“Thursday Night Football” three words all football fans can get behind. This Thursday, the game of the night features the 1-1 New England Patriots (+225 Moneyline) heading to MetLife Stadium to face off against the 1-1 New York Jets (-6.5) in what has become an increasingly anticipated game.
It’s safe to say not many people saw the Jerod Mayo-led Patriots upsetting the Bengals on the road as +8.5 point underdogs in week 1, and then losing in an intense overtime game to the Seahawks the following week. This past offseason the Patriots changed head coaches and their starting quarterback, it was truly tough to picture them being able to compete with playoff-caliber competition but after the first two weeks of the season, the new head coach and QB tandem of Mayo and Jacoby Brissett proved that they are more than capable.
On the other hand, the Jets came into this season with the bar set much higher and expectations soaring. Sportsbooks were pricing the Jets as the favourites to win the AFC East. After the first two weeks of the season, taming the hype and taking a step back on the expectations for an easy Superbowl run became much more reasonable. I’m not saying the Jets have played poorly and have looked bad so far instead, I want to let fans know that they can “R-E-L-A-X” as the great Aaron Rodgers once said. The Rodgers era with the Jets is just getting started and it’s going to take a little bit of time for this talented offense to fully gel and reach their full potential.
In terms of the matchup between these two division rivals, expect defence to be a focal point of the game. The Patriots’ run defence has shown out the past two weeks limiting each of their opponents to less than 70 rushing yards. The Jets are no slouch when it comes to running the ball, Breece Hall has solidified himself as one of the top young running backs in the league and the Jets invested top dollar into offensive linemen with the hopes of getting Hall to reach new heights.
On the Jets side, a big standout to me has been Will McDonald. Mcdonald’s progression has taken this Jets’ defence to new heights with the young edge rusher last week having three critical sacks on Tennessee Titans QB Will Levis. McDonald’s development is the cherry on top to a Jets defensive line that has proven to be one of the best in the league at generating pressure and sacks. Last season the Jets were tied for the 7th most total team sacks in the NFL, and they look to be on the trajectory to finish in the top of the league for a second season in a row. For the Patriots to secure a win they need to rely on their offensive line holding up against this poignant Jets pass rush and for Brissett to step up in the pocket and make the big-time throws like he was the previous two weeks.
Game Picks
Spread: Jets -6.5
The Patriots have been a fun underdog team to root for the past two weeks but this Jets team is a different beast and if they do not bring their absolute A game this could turn into an absolute blowout. I’m trusting that this Jets team can put it all together and turn up for a primetime game at home with a chance to put the league on notice.
Prop: Breece Hall over 4.5 receptions
When yards and first downs aren’t easy to come by, savvy quarterbacks like to look for the simple read. Breece Hall is exactly that for Aaron Rodgers, Hall is a great receiver out of the backfield and also provides Rodgers with a safety valve that is able to turn check-downs into big yard gainers.
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