New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers is expecting to face a hard-nosed New England Patriots defense at MetLife Stadium on Thursday night.

With the Patriots generally having a stout defensive unit with Bill Belichick calling the shots, now with DeMarcus Covington being coordinator under new head coach Jerod Mayo, it appears that the more things change, the more they stay the same.

In the first two weeks, the Patriots have only given up 10 and 23 points on defense, and Rodgers is expecting a tough outing in what will be his first divisional game as a member of Gang Green.

"I think they played pretty good in two weeks," Rodgers said of New England. "They gave up 10 and 23, they're a typical Patriot defense. They play really sound football, smart. They have a lot of techniques you don't see across other teams. As far as some defensive line stuff, their front often can disguise the pressure pretty well, back end seems to be playing pretty good together. So, it's a really smart, stout, solid defense front to back."

Perhaps one storyline to watch is that the Jets love to run the football with Breece Hall and Braelon Allen; however, the Patriots have been stout in their run defense over the first fortnight.

New England has given up just 70 and 46 rush yards in its first two games, making the Jets' want to establish the run game a little more challenging.

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After New York managed to secure its first win of the season against the Tennessee Titans, a chance for back-to-back wins has presented itself, but that is easier said than done.

Why? Because a "typical Patriots defense" is a tough one to play against.