The Patriots' calling card that day, in quarterback Matt Cassel's first career start, was a short aerial attack that relied on receivers to roll up yardage after the catch.
Of the Patriots' 165 passing yards, 123 came after the catch. In all, 19 of Cassel's 23 pass attempts didn't travel 10 yards past the line of scrimmage.
The YAC attack was in effect, in part, because the Jets were so focused on eliminating the big play downfield from Randy Moss. Some poor angles taken by Jets defensive backs, coupled with some poor tackling and a failure to shed the blocks of Patriots receivers downfield, also contributed to the performance.
So when assessing this rematch, one can point to a number of areas that figure to play a significant role - such as a brutal battle of physicality at the line of scrimmage, turnovers, potential bad weather, and coaching wits - but based on the first game, nothing trumps this:
Will the YAC be back for the Patriots? And have the Jets come up with a response to it?
No player in the NFL this season has more yards after the catch than Wes Welker, whose total of 324 edges Saints running back Reggie Bush's 317. Of Welker's total, 68 came in that meeting against the Jets, as he knifed, sliced, and diced a secondary that initially had overmatched third-year cornerback Drew Coleman covering him.
Coleman (5 feet 9 inches, 175 pounds) has been shaky as the Jets' slot corner in nickel packages, and that's where Welker - whose 66 receptions rank second in the NFL - often lines up.
So perhaps that's what the Jets had in mind when they signed Ty Law to a one-year deal. While Law seemingly would be a bad matchup against Welker as well, his insertion into the lineup could help the Jets move some parts around to give them a better chance at limiting Welker and the YAC attack. Not to mention that Law's tackling always has been considered above average for a defensive back.
