Tonight, the National Football League kicks off Week Nine action in New Jersey when the New Your Jets host the Houston Texans. The Texans are 6 and 2 on the season and lead the AFC South Division by two games. The Jets are 2 and 6 on the season and are buried in the cellar of the AFC East Division.
So, who do you think is favored in this contest?
Okay, you may have gotten that right, knowing the press clippings with Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams are well ahead of the Jets play on the field. Too far ahead to even consider betting on them tonight while they are favored by two points against a team that has won four more games this season.
But, before we discard this game altogether, it might be wise to understand why the team with the worse record is favored, and might that make them a very good point spread play?
First, the Texans record has been achieved while Houston has won a number of close games. Only once this season has Houston won a game by more than one score. They are also hurt on the offensive side of the ball by first an injury to their spectacular wide out, Nico Collins, and now by another solid receiver, Stefon Diggs.
Diggs is out for the year with an Achilles injury suffered in last week’s narrow home win over the Indianapolis Colts. A few weeks ago, when Collins was injured during a win over the Buffalo Bills, the Texans offense went from prolific to pedestrian. After serving his time on injured reserve, Collins will be eligible to return next week when the Texans host the Detroit Lions.
In the meantime, the Texans offense will no doubt rely more on the run than C.J. Stroud’s passing attack with runningback Joe Mixon expected to play a big role.
Will it be enough against a Jets team in dire need of a win to keep their flickering hopes for a playoff berth alive?
Maybe.
But a possible Texans win tonight is more based on Houston’s ability to stop the Jets assault. New York has an offensive line that is akin to a screen door attempting to block wind. The Texans have a pair of pass rushers who are among the sack leaders this year, Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter, and they will be looking to feast on the unprotected 40-year-old quarterback in the New York backfield.
So, the Texans have the better defense, have won more games, and will look to compensate for the loss of their leading and second leading receivers tonight on the road.
Tough duty.
The Jets will look to take advantage of a banged-up Houston squad and get themselves a win to save an otherwise miserable season.
Now, perhaps, you know why the Jets are favored.
But that doesn’t make them a play on our chats nor are we interested in seeing if the Texans can win a seventh game while pinning the Jets with a seventh loss.
Every edge in this game is dull.