The New York Jets will be featured in primetime for the fifth time already as they kick off Week 9 of the NFL’s regular season at home against the Houston Texans on Thursday night.
While the Jets (2-6) are riding a five-game losing streak, the Texans (6-2) travel on a short week just five days after losing another star wide receiver to a major injury.
ODDS AND TRENDS
Despite sitting near the bottom of the AFC standings, the Jets are 2.0-point favorites. That has led to heavy action on the Texans at sportsbooks including BetRivers, where Houston has been backed by 55 percent of the spread-line money and 60 percent of the total bets.
The Texans’ +105 moneyline has attracted 60 percent of the bets, while the Jets have been backed by 61 percent of the money at -127.
Oddsmakers are expecting a relatively low-scoring game. The Over/Under at DraftKings is 42.5 points — slightly higher than the 42.0 being offered at BetRivers, where the Over has been a popular play with 77 percent of the money.
However, the book reported that six of the Texans’ past seven games have gone Under the total points line.
PROP PICKS
–Tank Dell Over 4.5 Receptions (-125 at DraftKings): Dell steps into the No. 1 receiver role for Houston following the season-ending injury to Stefon Diggs and with Nico Collins still recovering from a significant hamstring injury. Dell has a modest 24 receptions on 38 targets through seven games, but has at least four catches in four of his past five and figures to be a focal point of the passing game moving forward. This has been the most popular player prop at the book. Another intriguing play is Xavier Hutchinson at +120 to have at least 25 receiving yards.
–Davante Adams Anytime TD (+135 at BetRivers): Texans running back Joe Mixon reaching the end zone on Thursday night has received a higher percentage of money at the book (3.2), but we like the better payout on Adams, who has received 1.4 percent of the money. Adams has seven receptions on 15 targets in two games since being reunited with Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, but hasn’t scored since Week 2 with Las Vegas.
THE NEWS
It has been exactly six weeks since the Jets have won a football game.
New York is averaging just 16.6 points during its slide, which has seen it score 17 points or fewer three times. The Jets’ season high for points is 24, accomplished in each of their victories.
New York has often settled for field-goal attempts — Greg Zuerlein is 9-for-15 — or failed to make a key play on the offensive end. The Jets are ranked 25th in scoring offense (18.8 points per game) and 24th in total offense (310.6 yards per game), with Rodgers throwing 12 touchdown passes against seven interceptions.
The misery might have reached a zenith on Sunday when the host New England Patriots drove 70 yards in 12 plays to score the winning points with 22 seconds left in their 25-22 victory.
“We’ve got to score touchdowns,” Rodgers said. “Can’t leave it up to Greg or try and pin it on Greg. We had a lot of opportunities to score 30, to make it a two-score game at times and didn’t do it.”
The Jets fired Robert Saleh as coach after their record dropped to 2-3. They are 0-3 under interim coach Jeff Ulbrich, who doubles as defensive coordinator.
Despite the injuries to Collins and Diggs, Houston is in a good position as it hits Week 9 with four victories in its past five games.
“A goal we had was to start fast, and I believe that we’ve been putting on some good ball, but we have a lot to still clean up,” said Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, who has thrown 11 touchdown passes and just four interceptions. “It’s just exciting times. It’s coming into the two hardest months of ball (in) November and December.
“We get to end October on a prime-time game, and it’s going to be a great matchup against the Jets, and we’ve got to be able to be ready and try to finish October the right way.”
KEY STAT
Mixon has been a force with three straight 100-yard rushing performances. He has carried the ball 25 times in each of the past two games, and has at least 102 rushing yards in four of his past five games overall.
INJURY REPORT
Houston running back Dameon Pierce (groin) was ruled out of the contest on Wednesday. Offensive lineman Jarrett Patterson (concussion), linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (knee) and safety Jimmie Ward (groin) will also miss the game.
New York will be without five-time Pro Bowl linebacker C.J. Mosley (neck) for the second straight game. Other Jets who were ruled out were receiver Allen Lazard (chest), guard Alijah Vera-Tucker (ankle), defensive lineman Leki Fotu (knee) and safeties Tony Adams (hamstring) and Ashtyn Davis (concussion).
Also, the Jets placed Zuerlein on injured reserve and signed fellow kickers Riley Patterson and Spencer Shrader to the practice squad. Either Patterson or Shrader will be elevated to the active roster to handle the kicking duties.
THEY SAID IT
–“It’s tough news to hear, especially with how much (Diggs) pours into it. That’s (a) guy that gave his all to everything we asked him to do. He’s hurting, of course, and we’re hurting for him.” –Houston coach DeMeco Ryans on Diggs’ injury
–“We’ve just got to be better collectively. Every single human being out there has got to be better. Aaron has got to be better. Coaches got to be better. All of us got to be better.” –Ulbrich
PREDICTION
The Jets’ offensive issues aren’t easily correctable with an aging quarterback who lacks the mobility he long thrived on and a playbook that lacks creativity. Yes, the Texans are traveling on a short week and doing so without their top two wideouts. But Houston is tied for second in the AFC because it is well-rounded. The Texans enter with the league’s No. 2-ranked total defense and are third in the NFL with 27.0 sacks. –Texans 23, Jets 20
