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The New York Jets think they can get a different result this time around with Zach Wilson against the New England Patriots. The New York Giants are getting some receiving help back, but has this offense gotten too banged up to turn anything around?
Those are just two of the questions going into this weekend’s games,particularly as they concern teams that are struggling, to say the least.
Carolina Panthers at New York Giants Team Totals
Time: Sunday, October 24 – 1 PM ET
Team Totals Odds: New York Giants – Over 20.5 Points -105 / Under 20.5 Points -125
The Play: GIANTS UNDER 20.5 POINTS (-125)
And the reason we lay this price is that there are so many key components missing that even the return of Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton doesn’t really mean enough. We wouldn’t say that the loss of Saquon Barkley is as catastrophic for the G-Men as Christian McCaffrey’s absence is to Carolina, but let’s face it – this offense would be built around Barkley if he was healthy.
And the guy who looked like the emerging play-maker was first-round draft pick Kadarius Toney, and he is out of action. Toney has a chance to be someone special, but he doesn’t help the Giants’ scoring potential in the training room.
And also consider that Andrew Thomas, another first-round draft pick, won’t be there to fill the left tackle spot, as he’s been placed on injured reserve. Daniel Jones had his cage rattled last week; maybe again, as he faces a defense that has allowed fewer yards per drive than anyone else?
Detroit Lions at Los Angeles Rams Team Totals
Time: Sunday, October 24 – 4:05 PM ET
Team Totals Odds: Los Angeles Rams – Over 33.5 Points -115 / Under 33.5 Points -115
The Play: RAMS OVER 33.5 POINTS (-115)
Yeah, this may seem like a high number, but the Rams have been decidedly more explosive with Matthew Stafford at quarterback than they were with Jared Goff, who’s now pitching for the Detroit side. And the Lions’ defense ranks last in the NFL in a metric called “explosive pass play rate.” In other words, the Rams should be able to get the ball down the field.
Stafford is averaging over nine yards an attempt with 16 touchdowns. That is exactly what Sean McVay was hoping he’d do.
If the Lions are going to make a game of this; i.e., cover the massive spread, it’s going to be because they never stopped trying offensively, but it isn’t going to be a matter of slowing down their former teammate Stafford.
New York Jets at New England Patriots Team Totals
Time: Sunday, October 24 – 1 PM ET
Team Totals Odds: New York Jets – Over 17.5 Points -110 / Under 17.5 Points -120
The Play: JETS UNDER 17.5 POINTS (-120)
One of the things that has given the Jets a great deal of difficulty is that they have averaged 2.6 first-half points per game. That leaves them with only one half of football to eclipse a number like this.
Add to that the fact that Bill Belichick has a nasty reputation for giving rookie quarterbacks a hard time, and that he DID give Zach Wilson a hard time in the first meeting, with his defense forcing him into four interceptions.
And we doubt Wilson will somehow become a revelation in this particular game.
The Jets, like the Pats, have been lousy at converting red zone opportunities into touchdowns (just 45.5%). And New England suddenly found its running game last week; perhaps that continues, and chews up the clock?
Chicago Bears at Tampa Bay Buccaneers Team Totals
Time: Sunday, October 24 – 4:25 PM ET
Team Totals Odds: Tampa Bay Bucs – Over 30.5 Points +100 / Under 30.5 Points -120
The Play: BUCS UNDER 30.5 POINTS (-130)
It’s quite obvious that Tom Brady has a number of weapons at his disposal. And we know that it isn’t all passing; Leonard Fournette is an effective diversion at the very least.
But the Bears may have what it takes to throw a little monkey wrench into the whole thing – at least enough to make this interesting. In last year’s meeting they managed to harass Brady quite a bit, holding him to just 6.2 yards an attempt and beating the Bucs 20-19. They sacked him three times and forced him into a lot of quick decisions. Pressure could come from up the middle, and Chicago’s D has the highest sack percentage in the league.
We admit the overall defensive numbers might not be stellar, but there may not be too many other teams with as much equipment to keep Brady off-balance.
