Patriots vs Jets is the NFL’s biggest fan optimism mismatch of the week

Sunday’s game between the New England Patriots and the New York Jets is expected to be a huge mismatch. While the Patriots won their first two games of the regular season with a combined score of 73-3, the Jets have lost both contests and their starting quarterback (Sam Darnold; mononucleosis) as well as his backup (Trevor Siemian; ankle). As a result, the Patriots enter the game as three-touchdown favorites.

Oddsmakers are not the only ones who like the Patriots more than the Jets at this point in time: the two teams’ fan bases are also looking at things differently as our latest FanPulse survey — please click here if you also want to take part in the future — shows: while 98% of New England’s followers are confident in the direction of the franchise, only 15% of New York’s polled fan base feels the same way about its team.

The 83% difference between the two clubs is tied for the biggest among the NFL’s matchups this week; only the San Francisco 49ers’ game against the Pittsburgh Steelers has the same level of differing fan optimism. When it comes to the two AFC East rivals, meanwhile, the quarterback situations and last two weeks are naturally the two major contributors to the feelings among the fan bases.

While Patriots fans’ 98% ties them for most in the league with the Kansas City Chiefs, only three fan bases are less confident than the Jets’ (including the Steelers’).

If you are interested in participating in our FanPulse survey, please click here!