Shades of Broadway Joe? Jets' Sheldon Richardson guarantees win vs. Patriots

Sheldon Richardson #91 of the New York Jets in action against the New England Patriots on December 21, 2014 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Patriots defeated the Jets 17-16. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) Quarterback Joe Namath #12 of the New York Jets, on the sidelines during an early circa 1970's NFL football game. Namath played for the Jets from 1965-76. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)

Sheldon Richardson is positive the Jets will pull out a win against the Patriots this week, but did he just jinx his team? Jim McIsaac Getty Images

If there's one unwritten rule to know in sports, it's that you should never guarantee a victory. Sheldon Richardson of the New York Jets just broke that unwritten rule with his team set to take on the undefeated New England Patriots on the road.

"This is going to be another win for us. We'll let you all write the columns about validating wins and stuff like that," Richardson told Metro. "This is going to be another win in the win column if we go out there and execute and do what we're supposed to do."

If the Jets do come away with a win and move to 5-1, they'll take over first place in the AFC East from the Patriots for the first time all season. It won't be easy, as the Patriots have run every team they've played out of the building, but Richardson is confident, to say the least.

"We're going to be up in the division; that's how we're going to look at it," he said. "We're going to be the front-runners; that's how we look at it."

Richardson is playing in just his second game of the season after serving a four-game suspension. A combination of him, Leonard Williams and Muhammad Wilkerson could be a handful for a depleted Patriots offensive line. Keeping Tom Brady upright will be key for New England, but this is arguably its toughest test thus far.

"We stack up well, but they always find a way when they're not stacked up well to find a way to win anyway," Richardson said. "Them losing a left tackle, it doesn't end up being another void because they pull out another win."

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