EVEN BETTER JET
TO ALL of you knockout pool victims — Yahoo! reports 87 percent of its entries are kaput after just two weeks — welcome back to the pointspread world!
Probably the most interesting thing about the Jets’ 20 start has been the change in volume. And not just the massive increase in the number of turnovers created. Referring here more to the decrease of bluster and smack talk coming out of the locker room and particularly the podium.
It’s clear this is a different kind of Jets team. There’s a far better roster assembled by new GM Mike Maccagnan and a mature atmosphere created by rookie coach Todd Bowles.
The Jets are 09 alltime against the Eagles, including a 4519 destruction in Philadelphia in 2011 that close to a dozen current Jets will remember. The Eagles are a mess right now, with a running game that averages 2.1 yards per carry, a squarepeg quarterback, Sam Bradford, who has thrown four interceptions, and a fan base that’s ticked off beyond belief.
The pick: Jets 2.
Steelers (+1) over RAMS: Steelers get Le’Veon Bell back from his twogame suspension to add to Antonio Brown in an offense that has racked up more than 900 yards in two weeks.
Chargers (+2¹/₂) over VIKINGS: Tough call but happy to take a few points in what should be a tight game. Chargers have better yardage numbers on both sides of the ball, and Philip Rivers is a winning road quarterback (3836 straight up in his career).
Buccaneers (+6¹/₂) over TEXANS: Ryan Mallett isn’t inspiring a lay of nearly a touchdown here. The leading sack man in the NFL through two weeks is in this game. It’s not J.J. Watt, who has three. It’s the Bucs’ Jacquies Smith, who has four.
PANTHERS (3) over Saints: Conspiracy theorists will be wary of this even line (home team minus three) for a 20 home team vs. an 02 road team. Drew Brees is questionable with a shoulder injury, and these are not your older brother’s Saints.
PATRIOTS (13 ¹/₂) over Jaguars: Jacksonville isn’t terrible, but the final margin here will be determined by what kind of mood Bill Belichick and Tom Brady are in. Thinking they’re still pretty upset over Deflategate.
RAVENS (2 ¹/₂) over Bengals: So far we’ve been piling on some 02 teams such as the Eagles and Saints, but not ready quite yet to downgrade the Ravens. They have yet to play at home, where Joe Flacco is 131 straight up in September games.
Raiders (+3¹/₂) over BROWNS: Questionable move by Mike Pettine going back to Josh McCown over Johnny Manziel. We’ll stick with the Raiders’ Three C’s (Carr, Cooper and Crabtree).
TITANS (+3) over Colts: Colts used to see the name “Titans” on their schedule, having won the last seven meetings, but the script may be flipping quickly on this rivalry. Marcus Mariota enters his first career home game with six touchdowns and no interceptions already on his ledger.
COWBOYS (+1) over Falcons: Well, here’s a line that’s probably about 10 points different than what you figured it would be. Brandon Weeden gave a glimpse of what the Cowboys will look like without Tony Romo, and it wasn’t horrible, as he went 7for7 for 73 yards and a touchdown to salt away the win at Philadelphia.
CARDINALS (6 ¹/₂) over 49ers: Cardinals are 152 in Carson Palmer’s last 17 starts, and this team has become a real beast. The 49ers surprised in their opener but are headed far south in the NFC West standings.
Bears (+14¹/₂) over SEAHAWKS: Not a write off of the 02 Seahawks, but this is an awful lot of points to give team with a runner who averages 5.2 yards per carry like Matt Forte does. And with Jimmy Clausen in for Jay Cutler, Bears coach John Fox will be in movethechains and draintheclock mode, which could keep this reasonably close.
Bills (+3) over DOLPHINS: It’s Tyrod Taylor’s first road start as an NFL quarterback, but Miami isn’t known as a particularly loud or intimidating place to play. If Ndamukong Suh indeed is already tuning out the Dolphins’ coaches, that will be a big problem for Joe Philbin.
Broncos (3) over LIONS: It’s Detroit’s first home game, so you have to discount its 02 start at least a little. And the Broncos are traveling again after a late win at Kansas City. But the early stats show the Broncos have a top pass defense, and the Lions have one that could be picked to shreds by Peyton Manning on national TV.
MONDAY NIGHT
Chiefs (+6 ¹/₂) over PACKERS: Love the way the Chiefs played for most of the game last week vs. Denver. Think Jamaal Charles and tight end Travis Kelce will be able to get some things done against the Packers D. BEST BETS: Steelers, Cardinals, Broncos LAST WEEK: 115 overall, 30 Best Bets LOCK OF THE WEEK: Steelers (Locks 10 in 2015)
THURSDAY NIGHT: Redskins (L)