Sunday NFL Betting – Jets Face Must-Win In Week 2 (Patriots vs. Jets)
The New England Patriots and New York Jets had an early showdown in 2009, which was the Jets coming out party. A year later, they need a win in Week 2 just to avoid falling into a two-game deficit in the AFC East.
VIEW OUR TOP CAPPERS PICKS FOR THIS WEEK’S FOOTBALL MATCHUPS —–>
Can the Jets pull up their socks on a short week?
New England Patriots @ New York Jets
Odds: Patriots -3, Jets +3
Total: 38.5
Bet Now at JustBet.com —>
How Can New England Win?
When you start doing the math, it may be a simple read that the Jets defense is overrated. When healthy, there’s no question that they are one of the best units around but right now, they aren’t healthy.
Their best pass rusher, Calvin Pace, is out for this contest. Their best defensive lineman, Kris Jenkins, tore his ACL last week and will miss this game. And their best cornerback, Darrelle Revis, is still rounding into game shape after an offseason-long holdout. Beyond that, safety Brodney Pool missed the opener and is questionable for this week.
When you add it up, that’s four key playmakers off the Jets defense that aren’t playing or aren’t at full speed.
Meanwhile, the Patriots have hit the ground running to start the season. They were all over the Cincinnati Bengals in the opener as they had a 31-0 lead at halftime. The Bengals have a top-five defense, so the Jets should be concerned.
Quarterback Tom Brady looks to be in mid-season form and the both Wes Welker and Randy Moss are playing at a high level, despite them both recovering from their own physical and “mental” injuries.
The Baltimore Ravens gave the Pats a simple blueprint for this: throw the ball, pick on rookie cornerback Kyle Wilson and run on occasion just to keep them honest. The Pats have the perfect weapons to execute that plan and get a win.
On the flipside, the Jets offense is pitiful right now. They are lacking confidence and leadership, and if the Patriots make this a shootout, the Jets won’t keep up.
How Can New York Win?
For starters, the Jets have to play with more discipline on defense. Penalties crippled the defense and that’s not going to help matters when they are already without a number of starters.
All in all, the Jets defense still held up fairly well at home. With penalties, with mishaps, with injuries and with brain cramps, they still forced three turnovers and held the Ravens to just 10 points.
The difference in this game has to be the offense.
The Jets have playmakers on this unit including two quality running backs in LaDainian Tomlinson and Shonn Greene, a playmaking tight end in Dustin Keller and good weapons on the outside with Jerricho Cotchery, Santonio Holmes and Braylon Edwards. Unfortunately, the man who ties this all together, quarterback Mark Sanchez, still looks like a rookie.
He’s confident but he needs to show it on the field. The Jets need a big game from him to win this contest this week.
Outlook
The headline matchup here is the Jets defense versus the Patriots offense but it’s really the subplot matchup between the Jets offense and the Pats defense that will tell the story of who wins.
The Jets offense was abysmal in the opening week as Sanchez had just 74 passing yards and showed a reluctance to throw downfield. Including the preseason, the Jets first-string offense has scored just two touchdowns.
Regardless of how the defense plays, their offense won’t be able to keep up. The Jets needs this one badly but keep in mind that must-win doesn’t mean will-win.
Pick: Patriots -3
GRAB A 45% Deposit Bonus at JustBet.com Today. Deposit a minimum amount of $100 , maximum $2500 and get a 45% Free-Play. CLICK HERE NOW!
Dave Golokhov has written for BETUS Sportsbook, Sportsfanmagazine.com, FOX, Askmen.com, Sports-central.org, and the FOXSports.com Funhouse.
