Dan Orlovsky, ESPN analyst
Jones's debut: "Two facts about Mac Jones: One was that he was very convicted of what he was looking at with his eyes. He saw what he was seeing and believed what he saw, which led to him being convicted of the actions he took. He made at least four to five big-time throws and was hit. This was more impressive than any rookie could have done.
Wilson's debut: "For Zach the game was very quick for him physically early on, but his eyes were speedy which was a positive thing. While college football windows are the same size as those in the NFL, they close quicker. This is because the underside defenders are more long. This was evident in the interception. I was impressed by his strength, however.
