Are the New York Jets equipped to navigate life without star quarterback Aaron Rodgers? That remains the question as they prepare to face off against the New England Patriots in Week 3, on Sunday, September 24, at 1 p.m. eastern standard time, on the field at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Many might be ready to write off the Jets for the entire season. Rodgers suffered an Achilles injury just a few snaps into Week 1. He isn’t expected to return at all this year, unless the Jets make the postseason. Given how poor their odds to make the 2023 NFL playoffs are at the moment, this clearly isn’t something many are expecting.
To that end, the Jets enter Week 3 as underdogs against the Patriots. Here are the latest betting odds for New York vs. New England:
Always remember to double-check these NFL online betting odds until you actually submit your wager. Our Jets vs Patriots odds are accurate entering Wednesday, September 20. The best betting sites for the 2023 NFL season will keep making line adjustments right up until opening kickoff on Sunday afternoon.
Mind you, this could be a matchup that encounters plenty of last-minute betting-line movement. Both the public and sportsbooks alike are still trying to figure out what the Jets are capable of following Rodgers’ injury. They were able to eke out a victory largely without him in Week 1 over the Buffalo Bills. But they mustered just 10 points during their Week 2 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Is New England really a shoo-in to bag this matchup on the road? Or is there something more to this New York squad? Let’s get to our Patriots vs. Jets picks.
The Jets May be Running into a Sleeping Giant vs. the Patriots
So much analysis of this game will be focused on who and what the Jets don’t have. And that matters. Losing Rodgers is a monstrous blow to the offense. New York does not have the firepower on either side of the ball to overcome complete incompetence at one end of the field.
Still, backup quarterback Zach Wilson has actually played fairly well since taking over under center. That’s especially true in Week 2. He figured out ways to move the ball against an elite Cowboys secondary. But “fairly well” is different from great. He managed just 170 yards in the Dallas loss, and his four interceptions are an NFL high.
More than anything, though, the Patriots might just be too good. Don’t let New England’s 0-2 record fool you. They put up valiant efforts against two mega elite teams in the Philadelphia Eagles (Week 1) and Miami Dolphins (Week 2). They cannot be faulted for losing by a combined 12 points to what look like a pair of Super Bowl contenders, if not potential Super Bowl favorites.
Compared to last season, New England’s offense is night and day. It turns out hiring a real offensive coordinator can help the process. Quarterback Mac Jones has looked far more comfortable making plays outside the pocket, and the Patriots are trusting him to drop back more in general. His average yards per completion has dipped, but he’s currently completing almost 69 percent of his passes. If this is the trade-off, New England will roll with it.
OSB Prediction: New England Patriots (-154)
Don’t Tempt Yourself with Betting on New York’s Point Spread in Week 3
Linemakers are giving the Jets a real shot in this game. You can tell just by looking at the latest NFL point spread betting odds for this head-to-head:
- New England Patriots, -2.5 (-115)
- New York Jets, +2.5 (-105)
Based on the payouts, it’s clear the public has pounced on New England’s spread in the early going. And, well, that makes sense. Though we are hesitant to invest in tiny underdog point spreads most of the time, this feels like a classic case of reading too much into the Patriots’ record without providing the necessary contest.
Make no mistake, if New England doesn’t win this game by more than a field goal, we will be flabbergasted.
OSB Prediction: New England Patriots, -2.5 (-115)
Should You Brace for a Low-Scoring Game Between New England and New York in Week 3?
You can see how much the absence of Rodgers matters to New York’s offense by looking at the latest NFL over/under betting odds for Jets vs. Patriots below:
- Over 37 (-110)
- Under 37 (-110)
Action on the “under” has ruled the day so far. This line actually opened at 38.5, before settling into an even 37 entering Wednesday.
We’re not quite sure how to feel. The Patriots offense feels undervalued here. They dropped 20 points on an elite Philadelphia defense in Week 1. The Jets can generate tons of pressure on the quarterback, but quite frankly, they’re not the Eagles. New England should have an easier time moving the chains.
New York’s offense is the bigger wild card. Can Zach Wilson cut down the interceptions? And will the Jets let him work the ball down the field? We’re not confident in these questions being answered the affirmative. This game feels like it’ll end up being a defensive-minded clash. Even with this matchup holding the lowest line, by far, of any showdown on the board, we're prepared to work the "under."
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