No one knows how to spoil a Zach Wilson party like the New England Patriots.
Coach Bill Belichick’s defense was playing the role of party-pooper once again on Sunday for the New York Jets’ second-year quarterback, who was constantly pressured and forced into throwing three interceptions.
Wilson met the Patriots twice last season. In the first meeting, he went 19-of-33 passing for 210 yards, no touchdowns and four interceptions. He was also sacked four times for good measure. And even though he got knocked out of the second game last season early with an injury, there was still enough damage being done by the Patriots defense to see nothing good was going to come from that meeting, either.
ESPN’s Rich Cimini had an interesting nugget regarding the shocking struggles from Wilson whenever he’s matched against Belichick’s Patriots.
“Zach Wilson was pressured 16 times, his most in a game since Week 2 of last season against the Patriots, which was his 2nd career start Wilson went 1-of-14 with 3 Int when pressured. Clearly, not all his fault, but he has to be smarter when facing that pressure,” Cimini posted on Twitter.
Zach Wilson was pressured 16 times, his most in a game since Week 2 of last season against the Patriots, which was his 2nd career start
Wilson went 1-of-14 with 3 Int when pressured. Clearly, not all his fault, but he has to be smarter when facing that pressure. #Jets
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) October 30, 2022
The Patriots only came away with two sacks in Sunday’s game, but the ability of their defensive front to win in the trenches and get pressure was more than enough to force the errant throws.
And don’t think for one second Belichick won’t be looking to dish out a similar style of punishment when the two teams meet again at Gillette Stadium in less than three weeks.
New England will continue to bring the pressure until Wilson finally proves he can beat it.
