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A 32-19 street loss to San Francisco in Week 1 despatched Jets followers into full panic mode.
Even with out their beginning working again Christian McCaffrey, the 49ers nonetheless gashed the Jets on the bottom, racking up 180 yards on 38 carries.
Whereas changing a top quality All-Professional like McCaffrey isn’t simple, San Francisco has a historical past of plugging completely different backs into the system and succeeding. There’s additionally a thought that this San Francisco staff could be even deeper and higher than marketed.
Thus, if the 49ers are the cream of the crop, then the Jets deserve the good thing about the doubt in opposition to a lesser opponent after they go to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.
Jets vs. Titans odds
Jets outlook
Monetary incentives and the concern of accidents have marginalized the significance of preseason in as we speak’s recreation.
The 49ers have been Aaron Rodgers’ first opponent since tearing his Achilles a yr in the past. Regardless of all of the glowing experiences out of New York concerning the quarterback’s rehab, you possibly can’t mimic the in-game expertise.
The Jets have been additionally virtually breaking in a brand new offensive line with tackles Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses, and left guard John Simpson.
Whereas the offense was responsible of two turnovers that led to factors for the 49ers, the defensive efficiency was much more objectionable, given how San Francisco ran the ball down their throats.
Rodgers at the very least took some duty for his half within the loss.
“I can play higher,” he stated. “I missed a few throws. … I felt general I used to be getting the ball out fairly good, however we had some alternatives that I’d prefer to have again.”
Each groups transformed six third-down alternatives and accomplished 19-of-29 passes, although San Francisco had a slight edge in yards per play (5.7 vs. 5.4) and passing yards (221 vs. 198).
May the Jets have performed higher? Completely. However that is solely the primary recreation of an 18-week schedule. Let’s not get too carried away.
Titans outlook
The Titans’ loss was much more humiliating than that by the Jets. After leaping out to a 17-0 lead, Tennessee dedicated three second-half turnovers and allowed two touchdowns on protection and particular groups earlier than dropping 24-17 to Chicago and rookie QB Caleb Williams.
On Monday, coach Brian Callahan would possibly’ve delivered the very best quote of the yr, saying, “It’s virtually as if we simply punted it on first-and-10 each time, we would’ve gained the sport the way in which that we gave it away.”
These feedback aren’t precisely a vote of confidence for the offense and second-year quarterback Will Levis, who threw for simply 127 yards on 19-of-32 makes an attempt and completed with a 30.8 QBR score.
A lot of the Titans’ success got here on the bottom with 140 dashing yards on 26 makes an attempt (5.4 yards per carry). Nevertheless, if Levis goes to battle within the passing recreation, the Jets could be extra aggressive in loading the field to cease the run.
Going up in opposition to a Tennessee offense extra reliant on its dashing assault could be a blessing in disguise for this Jets’ run protection.
Jets vs. Titans decide
The very last thing the Jets will need is a 0-2 begin. Courting again to 1990, when the league added the wild card, 279 groups began the season 0-2, and solely 32 went on to make the playoffs.
With Tennessee transitioning to a brand new beginning quarterback and head coach, its fanbase is nicely conscious the staff is within the midst of a rebuild. In the meantime, the Jets have a roster that’s constructed to win now.
On Wednesday, Jets tight finish Tyler Conklin revealed to the Submit that after the sport Rodgers delivered a message to the staff that wasn’t a lot completely different from a decade in the past in Inexperienced Bay when he famously informed Packers followers to “R-E-L-A-X” following a 1-2 begin.
Betting on the NFL?
Rodgers’ honesty and accountability will go a good distance amongst his friends as he’s often the primary to steer by instance.
Whereas the Jets have some issues to scrub up on the apply area, they need to look lots higher in opposition to a Titans staff that doesn’t have practically the identical stage of high quality because the 49ers.
Greatest guess: Jets -3.5 (-110, bet365)
Why Belief New York Submit Betting
Michael Arinze handicaps most main sports activities for the New York Submit. He’s cashed two 15-leg teasers in his betting profession in addition to a 12-leg parlay that included eight Little League World Collection video games. Extra not too long ago, he precisely picked finalists within the 2024 European Championships and Copa America.
