Browns vs. Jets Point Spread: NFL Predictions, Week 2 Odds
It’s a bit of a homecoming for new Cleveland Browns star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. in the Monday night game in Week 2 as his team visits the New York Jets. The Browns are short road favourites at Sports Interaction.
NFL Monday Night Football Point Spread and Betting
No question the story line for this game is Beckham Jr.’s return to the New York City area and MetLife Stadium. He was one of the NFL’s best receivers (and still is) his first five years in the league with the New York Giants, who shipped him to Cleveland in an off-season trade blockbuster. Be interesting to see how Jets fans act toward Beckham because Jets fans generally hate the Giants.
It’s also an interesting matchup of second-year quarterbacks. Many thought the Browns would take Sam Darnold with the top overall pick of the 2018 draft, but they opted for Heisman winner Baker Mayfield from Oklahoma. Turned out to be a good choice as Mayfield had one of the best rookie seasons of any quarterback ever. Darnold went No. 3 to the Jets and they were thrilled with his late-season improvement last year. This could be the new Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning rivalry in the AFC.
The Jets visited Cleveland on a Thursday night in Week 3 last year and the Browns won 21-17 as Cleveland snapped a 19-game losing streak. Mayfield wasn’t the starter yet – Tyrod Taylor was. But Mayfield came off the bench with his team down 14-0 in the first half and led four scoring drives. Carlos Hyde ran for two scores, but he’s no longer with Cleveland. Darnold struggled in completing 15 of 31 for 169 yards and two interceptions. Isaiah Crowell rushed for two scores, but he’s no longer with New York.
The favourite has covered nine straight games in this series.
Cleveland Browns
Perhaps no touted team flopped bigger in Week 1 than the Browns. They were 5.5-point home favourites against the Tennessee Titans but were dominated in a 43-13 loss. If there was one perceived Achilles heel on Cleveland it was the offensive line. That was definitely a problem vs. the Titans as they battered Mayfield all day. He suffered an injured shoulder but nothing that’s expected to sideline him. Mayfield was intercepted three times – all in the final 15 minutes. Beckham had seven catches for 71 yards but didn’t find the end zone. The Browns looked completely undisciplined with 18 penalties for 182 yards under first-year coach Freddie Kitchens. Left tackle Greg Robinson was ejected for kicking Titans safety Kenny Vaccaro and Robinson could face suspension. The Browns are 2-8 ATS in their past 10 following a double-digit home loss.
New York Jets
The Jets sure looked like they would win their opener in leading visiting Buffalo 16-0 late in the third quarter, but the Bills rallied for the 17-16 upset victory on a Josh Allen to John Brown 38-yard touchdown pass with three minutes left. No way should you lose a game in which your defence forces four turnovers. New York also had a defensive score and a safety of Allen. Le’Veon Bell was good in his Jets debut with 92 yards from scrimmage, a touchdown and a 2-point conversion. Darnold threw for only 175 yards on 45 attempts. Kaare Vedvik missed a PAT and field-goal try. Top linebacker C.J. Mosley, who had the defensive TD, left in the third quarter with a groin injury. The Jets are 0-5-1 ATS in their past six at home.
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