Jets vs. Cowboys Point Spread: NFL Week 2 Odds, Prediction
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Nik Kowalski
Sundays post-Aaron Rodgers era officially begins for the New York Jets as they head to Texas to take on the Dallas Cowboys. Both the Jets and Cowboys picked up wins at MetLife Stadium in Week 1 but in the most opposite of ways. The Jets lost their freshly-acquired star quarterback four snaps into his season but hung on to defeat Buffalo 22-16 in overtime on Monday Night Football. Dallas blanked the New York Giants 40-0 on Sunday Night Football in the most dominant win of the entire opening NFL slate.
Now the Jets move on with 2021 second overall pick Zach Wilson under centre. The bad news for Wilson and Co. is Dallas’ defence appears to be exactly as advertised: one of if not the best unit in the entire league.
Kickoff at AT&T Stadium Sunday goes at 4:25 p.m. EDT, with the Cowboys a nine-point home favourite and the total at 38 on the NFL odds.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Lovers of offensive shootouts probably aren’t looking forward to this tilt. For starters, both the Jets and Cowboys have a serious argument for possessing the best defence in the league. And throw in New York being on their backup quarterback, one that generated 140 passing yards last week, and it’s no question to why the over-under is coming in at under 40 total points.
Six straight Jets games have now finished under the total, as have five straight Cowboys games. It’s the opposite when Dallas is at home though as all five of their last home games finished over the total. New York enters having dropped straight road games.
Dallas is 5-0 straight up in their last five Week 2 outings, and 6-1 ATS in their last seven September games. The Jets have covered in just one of their last six Week 2 contests.
New York Jets
Rookie Xavier Gipson played hero for the Jets in their season opener, ending the game with a walk-off 65-yard punt return in front of the home New York crowd. With Rodgers injured, New York’s defence stepped up to the plate and held Buffalo to just over 300 yards of total offence on 68 plays and generated four takeaways. Jordan Whitehead snagged three interceptions in the win, hitting a $250,000 season bonus in just one game.
From here, New York’s offence definitely becomes more run heavy. Sophomore running back Breece Hall looked electric last week, rushing for 127 yards with a long of 83 on 10 carries. Dalvin Cook received 13 carries too as the Jets rushed for 172 yards on 28 rushes as a team.
Dallas Cowboys
It may read as a bit Captain Obvious, but Dallas’ defence was truly outstanding in their Week 1 shutout victory. The Cowboys kept the Giants to 2.6 yards per play and 1.6 yards per pass, all while picking up three takeaways. The defence picked up seven sacks too, with Osa Odighizuwa and Dorance Armstrong both notching a pair. Dallas’ special teams opened up the game’s scoring too when Noah Igbinoghene housed a blocked field goal.
With a lead from the jump Dallas elected to pound the ball, rushing 30 times for 172 yards with four different backs. Tony Polllard unsurprisingly took the bulk of the carries and rushed for a team-high 70 yards while scoring twice. Right now Dallas is one of the most complete teams.
NYJ
DAL