New York Jets vs New England Patriots Picks and Prediction for Sunday October 18 2026
AFC East Division rivals will tangle when the New York Jets visit the New England Patriots. The game is scheduled for Sunday October 18, 2026 at 1:00 pm EST. CBS will broadcast this intriguing week six matchup from Gillette Stadium. New England has been installed as a 7.5 point home favorite and the total is currently 43.5. Be sure to check out our free NFL picks for more NFL predictions throughout the season.
New York stingy on defense
The New York Jets have endured double digit losses in nine of the previous ten seasons and appear to be turning the corner for second-year head coach Aaron Glenn. The Jets (2-3) opened the 2026 campaign with a 23-10 road victory against Tennessee, but have scored an average of 18 points in the four games since. On Sunday, New York took advantage of a late Cleveland special teams miscue in the rain to earn a 17-12 home victory.
New York RB Braelon Allen scored the game-winning 22-yard touchdown on a third-and-nine with just over three minutes remaining. Allen finished with a game-high 116 rushing yards on 22 carries. Veteran QB Geno Smith added a 32-yard touchdown pass to Garrett Wilson for the Jets.
The Jets rank seventh worst in total offense (284 ypg) and need to improve on an 18.6 scoring average. Despite leaning heavily on the running game, New York has scored touchdowns on just 46 percent of their red zone trips. The Jets rank fourth in the league in total defense and are allowing 19.2 points on average.
New England needs to protect the ball
The New England Patriots took advantage of last season’s easy schedule and were finally exposed in a 29-13 loss versus Seattle in Super Bowl LX. The Patriots (3-2) appeared to have a Super Bowl hangover in the first three weeks of the season, but have scored 76 points in winning consecutive games. Last week, New England amassed 536 yards of total offense during a 45-17 home victory versus Las Vegas.
MVP runner-up Drake Maye shredded the Las Vegas secondary for 374 passing yards and four touchdowns. DeMario Douglas was on the receiving end of two of Maye’s touchdowns and finished with 65 receiving yards. Rhamondre Stevenson contributed 64 rushing yards and a score for the Patriots.
New England ranks eighth in the league in total offense (372.4 ypg), but have been plagued by seven Drake Maye interceptions. The Patriots find the end zone on 57 percent of their red zone possessions and average 22 points per game. New England is a top-five defensive unit and limits the opposition to 18.8 points per contest.
New York Jets vs New England Patriots Picks and Prediction
Pick: New York Jets +7.5
New York RB Breece Hall (thigh) did not suit up for last week’s victory and is listed as questionable for this game. The Patriots have won eight of the previous ten meetings against the Jets. including a 42-10 road triumph a season ago. New England has committed 11 turnovers and New York owns a plus three turnover margin. Take the Jets to cover.
Pick: Under 43.5
The defenses should shine in this key division battle, as both come in ranked in the top five in yards allowed. The Jets are tough against the pass and should provide enough pressure to rattle a turnover-prone Maye. The Patriots are stout against the run. 20 points should be enough for the winning side. Take the under.
Final Score Prediction: New England Patriots 20, New York Jets 17