NFL Week 16 Jaguars at Jets Betting Preview
New York Seems to Be in a Good Spot
Is the week 16 Jaguars at Jets betting matchup the kind of game that Jacksonville inexplicably wins? The Jaguars are 2-12 on the season and in the driver’s seat for the #1 draft pick in the offseason, coming off their second loss of the season to the lowly Texans. It would seem Jacksonville is going to lose out the rest of the way, so why is this spread just NYJ -2?
The Jets will be without head coach Robert Saleh who is in the health and safety protocols, but they are still at home and played well in last week’s 31-24 loss to the Dolphins. Speaking of being at home, temperatures are in the 40s, which is nice for late December in the Northeast, but also still colder than the 70s and 80s that Jacksonville players are used to. How motivated are these Jaguars players going to be?
Another #1 Pick In Sights
Jacksonville has their franchise QB (they think) in last year’s #1 pick Trevor Lawrence, so they can either take the best player available or demand a king’s ransom in a trade if they lose out and hold on to that spot. Wins don’t mean anything right now as the Jaguars will have another new coach in the offseason after the Urban Meyer experience was horrendous – so why does it still seem like Jacksonville is going to come out victorious in this matchup?
Speaking of the Meyer debacle, if there was ever a time for the Jaguars to come out fired up it was the game after their embattled head coach was given his walking papers. Instead, under interim coach Darrell Bevell Jacksonville lost 30-16 last week to the Texans. Houston is 3-11 on the season – two of those victories coming against Jacksonville.
Lawrence was just 22/38 with 210 yards and 0 TD / 0 INT against the Texans. The #1 pick now has just 1 TD pass in the last seven games, and was honestly outplayed by Houston’s 3rd round selection Davis Mills who was 19/30 for 209 yards but with 2 TD passes against 1 INT. The Jaguars have been held to 17 points or less in eight straight games.
Nice Spot for New York
Jets QB Zach Wilson can be the second straight rookie QB to get a win over Lawrence, and there has to be some extra motivation for Wilson in the #2 vs. #1 draft pick battle. The New York rookie has had his ups and downs this season, including last week’s 13/23 for 170 yards with 0 TD and 0 INT performance vs. Miami.
Wilson could be without both starting WRs from last week’s loss to the Dolphins as Jamison Crowder (calf) is doubtful and Denzel Mims (undisclosed) is questionable. The Jaguars have been OK on defense ranking 17th vs. the pass and 18th vs. the run, but New York should try to get the running game going behind Tevin Coleman (who had 50 yards on 8 carries last week, and rookie Michael Carter who leads the team with 4 rush TDs.
Tight ends coach Ron Middleton will be the acting head coach for the 1st time in his career. Could that be the reason New York is only a -2 point favorite in the Week 16 Jaguars at Jets betting matchup?
Free Week 16 Jaguars at Jets Betting Matchup
It’s likely burning money betting on either of these teams – except when they play each other. Jacksonville may play better in their 2nd week under Bevell, but this is not a team to be taking right now, especially on the road.
Jets 20 – Jaguars 14
Free Pick: Jets -2
