Jets Outgain Patriots 400-139, And it Seemed Worse!
Rodgers and Company Coast 24-3 Thursday Night
Before the 2024 NFL season began, THIS is what was expected of both teams. The Jets were now a serious playoff threat, potentially a Super Bowl threat with a healthy Aaron Rodgers backed by a strong defense. New England might be the worst team in the league with an inexperienced head coach and a journeyman quarterback.
Didn’t work out that way in the first two weeks…with both teams going 1-1 in a way that cast doubt on summer narratives. Thursday night’s AFC East battle was those summer narratives coming to life as if summoned by a magic spell sprinkled with ayahuasca dust.
*The NY Jets (-6) beat New England 24-3, winning yardage 400-139, yards-per-play 5.7 to 3.9, third downs 67-18%, drive points (60+ yds) 21-0, rushing 133-78, and TOs 1-0. Both teams had a 4D failure. Jets missed a 45-yard FG try.
Felt like one of those Road Warriors squash matches on WCW Saturday afternoons back in the day. Except, a whole team was clotheslined off Aaron Rodgers’ shoulders.
Jets scored TDs on 3/8 possessions (both offenses gobbled clock). Patriots were 0/8. Let’s update those for the season (remembering that I don’t count kneel-down drives).
Jets’ Offense: 9/27 for 33% (very efficient by current standards)
Jets’ Defense: 4/28 allowed for 14% (properly stingy)
Patriots’ Offense: 3/29 for 10% (one of the worst in the league, even with 2 scored vs. Seattle last week).
Patriots’ Defense: 6 of 28 allowed for 21% (faced some decent QBs so far, probably not bad in context)
If the Jets keep that up, they’re going to matter even if Rodgers isn’t quite what he used to be. Patriots look like they’ll have to win Steelers’ style, but with less talent and savvy than the Steelers. Tonight’s line of Jets -6 meant the teams were only four points apart in “market” Power Ratings (allotting 2 for home field advantage). That will certainly spread apart quickly. Patriots likely to drop a couple of points. Wouldn’t be shocked if the Jets rose a point.
Jets are now 2-1, and back in AFC championship discussion at the very least. New England falls to 1-2, and must hope to win grinders vs. less potent opponents to make any sort of run at 7-8 wins.
One college football game Thursday night…
*South Alabama (+8) obliterated Appalachian State 48-7 (great point spread, market!), winning yardage 474-385, YPP 7.1 to 5.7, third downs 55-31%, rushing 320-119, drive points 28-7, and TOs 2-1 (App State also had two 4D failures).
Might go down as one of the worst point spreads of the year. USA grabbed the game by the throat early and never let up. Beat the market by 49 points! Very strong effort from this live road dog. Complete defensive no-show by an overrated host. Both teams are 2-2. Hard to figure what the heck USA was doing when dropping its first two games. Appalachian State lost to Clemson 66-20. So, at least there was a recent precedent for this defensive no-show.
That’s it for this quick Thursday stat recap. Back with you overnight to look at how sharps are betting midday college football on Saturday…including USC at Michigan and Utah at Oklahoma State. See you then. If you’d like to read sharps reports for college and pro football through the season, cost is just $20 per calendar month…or $75 for a calendar year (which will also include sharps reports for the full MLB playoffs, all of March Madness, and all of the NBA Playoffs).
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