LeBron James continues his preparation as he works toward his season debut for the Los Angeles Lakers.

James practiced with the South Bay Lakers, the NBA team’s G-League affiliate, for a second time on Thursday. 

The four-time MVP did not experience any residual effects from his workout on Wednesday, according to ESPN. It was the first time James was said to have played 5-on-5 since the first round of the playoffs in April.

The Lakers are finishing out the final two games of a five-game road trip this weekend. James did not make the trip.

James, who will turn 41 years old at the end of December, has played at least 70 games in each of the past two seasons.

Will LeBron James play for South Bay Lakers?

The South Bay Lakers started the season with a pair of wins on the weekend of Nov. 8 against the Valley Suns at the UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, California.

The team will play against the Rip City Remix on Nov. 16 at home. James is not expected to play for the team.

What is sciatica?

Sciatica is a pain caused by some level of irritation, pinching, or compression of the sciatic nerve, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

The nerve is located in the lower back and runs down the back of the left and right leg. It begins from the lower part of the spinal cord and extends through the buttocks, back of the thigh and down to the feet. The area of pain can range anywhere along the back of the leg.

AI-assisted summary
• The NFL could not flex the Jets-Patriots game because it falls outside the eligible window for Thursday Night Football.
• Despite some lopsided matchups, Prime Video’s ‘Thursday Night Football’ ratings are up 14% year over year.
• Flex scheduling is complex due to logistics, network protections, and potential hardships for teams and fans.

The anticipation ahead of the Nov. 13 matchup between the New York Jets and New England Patriots, Prime Video’s latest “Thursday Night Football” offering, is at a fever pitch – the AFC East clash generating copious interest … and perhaps more so for people who just crawled out from beneath heavy objects … and who live in the northeast … and think it’s still 2010, when the NYJ were still competitively relevant.

The Jets, who have won two straight after losing their first seven games, are 13-point underdogs, per BetMGM. New York’s myriad injuries and a roster recently depleted at the trade deadline would seem to justify the notion they very likely might not come within two touchdowns of an archrival sitting atop the division and tied for the best record in the NFL. Crippled as the Jets are, it might also beg the question: Why didn’t the league flex its prime-time Thursday broadcast away from this game?

If the Patriots cruise to another victory – or even prevail from a slog that Thursday games so typically devolve into – it will extend what’s been a brutal patch of prime-time games, especially of the “TNF” variety. (The Los Angeles Chargers beat the Minnesota Vikings 37-10 in Week 8’s Thursday game. Week 9 served up the Baltimore Ravens’ 28-6 bashing of the Miami Dolphins. A week ago, the Denver Broncos defeated the Las Vegas Raiders 10-7 in a contest that was – technically? – competitive, if still a tough watch.)

So why not pivot to a better game than Jets-Patriots? The reasons are myriad, both operationally and logically, so let’s break it down.

Why didn’t the NFL flex out of the Jets-Patriots Thursday night game?

Just one word: Impossible.

The Jets and Patriots will ring in Week 11. Thursday games are only eligible to be flexed between Weeks 14 and 16, and only a maximum of two can be moved in a given season. And in actuality, the league has only utilized the Thursday flex option once – moving a Denver Broncos-Chargers game into last year’s Week 16 Thursday slot when the initially scheduled Browns-Bengals matchup had lost nearly all of its luster.

It’s not a decision the league would make lightly anyway given the logistical imposition on fans for moving a game from Thursday into a Sunday afternoon slot – which is much more disruptive, for example, than moving a 1 p.m. ET kickoff on a Sunday into the prime-time “Sunday Night Football” prime time slot. The NFL would strive to provide at least three weeks advance notice before flexing a “TNF” contest.

Are Amazon’s ratings suffering from the Thursday slump?

Just one word: Nope.

A league spokesman told USA TODAY Sports on Thursday that Prime Video’s ratings are up 14% year over year. Sunday night (9%) and Monday night (17%) games have also gotten a nice bump this season – none of them flexed, either, even though they’ve also had what turned out to be suboptimal matchups (Chiefs-Commanders, Seahawks-Commanders and Chargers-Steelers among them) in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, Sunday afternoon ratings, traditionally the NFL’s most watched time slot are “only” up 4% to date in 2025.

Why aren’t more midseason games flexed?

There’s a certain Jenga element to moving any game that perhaps casual viewers don’t take into account. For example, the Week 7 Sunday night game between the Atlanta Falcons and San Francisco 49ers earlier this season was eligible to be moved – and probably wasn’t the sexiest pairing of the season, unless you bought into the tailback showdown between Bijan Robinson and Christian McCaffrey.

But, as typically happens in the middle of a given season, there aren’t a ton of good options on the other side of that equation. In Week 7, for example, two teams were on bye and two more were playing in London. There was one Thursday night game that week and two on Monday night, none of those contests eligible to be moved to Sunday night. Furthermore, FOX and CBS are permitted to protect one of their own games, so it’s not like Chargers-Colts – probably a more attractive game at the time on the surface – would necessarily even be available to swap in. The circumstances of the teams being flexed out must also be taken into account, including whether a scheduling change would create a hardship or conflict with their circumstances on either side of a flexed game.

Not every preseason projection works out

The NFL certainly wasn’t forecasting in May that Jets-Patriots, for example, would look like such a dud when the 2025 schedule was released on May 14. At the time, both teams seemed like they might get a boost from head coaching changes and some notable personnel additions via free agency and/or the draft. Few prognosticated the Patriots would be in the mix for the AFC’s No. 1 playoff seed while the Jets were in the mix for the No. 1 draft pick in 2026.

But as the league optimizes its revenue with more and more exclusive broadcast windows – just in the past few years, it has added an increasing amount of international games, including on Friday night in Week 1, the Black Friday game, and the determination to play on Christmas no matter what day of the week it falls on – that means incrementally diminishing flexibility … to flex.

When can the NFL begin flexing games?

Flex scheduling was initially implemented in 2006 as a mechanism to occasionally move egregiously bad matchups out of prime-time slots, when they didn’t serve viewers well and/or broadcast partners which might be stuck with a dog game as their only inventory of a given week. Said another way, it was also a way to spotlight teams that were much better than they were forecast to be heading into a season.

These are among the current pertinent rules around flex scheduling, per the league:

For Sunday Night Football, it may be used up to twice between Weeks 5-10, and any week during Weeks 11-17.

For Monday Night Football it may be used any week in Weeks 12-17.

For Thursday Night Football it may be used up to twice between Weeks 14-16.

Only Sunday afternoon games (or those listed as TBD) are eligible to be moved to Sunday night, Monday night, or Thursday night, in which case the initially scheduled Sunday, Monday, or Thursday night game would be moved to Sunday afternoon.

Sunday afternoon games may also be moved between 1 p.m. and 4:05 p.m. or 4:25 p.m. ET.

As in prior seasons, for Week 18, the final weekend of the season, the scheduling of the Saturday, Sunday afternoon, and the Sunday night games is not assigned. The schedule for Week 18 will be announced at the conclusion of Week 17.

For Sunday Night Football in Weeks 5-13 and for Monday Night Football in Weeks 12-17, the NFL will decide and announce no later than 12 days in advance of the game, which game will be played on Sunday night and which game will be played on Monday night.

For Sunday Night Football in Weeks 14-17, the flexible scheduling decision will generally be made no later than 6 days prior to the game.

For Thursday Night Football in Weeks 14-16, the flexible scheduling decision will generally be made no later than 21 days prior to the game.

The New England Patriots extended their NFL-best winning streak to eight games with a 27-14 win over the New York Jets on ‘Thursday Night Football.’

The Patriots used the formula that has often worked for them throughout the 2025 NFL season to beat the Jets. Their defense put together a strong effort, limiting Justin Fields and Co. to two touchdown drives, while Drake Maye’s efficiency through the air allowed the Patriots offense to outgain the Jets 336-245 during the game.

It wasn’t just Maye (25 of 34 passing, 281 yards and one touchdown) who played well for the Patriots. Running back TreVeyon Henderson also put together a productive game. The second-round rookie handled a career-high 24 touches and scored all three of the Patriots’ touchdowns, two on the ground and one through the air.

Henderson wasn’t particularly efficient between the tackles. He averaged just 3.3 yards per carry and didn’t log a carry longer than 9 yards. However, Henderson showed good power in the red zone, pushing the pile to score his first touchdown of the day, and held up well in the passing game, catching all five of his targets for 31 yards and a score.

The Patriots (9-2) now stand alone atop the AFC standings, having briefly broken the three-way tie they were in with the Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts entering Week 11. That stands as a testament to the quick turnaround Mike Vrabel has led within the organization after several years of mediocrity under Bill Belichick and Jerod Mayo.

USA TODAY Sports provided live updates, highlights and more from the ‘Thursday Night Football’ tilt between the Jets and Patriots in Foxborough. All times are Eastern.

Patriots vs. Jets TNF takeaways

• Drake Maye’s accuracy, efficiency and pressure avoidance make the Patriots’ offense hard to stop. The Jets did a solid job coming up with some stops against New England. Still, they could only hold the Patriots down so often. Maye was able to feather excellent touch passes to Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins and Hunter Henry over the middle of the field frequently while also continuing to show off his elite deep accuracy. As long as he can avoid turnovers and continue to navigate the pocket and thrive against pressure, New England will remain one of the NFL’s most efficient offenses.
• TreVeyon Henderson is capable of handling a full workload. Henderson has played a lion’s share of the Patriots’ snaps at running back in Rhamondre Stevenson’s absence. Against the Jets, Henderson handled a career-high 24 touches, turned them into 93 yards and scored three touchdowns.  While his game-breaking speed wasn’t on display as often against the Jets, he showed solid power throughout the night. He has all the tools needed to be a workhorse for the Patriots – as needed.
• Justin Fields remains a top-tier scrambler. Fields didn’t have a lot of success as a passer against the Patriots. He logged just 116 yards through the air. On the ground, Fields was far more impactful. The Jets’ first touchdown drive was created by his ability to find success on the read option, while his willingness to scramble kept several drives alive throughout the evening. If the Jets continue to start Fields, they will need to draw up more designed runs for him. They are where he is at his best.
• Jets WR gambles could pay off. New York acquired two receivers ahead of the 2025 NFL trade deadline: John Metchie III from the Eagles and Adonai Mitchell from the Colts. Both flashed during Thursday’s game. Metchie was the more productive of the two, logging three catches for 45 yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, Mitchell had just one catch for 10 yards, but he showed excellent separation skills and should only get better as he gets acclimated to his new team. Both should see plenty of action with Garrett Wilson sidelined, and each could prove to be an important piece for the team next season.

Drake Maye stats vs. Jets

• 25-of-34 (73.5% completion rate)
• 281 passing yards
• 1 passing touchdown
• 0 interceptions
• 107.6 passer rating
• 4 rushing attempts
• 2 rushing yards
• 0 rushing touchdowns

TreVeyon Henderson stats vs. Jets

• 19 rushing attempts
• 62 rushing yards
• 2 rushing touchdowns
• 5 receptions
• 31 receiving yards
• 1 receiving touchdown

Stefon Diggs stats vs. Jets

• 9 receptions
• 105 receiving yards
• 0 receiving touchdowns

Justin Fields stats vs. Patriots

• 15-of-26 (57.6% completion rate)
• 116 passing yards
• 1 passing touchdown
• 0 interceptions
• 81.6 passer rating
• 11 rushing attempts
• 67 rushing yards
• 0 rushing touchdowns

Drake Maye NFL MVP odds

Odds from BetMGM on Thursday night after Patriots win over Jets:

• Matthew Stafford (+250)
• Drake Maye (+260)
• Patrick Mahomes (+500)
• Jponathan Taylor (+550)
• Josh Allen (+800)
• Sam Darnold (+1000)
• Jalen Hurts (+2000)

Patriots vs. Jets final score: Patriots 27, Jets 14

TreVeyon Henderson gets first down, setting Patriots up to bleed clock

Henderson handled three carries and turned them into 12 yards. That was enough to run out the clock on the Jets and finish off a 27-14 win for New England.

Jeremy Ruckert drops fourth-down pass as two-minute warning arrives

Justin Fields moved the Jets down the field after the Patriots’ field goal, but a sack set up a fourth down in the red-zone. Fields hit Ruckert beyond the sticks, but the tight end couldn’t hold onto the ball.

The Patriots will get the ball back after the turnover on downs. There’s 1:57 left in regulation, but the Jets have all three of their timeouts remaining. As such, the game isn’t over… yet.

Patriots vs. Jets score: Andy Borregales makes chip-shot 26-yarder to extend Patriots lead

The Patriots weren’t able to get a first down or into the end zone after Michael Clemons knocked down a third-down pass Drake Maye appeared to be aiming at Hunter Henry in the corner of the end zone.

Borregales was called on to attempt a field goal and he made it. The Patriots now lead 27-14 with 6:36 left in regulation.

Patriots 27, Jets 14

Justin Fields can’t handle low snap, fumbles and Patriots recover

On the first play of their drive, Jets center Josh Myers sent a low snap back to Fields. The veteran quarterback couldn’t handle it, and the ball bounced forward. The Patriots jumped on it, setting up a red-zone drive for the AFC East leaders.

Brandon Stephens punches deep shot out of Mack Hollins’ hands, forcing Patriots punt

It momentarily looked like Maye had hit Hollins for a massive, downfield gain on a third-and-15. Stephens managed to catch up to the veteran receiver and punched the ball out of his hands from over his shoulder just after Hollins tried to bring in the pass.

That brought Bryce Baringer in to punt. The Jets will get the ball back at their own 15-yard line, trailing by 10 with 7:43 left in the game.

Jets stall out after Patriots field goal, forced to punt

Justin Fields did a nice job weaving past two defenders for a 2-yard gain to get a first down at the start of the Jets’ drive. The team only moved backward after that, and a third-and-long incompletion forced the Jets to punt.

Austin McNamara’s punt skittered through the end-zone for a touchdown, so the Patriots will get the ball back at their own 20-yard line, leading 24-14 with 9:08 left in regulation.

Patriots vs. Jets score: Andy Borregales makes 44-yard field goal to give Patriots 10-point lead

Borregales missed a 45-yard field goal earlier in the night. His attempt from 44 yards was true, giving the Patriots a 24-14 lead with 12:06 remaining in the fourth quarter.

The Jets were able to force the Patriots to attempt a field goal after sacking Drake Maye for the first time. That put New England into a third-and-long where Maye checked the ball down to TreVeyon Henderson.

Patriots 24, Jets 14

Patriots leading Jets 21-14 entering fourth quarter

The Patriots have outgained the Jets 297-187 through three quarters, but New York has managed to stay in the game with a couple of Justin Fields-led touchdown drives. The Jets haven’t produced much offensively outside of those drives, but they are within an arm’s length of New England entering the final 15 minutes.

Drake Maye has enjoyed a quality game for the Patriots, completing 22 of 27 passes for 244 yards and a touchdown. He has connected well with Stefon Diggs (seven catches, 70 yards) and Mack Hollins (four catches, 64 yards) but running back TreVeyon Henderson has all three of the team’s touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving).

The Patriots have the ball at the Jets’ 41-yard line and are facing a third-and-5 to open the fourth quarter. They will look to keep their drive going and get into scoring range in the hopes of building upon their one-possession lead.

Who is John Metchie III?

Metchie, who just caught the Jets’ first passing touchdown of the day, is a fourth-year receiver who was a second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans. He missed his rookie season while battling leukemia.

Metchie played the 2023 and 2024 seasons for the Texans before being traded to the Eagles ahead of the 2025 campaign. He was then dealt to the Jets ahead of the NFL trade deadline as part of the package for the Eagles to acquire defensive back Michael Carter II.

Metchie entered Thursday’s game having recorded 45 catches for 433 yards and a touchdown across 37 career games.

Patriots vs. Jets score: Justin Fields finds wide-open John Metchie for TD

The Jets were able to answer the Patriots’ most recent scoring drive with one of their own. Fields led New York on a nine-play, 65-yard drive that culminated in him finding Metchie wide open on a third-and-6 after safety Craig Woodson fell on the play.

Nick Folk made the extra point following the 22-yard touchdown and the Jets are down 21-14 with 3:10 left in the third quarter.

Patriots 21, Jets 14

Patriots vs. Jets score: TreVeyon Henderson logs third TD on 6-yard pass from Drake Maye

Henderson recorded his first multi-TD game in Week 10 against the Buccaneers. He has now one-upped his career-best effort, catching his third score of Thursday’s game on a 6-yard strike from Maye.

Andy Borregales makes the extra point and the Patriots have extended their lead to 21-7 midway through the third quarter.

Patriots 21, Jets 7

When was Justin Fields drafted?

Fields was a first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. The Chicago Bears selected him 11th overall, making him the fourth quarterback selected behind No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence, No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson and No. 3 overall pick Trey Lance.

Jets punt after penalties derail drive

The Jets started the second half strong, gaining some yards with Breece Hall and Justin Fields on the ground. However, Fields was whistled for intentional grounding following a first-down audible, putting the Jets behind the chains and eventually forcing a fourth-and-28 after a Joe Tippman personal foul penalty.

Austin McNamara’s punt traveled just 33 yards, giving the Patriots the ball back at their own 31-yard line.

Stefon Diggs can’t haul in third-down pass from Drake Maye, Patriots punt

The Patriots have gone three-and-out to start the second half. Maye attempted three passes, but just one was completed, as Diggs managed to briefly catch a third-down pass over the middle of the field before the ground jarred it loose.

Bryce Baringer hit a 50-yard punt that Isaiah Williams returned 19 yards to the Jets’ 32-yard line. New York will get a chance to tie the game, trailing 14-7.

Justin Fields stats at halftime

Fields got off to a strong start, leading the Jets on a touchdown drive during their first possession of the game. However, New York failed to log a first down after their first drive and Fields finished the half completing 4 of 7 passes for 23 yards. His five scrambles for 28 yards and a touchdown all came on the first drive.

Drake Maye stats at halftime

Maye has been efficient against the Jets. He completed his first 11 passes and finished the half having completed 14 of 16 throws for 140 yards. He has a 103.1 passer rating and has also added five rushing yards on two carries.

Andy Borregales misses 45-yard field goal, giving Patriots 14-7 halftime lead

The Patriots weren’t able to capitalize on the Jets’ penalty, as Drake Maye hit Stefon Diggs coming over the middle of the field to put the team in field goal range. However, Borregales’ kick sailed wide right, allowing the Jets to stay within one possession at halftime.

New England has outgained New York 184-93 thus far and will get the ball to start the second half. TreVeyon Henderson has both of the Patriots’ touchdowns, while Justin Fields punched in the Jets’ lone score with his legs.

Brandon Stephens illegal contact penalty wipes out third-down Quincy Williams sack

The Jets appeared to have stopped the Patriots after Williams sacked Drake Maye on a third-and-6. However, Stephens was whistled for illegal contact against Mack Hollins, which kept the Patriots offense on the field with 27 seconds remaining in the first half.

Justin Fields and Adonai Mitchell can’t connect on third down, forcing another punt

Mitchell dropped his last third-down opportunity. This time, Fields couldn’t get the ball to the wide-open receiver, throwing it behind him and forcing the Texans product to make a tough adjustment to try to catch the ball. He couldn’t quite make the play, and the Jets punted again.

Austin McNamara’s punt was fair caught at New England’s 41-yard line. The Patriots will have 1:48 to score before halftime.

Drake Maye throws first incompletion, forcing first Patriots punt

Maye completed his first 11 passes during Thursday’s game. He finally threw an incompletion after he failed to connect on a downfield shot to Stefon Diggs – who appeared to get banged-up during the play – on third-and-9.

Bryce Baringer’s punt traveled 56 yards to the Jets’ 14-yard line. Isaiah Williams returned it 17 yards, but that was nullified by a holding penalty against New York.

Justin Fields and Co. will start their next drive on their own 7-yard line with 3:19 remaining in a fast-moving first half.

Jets go three-and-out after Justin Fields, Adonai Mitchell fail to connect on third down

Mitchell ran a great route against Christian Gonzalez on a third-and-4, beating the star cornerback deep and gaining a step on him. Fields’ throw to Mitchell was a solid one but the second-year wide-out wasn’t able to reel it in despite it hitting his hands.

Austin McNamara was called upon to punt again. He launched a 41-yarder to the New England 15-yard line, where it was fair caught by Marcus Jones.

Who are Drake Maye’s brothers?

Maye has three brothers: Beau, Cole and Luke Maye. Basketball fans may recognize Luke’s name, as he was a four-year player at UNC and averaged 9.9 points and 6.7 rebounds per game over 141 career games with the school.

Patriots vs. Jets score: TreVeyon Henderson scores second 7-yard TD run of first half

Henderson capped off the Patriots’ first drive with a 7-yard touchdown. He did the same thing on the team’s second drive, giving fans a sense of deja vu after he followed a big block from a pulling Mike Onwenu to get in for the score.

Andy Borregales made the extra point again, and the Patriots have their first lead of the day at 14-7.

Patriots 14, Jets 7

Jets go three-and-out on second drive

New York’s second drive wasn’t nearly as successful as its first. Justin Fields misfired on a second-and-9 to put the Jets behind the sticks. He managed to hit Mason Taylor for a 6-yard pass on third down, but that wasn’t enough to pick up the first time.

Austin McNamara came on to punt and uncorked a 45-yarder that was fair caught by Marcus Jones. The Patriots will begin their second drive from their own 17-yard line.

TreVeyon Henderson’s 40 time

Henderson ran the 40-yard dash in 4.43 seconds at the 2025 NFL Combine. That was tied for the seventh-fastest time among running backs to perform in the drill.

Patriots vs. Jets score: TreVeyon Henderson powers in 7-yard TD to answer Jets

The Jets opened the game with a 14-play TD drive. The Patriots followed it up with a 13-play TD drive that saw Henderson make a nice cut to avoid contact in the backfield before bulling his way into the end-zone with the help of his offensive linemen.

Andy Borregales’ extra point is good, and the Patriots and Jets are tied 7-all with 14:17 left in the second quarter.

Patriots 7, Jets 7

Jets lead Patriots 7-0 after fast-moving first quarter

Both the Jets and the Patriots moved the ball well on their opening drives. The Jets had a methodical, 14-play touchdown drive to open the game, while New England is facing a third-and-1 in the red zone on an 11-play drive.

Justin Fields is off to a good start on the ground, logging 28 yards and a touchdown on five carries. He threw only twice but completed both passes for 16 yards.

Meanwhile, Drake Maye has started the game, completing all five of his passes for 23 yards while adding four yards on a scramble. TreVeyon Henderson continues to look good as New England’s backfield leader, racking up 17 yards on four carries to supplement Maye’s production.

Patriots convert fourth-and-2 to keep drive alive

The Patriots were at the edge of field goal range when facing a fourth-and-2 on their opening drive. Mike Vrabel opted to go for it, and Drake Maye found an open Pop Douglas beyond the line to move the sticks.

Jarvis Brownlee Jr. whistled for personal foul for throwing Stefon Diggs to the ground

Brownlee managed to stop Stefon Diggs short of the line to gain on a second-and-10 catch, but the cornerback proceeded to pull back the veteran receiver and throw him to the ground following the whistle.

Brownlee was flagged for unnecessary roughness, giving the Patriots an extra 15 yards following the play.

Jets taking run-heavy approach on offense to open game

The Jets ran the ball 11 times on the opening drive and attempted just three passes. It appeared that Aaron Glenn and Tanner Engstrand were trying to get Justin Fields comfortable and in rhythm by letting him use his legs. 

Fields ended up logging five carries for 28 yards and a touchdown on the opening drive of the game. The Patriots have allowed just 79.2 rushing yards per game this season – the fewest in the NFL – but New York racked up 56 on its opening drive.

Patriots vs. Jets score: Justin Fields takes read option for TD to open scoring

The New York Jets took the ball first on ‘Thursday Night Football’ and marched it down the field with ease. The Jets ran a 14-play, 72-yard drive that culminated with a 5-yard Justin Fields touchdown run on a read option.

Nick Folk makes the extra point, and the Jets have a 7-0 lead with 6:56 left in the first quarter.

Jets 7, Patriots 0

Who is the New York Jets starting quarterback?

Justin Fields is set to start at quarterback for the New York Jets. Fields has been the team’s starter throughout his first season in New York, leading the team to a 2-7 record in his first nine games.

Fields has completed 63.5% of his passes for 1,143 yards, six touchdowns and one interception this season while adding 316 yards and three scores on the ground. However, Fields is averaging just 97.3 passing yards per game over his last four starts and grades 26th out of 37 qualified quarterbacks for the 2025 NFL season, per Pro Football Focus.

Where do the New England Patriots play?

The Patriots play at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The stadium is located about 40-45 minutes south of Boston and is also home to the New England Revolution of the MLS.

When was Drake Maye drafted?

Drake Maye was selected with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. He was the third quarterback taken behind Caleb Williams (Chicago Bears) and Jayden Daniels (Washington Commanders).

What time is the Patriots vs. Jets game tonight?

• Start time: 8:15 p.m. ET

The Patriots and Jets are set to kick off at 8:15 p.m. ET on Thursday night. The Jets travel to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts for the matchup.

What TV channel is the Patriots vs. Jets game on tonight?

• TV channel (national): N/A
• TV channel (New York market): Fox 5
• TV channel (Boston market): ABC 7

The Patriots vs. Jets matchup will not air on TV, as it will be streamed on Amazon Prime Video. Viewers in the New York market can watch via Fox, while those in the Boston TV market can catch it on ABC 7.

Watch ‘Thursday Night Football’ with a Prime Video subscription

Patriots vs. Jets live stream

• Stream:Amazon Prime Video | Fubo (local market)

Amazon Prime Video will air the Jets-Patriots ‘Thursday Night Football’ matchup. Those in local TV markets can use Fubo to watch the matchup.

Patriots vs. Jets prediction

Drake Maye is entering the MVP discussion with his 19-touchdown, five-touchdown season, eschewing any calls of a ‘sophomore slump.’ The Jets are coming off a pair of wins vs. scuffling teams, but their incremental improvements on defense, special teams and coaching have been apparent all season. Offensively, the Jets are still a wreck, and the injury to Garrett Wilson again limits the offense to just a single playmaker, running back Breece Hall. The Patriots and Mike Vrabel will take the win as they make an easy night of their division rival.

Prediction: Patriots 24, Jets 10

Patriots vs. Jets live betting odds, moneyline, O/U

Jets inactives vs. Patriots

Patriots inactives vs. Jets

New England Patriots uniforms today

The Patriots are debuting their ‘Nor’easter’ uniform on ‘Thursday Night Football’ against the Jets. They are another example of Nike’s ‘Rivalries’ uniforms for the NFL.

Patriots 2025 schedule

Jets 2025 schedule

Is Garrett Wilson playing tonight vs. Patriots?

The Jets ruled Wilson out on Nov. 12 for their Week 11 game against the Patriots on ‘Thursday Night Football.’ The following day, they placed him on IR, meaning he will miss at least four games because of his knee injury.

Is Rhamondre Stevenson playing tonight vs. Jets?

The veteran running back will not play on ‘Thursday Night Football’ against the Jets. The Patriots have not provided a concrete timetable for Stevenson’s return, though he was ruled out for the Patriots’ Week 11 game against the Jets because of a toe injury. It will mark the third consecutive game the 27-year-old running back has missed because of the ailment.

Patriots vs. Jets injury report

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AFC East standings

• New England Patriots (8-2)
• Buffalo Bills (6-3)
• Miami Dolphins (3-7)
• New York Jets (2-7)

AFC playoff picture entering Week 11

• No. 1 seed: Indianapolis Colts (8-2, AFC South leader)
• No. 2 seed: Denver Broncos (8-2, AFC West leader)
• No. 3 seed: New England Patriots (8-2, AFC East leader)
• No. 4 seed: Pittsburgh Steelers (5-4, AFC North leader)
• No. 5 seed: Los Angeles Chargers (7-3, second in AFC West)
• No. 6 seed: Buffalo Bills (6-3, second in AFC East)
• No. 7 seed: Jacksonville Jaguars (5-4, second in AFC South)

In the hunt: Kansas City Chiefs (5-4), Houston Texans (4-5), Baltimore Ravens (4-5)

AFC No. 1 seed odds

• New England Patriots (+210)
• Indianapolis Colts (+220)
• Buffalo Bills (+500)
• Denver Broncos (+500)
• Kansas City Chiefs (+850)

Sauce Gardner trade details

Colts receive:

• CB Sauce Gardner

Jets receive:

• WR Adonai Mitchell
• Two first-round picks

The Colts sent Mitchell and two first-round picks to the Jets in exchange for Gardner. Presumably, the picks will be Indianapolis’ 2026 and 2027 first-rounders, though that has not yet been confirmed.

AI-assisted summary
• Colorado athletic director Rick George is stepping down next year to take on a new advisory role at the university.
• George’s tenure will be largely defined by his hiring of football coach Deion Sanders to revive the program.
• In his new position, George will focus on revenue-generating initiatives for the athletic department.

Colorado athletic director Rick George said on the day that he announced the hiring of Deion Sanders that Sanders would be the last football coach he hired for the Buffaloes.

George, 65, had already hired two football coaches that didn’t work out before Sanders. Now George is stepping down as athletic director next year to take a new position at the university as emeritus athletic director and special adviser to the university chancellor.

“It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as athletic director for the University of Colorado for the last 13 years, but after considerable thought and discussions with my family dating back to last spring, I have decided it is time for new leadership to guide the department,” George said in a statement Thursday Nov. 13.

The announcement said he was stepping down as athletic director at the end of the current academic year, which runs through June 2026.

Rick George’s tenure defined by Deion Sanders hiring

His tenure in charge of Colorado athletics still will be defined by his hiring of Sanders, who revived a football program that had hit rock-bottom under George’s watch. But Sanders’ team since has struggled after going 9-4 last season. The Buffs are 3-7 this year in Sanders’ third season in Boulder.

George introduced Sanders as the school’s new head coach on Dec. 4, 2022, installing him to resuscitate a football program that went 1-11 in 2022. George previously hired Mel Tucker, who left after one football season in 2019 to become coach at Michigan State. To replace Tucker, George hired Karl Dorrell, who went 8-15 in three seasons before his firing in 2022.

On the day Sanders was introduced as Colorado’s next head coach, George was asked if he was confident he wouldn’t need to hire another coach in another few years, in case Sanders left or didn’t pan out.

“I won’t be here that long from the standpoint of I’m going to be here as long as Coach Prime is here,” George said that day. “He’s got a five-year deal, and so I’ll be here that long at least, Beyond that, I’m not gonna hire another coach, and I don’t think we’ll have to.”

He said in a statement Thursday he made this announcement now to give the university time to find his successor. He also mentioned Sanders, who had developed a special rapport with George.

“I also wanted to time my announcement so that I could support Coach Prime and our football team this season, which I’m looking forward to continuing in my new role,” the statement said.

Rick George to help with ‘vital’ revenue-generation

George was hired at Colorado in 2013, taking over for previous athletic director Mike Bohn. His current contract extension was approved just days after Sanders’ electric debut as Colorado’s head coach in September 2023 and set to expire in June 2027 at a starting annual pay rate of $1.1 million.

This move ends his tenure as athletic director one year earlier than his contract term, but it includes a provision that he can transition to another position before then upon mutual agreement with the university.

One of his biggest accomplishments was spearheading the building of the UCHealth Champions Center, a showcase facility for Colorado athletics. The university described it as the product of “the most successful fundraising campaign in department history,” which generated $100 million for the project.

In 2023, he helped make the decision to rejoin the Big 12 Conference amid uncertainty about the future of the Pac-12, which Colorado had joined in 2011. The Colorado football team finished with a 27-76 record in 12 seasons in the Pac-12 but started its return to the Big 12 with a first-place tie to finish the regular season in 2024.

Financial issues still pressured Colorado athletics, as they do for many universities in the new era of college sports. George’s department has had to rely on significant university support in recent years to help fund it. In September, the university said it was “TBD,” or to be determined, when asked how it would pay for rising expenses during the current fiscal year, including the new five-year contract the school gave Sanders in March worth more than $10 million annually.

The news release of George’s change in positions said he will “continue to assist CU athletics in his new role, participating in revenue-generating initiatives for the department during a time when revenue generation is vital for success.”

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com

AI-assisted summary
• Four NFL teams currently hold multiple first-round picks for the 2026 draft.
• Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is projected to be the first signal-caller selected.
• The New York Jets, holding five first-round picks over the next two years, are projected to select a quarterback with their first 2026 selection.

The rising importance of the 2026 NFL Draft for several teams came into focus after last week’s trade deadline.

With the New York Jets having dealt cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts, there are now four NFL teams that have multiple first-round picks in April. And with the Tennessee Titans and New York Giants having already fired their head coaches, several fan bases are probably ready to close the book on this season and enter offseason mode. But with the first-round order still shifting significantly week to week, there’s still ample time for team’s draft fortunes to rise or fall.

With that said, here’s USA TODAY Sports’ latest first-round projection and 2026 NFL mock draft:

2026 NFL mock draft

1. Tennessee Titans – Arvell Reese, LB/DE, Ohio State

There’s a strong possibility for Tennessee to possess the No. 1 pick in consecutive years after the Saints’ and Browns’ victories left the Titans as the only one-win team remaining. And that creates a bit of a mystery atop the order. An organization that’s yet again rebooting would clearly stand to benefit from trading back and stockpiling more early selections to support Cam Ward. Yet this quarterback class doesn’t seem particularly conducive to drumming up a bidding war for this choice. If Tennessee does end up in the slot and stands pat, it could supercharge its defense with Reese. Though he operates as a linebacker for the Buckeyes, the 6-foot-4, 243-pounder has Micah Parsons-like movement abilities that could be best put to use in a full-time edge rushing role. The Titans could pair him with Jeffery Simmons to create one of the league’s most formidable inside-outside tandems and then use the rest of the draft – and free agency – to focus on helping Ward.

2. New Orleans Saints – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

A franchise with a decades-long habit of being trigger-shy when it comes to selecting quarterbacks might be hard-pressed to go this route, especially if Tyler Shough continues to exhibit the promise he displayed in his second start. But unless the second-round rookie firmly establishes himself as New Orleans’ answer at the position in the back half of the season, Mendoza might be massively alluring. The Heisman Trophy front-runner now also figures to be the favorite to be the first quarterback taken, with his game-winning drive against Penn State highlighting resiliency and a knack for operating out of structure that otherwise hadn’t been seen often this season. The 6-5, 225-pounder is the kind of precise thrower who could allow Kellen Moore to launch a new era for the organization in earnest.

3. New York Giants – Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

The reset is officially on, with Big Blue pulling the plug on the Brian Daboll era on Monday. Still, the mission for New York remains the same: elevate Jaxson Dart’s supporting cast as quickly as possible. A well-rounded receiver who can win in a variety of ways, Tyson would complement Malik Nabers well in the top target’s return to action and allow Dart to be less reliant on leveraging his running skills to fuel the offense.

4. Cleveland Browns – Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

The experience question might be the only thing holding back Simpson’s draft stock, but the Crimson Tide passer’s relatively abridged body of work hasn’t impeded him on the field this season. The 6-2, 208-pound signal-caller continues to look fully ready for the pros thanks to his rare composure and fast processing. That’s the kind of package that the Browns would pounce on after watching the offense spin its wheels behind Dillon Gabriel.

5. New York Jets – Dante Moore, QB, Oregon

With five first-round picks over the next two years after its pair of trade deadline blockbusters, New York has unparalleled flexibility to shape its future at the most important position in football. Gang Green therefore might not force the issue right away with the third passer off the board. But Moore is plenty talented and would allow Aaron Glenn and first-year offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand to actually attack via the air after the offense has remained grounded with Justin Fields at the helm. Still only a redshirt sophomore, Moore might end up returning to school and vying to be the No. 1 pick in 2027. But he’s shown plenty to like, including impressive poise and a comfort attacking every level of the field as he continues to gain experience.

6. Las Vegas Raiders – Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami (Fla.)

This was supposed to be a season of great change for the Silver and Black, but the view from the back of the AFC West looks awfully familiar. The Raiders should know by now that there’s no cure-all for the team’s abundant ills, so they should instead simply gravitate toward the best players available. Bain has a strong case to be the top prospect in the class, as he’s been the most dominant defender in college football. If he lasts to this point, it should be a no-brainer for Las Vegas to put him opposite Maxx Crosby, who has been doing well more than his fair share to prop up this team.

7. Miami Dolphins – Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

With a new general manager set to come aboard and Mike McDaniel’s future yet to be decided, Miami could go in a number of different directions this offseason. Whatever vision the Dolphins end up embracing for their future, though, Downs should fit it. A versatile playmaker and heady leader, the safety is capable of transforming a secondary in dire straits while also making a distinct mark for a run defense in need of serious help.

8. Washington Commanders – Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn

Less than a year after the team reached the NFC title game, a calamitous campaign has forced Washington to face some harsh realities about the state of its roster. The Commanders’ defensive line looks overdue for a serious investment, and the 6-6, 285-pound Faulk can step in as a high-floor run stuffer with a good amount of room to grow as a pass rusher.

9. Cincinnati Bengals – Peter Woods, DT, Clemson

Outside of standout cornerback DJ Turner, Cincinnati has come up empty on its various defensive draft investments in recent years. While there might be a gaping hole on the edge once Trey Hendrickson departs as expected, the Bengals also have a glaring deficiency on the interior to address. Woods has fallen short of becoming the consistently disruptive force some envisioned him as after his first two seasons of flashes, but he’s still in a class of his own among the forthcoming defensive tackle prospects, especially when it comes to shedding blocks.

10. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons) – Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

Sure looks like the Falcons could be paying a hefty bill for April’s move to secure James Pearce Jr. in the back of the first round, as Atlanta is trending toward having to hand over a pick somewhere in the top 8-12 slots. The Rams’ foresight pays off massively here in the form of Fano, a talented and athletic blocker who could take over for longtime starter Rob Havenstein at right tackle.

11. Arizona Cardinals – Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (Fla.)

Arizona probably doesn’t need the 6-6, 315-pounder to haul in trick-play touchdowns like he did Saturday for the Hurricanes. Mauigoa’s brand of bully ball should make him sufficiently attractive for the Cardinals, with his stout protection also coming in handy to counter the NFC West’s many imposing pass rushers.

12. Dallas Cowboys – David Bailey, OLB, Texas Tech

Jerry Jones might never admit defeat in the Micah Parsons trade, and he might be reticent to push his draft chips in on another undersized edge rusher after taking Donovan Ezeiruaku in the second round in the spring. But getting quick pressure is the name of the game right now for NFL defenses, and no one in this class does it better than Bailey, who has terrorized opposing passers to the tune of 11 ½ sacks – best in the Football Bowl Subdivision – this season for the Red Raiders.

13. Baltimore Ravens – T.J. Parker, DE, Clemson

Landing impending free agent Dre’Mont Jones at the trade deadline patched up a problem that figures to persist into 2026 for Baltimore. Parker hasn’t broken through to top-tier edge rusher territory, but he can still be a disruptive and productive staple of the Ravens’ rotation.

14. Minnesota Vikings – Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

It’s still unclear exactly what Minnesota has in J.J. McCarthy, but the young quarterback’s trajectory should leave Kevin O’Connell with a good bit of unease. It’s too early to reverse course, so bringing on the dynamic and elastic Love could help settle things down by reshaping the offense.

15. Houston Texans – Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State

While everything around him has collapsed at Penn State, Ioane continues to get the job done at an All-American level, letting almost nothing past him in pass protection. That’s the kind of presence Houston has long needed on its offensive front, and it shouldn’t blink at taking an interior blocker this high given how detrimental the problems along the line have been.

16. Carolina Panthers – Aveion Terrell, CB, Clemson

A passing attack that looks allergic to trying anything downfield is highly problematic for the Panthers, but Carolina needs to look from within for solutions rather than burn a third consecutive first-round pick on a receiver in hopes of resolving the issue. Terrell gets to join his brother, the Falcons’ A.J. Terrell, in the NFC South while lining up across from Jaycee Horn to accelerate the defense’s growth.

17. Kansas City Chiefs – Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

Maybe it’s time to stop trying to reconfigure the Chiefs’ receiving corps given how far down the group now finds itself on the list of Kansas City’s most pressing concerns. Sadiq, however, would be a worthy successor to Travis Kelce thanks to his dynamic pass-catching skills, and he would also elevate the floundering run game with his highlight-reel blocks.

18. San Francisco 49ers – Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

The 6-7, 366-pound Proctor figures to be a polarizing evaluation in the draft due to some uneven play and a unique body type. But San Francisco needs a vision for the future at left tackle, and Proctor is sure to be a force with his powerful play.

19. Browns (from Jacksonville Jaguars) – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

Cleveland should rejoice if it’s able to keep Tate in Ohio following his breakout season. It’s not often that teams can find 6-3, 195-pound receivers who exhibit advanced polish for their position while also averaging 18.2 yards per catch, much less in the back half of the first round.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers – Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

Right now, there’s no telling where Pittsburgh will turn at quarterback in 2026 as it sees how far 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers can take the offense. While someone like South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers could be a consideration if he declares – and is available at this point – the Steelers probably need to find clarity behind center before they come on the clock with this selection. Delane’s steadiness would make him a welcome addition to a defense that’s too often been burned when it hasn’t been able to generate pressure or spark big plays, and veteran starter Darius Slay Jr. isn’t signed beyond this season.

21. Dallas Cowboys – Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

It’s unclear when, if ever, the star cornerback will make his 2025 debut for the Volunteers as he continues to rehab a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered in January. His talent alone, however, might be enough to entice Jerry Jones, who took a risk on another talented coverage asset coming off a major injury in Shavon Revel Jr., the third-round rookie cornerback from East Carolina.

22. Chicago Bears – Cashius Howell, DE/OLB, Texas A&M

Chicago’s defense has been overly reliant on generating a league-leading 20 takeaways to mask the other major shortcomings of this unit. If the Bears are willing to get creative to jolt a pass rush that ranks 26th with a 30.9% pressure rate, according to Next Gen Stats, Howell could be an intriguing option. The Bowling Green transfer has put aside questions about his build by tapping into his quickness and bend, which has allowed him to record a Southeastern Conference-leading 10 ½ sacks.

23. Buffalo Bills – Makai Lemon, WR, USC

Brandon Beane went fishing for Jaylen Waddle prior to the trade deadline, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, but ended up with the boot that is Buffalo’s current receiving corps. If Beane is prepared to admit some level of fault on this front after repeatedly pushing back on questions of the group’s composition, he could be drawn to Lemon. The 5-11, 195-pound target doesn’t have the physical make-up of the go-to option the Bills currently lack, but the Power Four leader in receiving yards (937) serves his quarterback by freeing himself up underneath and racking up yards after the catch.

24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – CJ Allen, LB, Georgia

The second level continues to be a stubborn issue for Tampa Bay’s defense, which can’t keep counting on 35-year-old Lavonte David to hold things together. The undersized yet aggressive Allen would be a fitting long-term answer, and he’d immediately smooth out some of the coverage issues that keep popping up.

25. Detroit Lions – Matayo Uiagalelei, DE, Oregon

The link between player and team has persisted for some time, and it likely will for a good while. Uiagalelei is exactly what Dan Campbell covets in a potential running mate for Aidan Hutchinson: persistent, powerful and savvy.

26. Los Angeles Chargers – A’Mauri Washington, DT, Oregon

For all of the problems that the Bolts are facing with their inability to safeguard Justin Herbert amid season-ending injuries to Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt, their top pick might be better spent fortifying the front on the other side of the ball. Washington offers athleticism seldom seen in a 6-3, 330-pound nose tackle, and his knack for commanding double teams and blowing up plays would change the outlook of a run defense yielding 4.9 yards per carry.

27. Rams – Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

The Rams are getting by with cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon still on injured reserve with a broken clavicle suffered in Week 2. To truly thrive, though, the Rams should bring aboard a top cover man like Hood, who can help Los Angeles better match up with bulky wideouts.

28. New England Patriots – Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

Drake Maye is hardly hurting in the deep passing game, with his 141.4 passer rating on throws of more than 20 yards ranking second only to Sam Darnold, according to Next Gen Stats. Yet the appeal of pairing the breakout quarterback with a 6-4, 210-pound downfield dynamo in Boston might be too immense for New England to ignore.

29. Seattle Seahawks – Emmanuel Pregnon, G, Oregon

Someone check on John Schneider if he uses consecutive first-round draft picks on offensive guards after taking Grey Zabel this year. Still, this is one of the few problem areas for Seattle’s roster, and Pregnon’s forcefulness would come in handy for an offense still hoping to establish some roots in the ground game.

30. Denver Broncos – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

While it’s still unclear exactly what Denver can expect from Dre Greenlaw, elevating the outlook at linebacker might be one of the few tasks left for a defense adept at smothering all comers. The 6-4, 243-pound Styles stands alone when it comes to athleticism and range among prospects at his position, making him a fun chess piece for whichever defensive coordinator lands him.

31. Philadelphia Eagles – Quincy Rhodes Jr., DE, Arkansas

If Philadelphia holds onto Jaelan Phillips by extending or re-signing the talented trade deadline acquisition, edge rusher plummets down the list of offseason priorities for the defending champs. But if the Eagles are again forced to reload, they’d be wise to take a long look at Rhodes, a tantalizing talent at 6-6 and 275 pounds who has become a mainstay in opponents’ backfields this season.

32. Jets (from Indianapolis Colts) – KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

No matter who is under center for Gang Green in 2026, the passing attack can’t solely be the Garrett Wilson show. After transferring from North Carolina State, Concepcion has demonstrated he can boost any offense with his craftiness in getting open and picking up yards after the catch.