EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (Interstat) — A season of starkly divergent paths concludes for the AFC East rivals when the playoff-bound New England Patriots visit the struggling New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday.

The Patriots (12-3) enter with the AFC’s best record, riding high after a dramatic 28-24 road victory over the Baltimore Ravens last Sunday. Rookie quarterback Drake Maye was brilliant in that win, completing 31 of 44 passes for 380 yards and two touchdowns while adding 25 yards on the ground. Over his last three games, Maye has thrown for 817 yards and six touchdowns, cementing his status as an Offensive Rookie of the Year frontrunner.

Conversely, the Jets (3-12) have lost three straight games by a combined score of 111-36, including a 29-6 defeat in New Orleans. Rookie quarterback Brady Cook has struggled behind a beleaguered offensive line, throwing for just 188 yards and no touchdowns against the Saints. The Jets’ offense has mustered just one touchdown in its last 12 quarters.

Despite the records, Interstat’s game simulator projects a surprisingly close final score of Jets 27, Patriots 25. The Jets have been installed as a 13.5-point pregame favorite, with an over/under of 42.5, indicating oddsmakers expect a defensive struggle.

The Patriots won the earlier meeting this season, 27-14, in Foxborough on Nov. 13. In that game, New England’s defense forced three turnovers. Key players for New England include running back Rhamondre Stevenson, who scored a touchdown in the win over Baltimore, and linebacker Marte Mapu. For the Jets, running back Breece Hall remains a focal point, rushing for 54 yards last week.

A Patriots victory would secure the AFC’s playoff seed and a first-round bye. The Jets, long eliminated from postseason contention, are playing for draft positioning and pride in what could be the final home game for several veterans. New England hosts Miami on Jan. 3 to conclude its regular season, while the Jets finish at Buffalo on Jan. 3.