Jets vs. Saints Point Spread: NFL Week 16 Odds, Prediction
After knocking off NFC South division co-leaders Tampa Bay and Carolina in successive weeks, the Saints host the New York Jets on Sunday at 1:00 pm ET.
Tyler Shough was installed as New Orleans’ starting quarterback at the end of October, and the Saints have gone 3-3 with him under centre. That includes a 20-17 victory over the Panthers last week on a 47-yard field goal by Charlie Smyth with two seconds left. The Jets were flattened by the surging Jacksonville Jaguars, 48-20. New York’s fading defence surrendered 330 yards and a career-high five touchdown passes to Trevor Lawrence, who added another score on the ground.
Former practice squad QB Brady Cook was named the starter again for New York.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The Jets are 1-5 straight up on the road and have played to the Over five times in their past seven games. New Orleans is only 2-5 against the spread at home, but the Saints are 4-1 ATS in their past five games. They have played to the Under nine times in their past 10 games, including each of their past five home contests.
Shough is listed at -115 to throw fewer than 0.5 interceptions. The Jets just tied the NFL record with their 14th straight interceptionless game; they don’t have a pick all season.
New York Jets
If there is a more downtrodden franchise in American professional sports, good luck finding it. The Jets have clinched a 15th-consecutive season without a playoff appearance. The offence is stagnant; Brady Cook is overwhelmed under centre and in the pocket. The defence is allowing 28.4 points per game, and the Jets are the worst team in the league in turnovers with a -17 differential.
Maybe the run game, led by Breece Hall, can wake up against New Orleans’s 26th-ranked rushing defence.
New Orleans Saints
The Saints are 4-10, but with a 3-1 record against the Panthers and Buccaneers, New Orleans has already shown they aren’t far away from contending, at least in their own division. Shough continues to improve. He threw for 272 yards and a touchdown against the Panthers, and led two impressive fourth-quarter drives to even the score and then win the game. He has clicked with wideout Chris Olave, who had six catches for 85 yards and a touchdown.
This would be a great week to utilise a running back out of the backfield, as Jacksonville’s Travis Etienne Jr. had three catches for 73 yards and three touchdowns against the Jets last week. Alas, Alvin Kamara is still out with knee and ankle injuries, and backup RB Devin Neal is questionable.
NFL Prediction: Who Will Win Jets vs. Saints?
Both teams are near the bottom of the pack, but records can often be misleading. New Orleans, at 4-11, feels light years ahead of the 3-10 Jets. The Saints look and feel composed on both sides of the ball, while New York is struggling to keep things together offensively and defensively.
Look for New Orleans and Shough to continue growing with a 28-17 victory over the visiting Jets.
NYJ
NO