New York Jets Head Coach Todd Bowles and select players comment on their upcoming game against the New England Patriots.
On playing the Patriots...
"It's exciting. To be the best, you want to play against the best. You have to beat the best and that's just how I am. I'm competitive, he's competitive, they're competitive, we're all competitive in here. We're playing against the best, so we're looking forward to it."
- Jets Safety Jamal Adams
"They are just fundamentally sound, they are well-coached, they will be where they are supposed to be and they play hard. I think that's what has allowed them to play at a high level all these years. You always have your hands full when you are playing against them."
- Jets Quarterback Josh McCown
"I think the idea of going up against him and the Patriots, Coach Belichick, all those guys, it's a cool thing especially with me growing up in the era where they really controlled the whole NFL for the most part. So it's really cool to be able to have a chance to go up against them if I get the opportunity this weekend."
- Jets Quarterback Sam Darnold
On the Patriots offense...
"They've done a great job of bringing in guys that fit their system. Obviously, there's been some tweaks over the years and they have their basic plays but then they have plays that have wrinkles that are new all the time and that goes as a credit to Coach [Bill] Belichick and his staff as well as [Tom] Brady. So you just have to play them and you have to execute. They make you execute and test all your rules and your discipline at all times, so you really have to be sharp trying to play them."
- Jets Head Coach Todd Bowles
"We know they have great players, and we know they can turn the switch and play great football and that's what we're expecting."
- Jets Head Coach Todd Bowles
On Tom Brady...
"He knows what you're about to do before you do it sometimes," Williamson said. "We have to make sure that we disguise well and not show our coverages and blitzes. He does a good job of reading. We have to make sure we're disguising well this week."
- Jets Linebacker Avery Williamson
"We need to get as much pressure in his face as possible. Don't be too worried about getting a sack, but just constantly be in his face, constantly hit him and constantly be around him. You see it on film that even if he feels you a little bit, he's going to get rid of it."
- Jets Defensive Lineman Leonard Williams
"He's going to make you pay if you leave people open. Brady's Brady. I don't know how to really describe it. ... He finds ways to make people around him great. He could line me up as a wide receiver and he'll probably find a way to make me look good."
- Jets Linebacker Brandon Copeland
"There's nothing new you can show him. We have to execute. We have to be clicking on all cylinders."
- Jets Head Coach Todd Bowles
On the Patriots defense...
"They're very solid up front. They play great man-to-man coverage. They've got very good coverage safeties that are very intelligent and you know they play very smart football. And they've got linebackers that can cover and blitz as well. I expect them to play normal Patriots football. Again, it's going to be a battle."
- Jets Head Coach Todd Bowles
On Rob Gronkowski...
"Obviously he's a tremendous player. A future Hall of Famer in my book. I'm looking forward to the matchup."
- Jets Safety Jamal Adams
"ell he can block. He can beat corners, safeties and linebackers so it doesn't matter who he goes against. He's just a well-rounded player. He's a very intelligent player. I don't know if he gets enough credit for being a smart player but he's a very intelligent player. He understands what's trying to be done to him and he makes adjustments and tweaks so it makes him a tough cover."
- Jets Head Coach Todd Bowles
