New England (2-5) at NY Jets (0-8)
When: Monday, November 9th, 2020
Where: MetLife Stadium,
East Rutherford, NJ
Time: 8:15 ET | TV: ESPN
Opening Odds: New England -7.5/41
In what is possibly the worst Monday Night Football matchup to date this season, the 2-5 New England Patriots visit the winless New York Jets to conclude Week 9 action. The Pats have lost four consecutive games for the first time in 18 years and will come into this contest as 10-point road favorites after an opening line of seven. New England hasn’t won a game Week 3 and it appears their AFC East dominance is over, as the Buffalo Bills have seized control of the division. New York has mustered a league-low 94 points this season, 39 fewer than the next-closest team entering Week 9 and have scored just two touchdowns in the last four games. The Jets were 20-point underdogs last week at the Kansas City Chiefs and couldn’t even cover that spread, losing 35-9. New England did cover the spread in a 24-21 loss at Buffalo, but haven’t won since beating Las Vegas 36-20 on Sept. 27.
Last year, New England swept New York by a combined 63-14 margin as Belichick improved to 30-10 in the rivalry. 29 of those wins came with Tom Brady, however. The Patriots shutout the Jets 33-0 in the last meeting in Week 7, last year. New England is now 4-1 against the spread in their last five games versus the Jets, while the under is 4-0 in the Patriots’ last four Monday games. No surprisingly, the Under is 4-0 in the Jets last four games overall and the team is 0-5 ATS in their last five games against opponents with a losing record.
With Tom Brady out and Cam Newton now leading the offence, this isn’t the same Patriots team anymore. Newton only managed 174 passing yards and no touchdowns, but did rush for 54 yards and a score last week. He has a total of eight turnovers (seven interceptions, one lost fumble) and just two touchdown passes on the season. Newton has rushed for a team-high 298 yards and six touchdowns. Damien Harris has proven to be the No. 1 running back on the team, rushing for 102 yards and a score last week. Bill Belichick’s team ranks 12th in scoring defense (23.9 points per game) and 14th in total defense (357.3 yards per game). The Pats’ rush defense has struggled, giving up 140.4 rushing yards per game, 27th in the league. Cornerback Stephon Gilmore, the 2019 Defensive Player of the Year, did not practice for the Patriots on Thursday due to a knee injury. Also missing practice time were defensive tackles Carl Davis (concussion) and Lawrence Guy (shoulder, elbow and knee), running back J.J. Taylor (illness) and wideout N’Keal Harry (concussion).
The Jets last week allowed Chiefs QB Pat Mahomes to throw for 416 yards and five TDs, while New York managed just three field goals. Quarterback Sam Darnold was held to 133 yards and will miss this Monday’s game. Veteran Joe Flacco will get the start. New York’s pass offense averages 155.9 yards per game and 5.3 yards per attempt, both dead last in the NFL. They’ve scored more than 17 points only once and gained more than 300 yards only once. The Jets also rank last in total offense (259 yards per game) and last in third-down conversions (28.3 percent). The biggest positive for the Jets, this year, has been their rush defense, which is giving up 116.1 yards per game, 13th in the league. Missing practice this week were defensive linemen Nathan Shepherd (back) and Quinnen Williams (hamstring), wide receiver Jamison Crowder (groin) and linebacker Blake Cashman (hamstring).
I really don’t want any part of this game, but it’s a Monday night, so I’m making a pick. This line went from 7 to 10 and my first thought was taking the Jets. Upon further review, however, the Under seems like the most logical play. Both teams are struggling on offense, while the defenses aren’t half bad. It’s a low total for 2020, but I’ll take it.
Pick: UNDER 41
Week 9 Staff Selections
