New England Patriots: 3 bold predictions for Week 3 matchup

New England Patriots Bold Prediction No. 2: J.C. Jackson has second straight multi-interception game

J.C. Jackson made a triumphant return in Week 2 against the Jets after struggling to contain the Dolphins wideouts in Week 1. Jackson picked off Zach Wilson twice in the contest, reaffirming his status as one of the best ballhawking cornerbacks in the game.

Jackson could be set to continue his intercepting ways against the Saints and their error prone quarterback in Winston. Winston threw 30 interceptions in his last season as a starter in 2019, so he’s certainly no stranger to making errant passes. Winston has claimed to have reinvented himself as a much more calculated passer, but was back to his old ways in Week 2 when he was picked off twice by the Carolina Panthers.

Winston is an enigma in a sense that some games he looks like an All-Pro, and others he looks like he doesn’t belong on an NFL roster. It remains to be seen which version of Winston shows up in this one, but it could ultimately determine whether the Saints sink or swim in this one.

With Michael Thomas out, the Saints are perilously thin at wide receiver. Marquez Callaway and Deonte Harris seem set to lead the way, with Jackson likely to spend his day shadowing Callaway for the most part. None of the Saints receivers have really stood out so far, so depending on how the game goes, matchups could change.

Either way, Jackson should be expected to lockdown whoever he finds himself in this game. Don’t be surprised if Winston gets jumpy due to his lack of options and fires a few picks in this one. The prediction here is that two of them will go to Jackson, as the New England Patriots do a good job shutting down Winston and the air game for the most part.