Patriots vs. Jets Point Spread: NFL Week 2 Odds, Prediction
The future of football is on display at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, with rookie quarterback’s Zach Wilson and Mac Jones meeting in an AFC East battle for Week 2. Both players are still searching for their first career wins, after Wilson’s Jets fell 19-14 in Carolina last week and Jones’ Patriots were downed 17-16 at home against Miami. Which rookie quarterback will notch their first win and which will keep searching?
New England is a sizeable 6-point favourite to win on the NFL odds, with a total of 42.5.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
For the fifth straight year, New England swept the season series between these teams last year. In Week 9, the Patriots scored 13 points in the fourth quarter to pull out a 30-27 win in New York, before ending their regular season with a 28-14 win at home in Week 17. These teams have hit the Over in three of their last four meetings, including both games last year.
The Pats have absolutely crushed New York over the last few years and are riding a 10-game win streak in the head-to-head series. New England was favoured by six points or more four times last season, covering in two of those games. On the flip side, the Jets were dogs by six or more points 14 times, covering in six of those matchups.
The Patriots failed to cover last week and went 7-9 against the spread last season. New York also failed to cover in Week 1 and went 6-10 ATS in 2020.
With two rookie quarterbacks, this could be a low scoring game. Last year, seven New England games totalled more than 42.5 points, versus six for the Jets. The Pats only managed to hit the Over five times last season, while New York managed to do it seven times.
New England Patriots
Head coach Bill Belichick made a statement when he announced Jones would be the first rookie quarterback to start for New England since Drew Bledsoe in 1993. While the final score wasn’t what Belichick wanted, it at least looks like he’s got a legitimate starter in Jones. The rookie looked comfortable, finding multiple receivers throughout the game. Jones finished 29-of-39 passing, throwing for 281 yards and a touchdown.
Running back Damien Harris also had a strong game for the offence. Harris rushed for 100 yards on 23 carries, although a late-game fumble ended New England’s chances at a comeback. The third-year player is expected to have a big season in 2021, after rushing for 100 yards three times last year.
As far as injury news, offensive tackle Trent Brown left with a calf injury in the first quarter against Miami. His status for Sunday is unclear, although he’s been listed as day-to-day with a minor calf strain, so he’ll likely play. The only other big loss for New England is cornerback Stephon Gilmore. The 2019 Defensive Player of the Year opened the season on the PUP list (torn quad) and will miss at least the first six weeks.
New York Jets
Last week’s loss was a bitter pill to swallow, as it came at the hands of former Jets quarterback Sam Darnold. Wilson is already getting a taste of what Darnold experienced during his time in New York. Darnold was sacked 98 times in 38 starts with the Jets, while Wilson was sacked six times in Week 1. The rookie did have good moments, though. Wilson finished the game 20-for-37 passing, throwing for 258 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
Wide receiver Corey Davis was Wilson’s favourite target last week. Davis picked up 97 receiving yards and two touchdowns on five catches. Running back Tevin Coleman led the rushing attack, finishing with 24 yards on nine carries.
Starting left tackle Mekhi Becton left early against the Panthers with a knee injury and is expected to miss at least a month. Safety Lamarcus Joyner also left in the first half and it’s thought that his season is over with a torn tendon in his elbow.
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