Patriots to Ground the Jets in Thursday Night Football Slugfest?

In Week 3 of the NFL season, the New York Jets (1-1) are 6.5-point home favorites as they face the New England Patriots (1-1) in a pivotal AFC East divisional battle.

With both teams looking to build momentum early in the season, this Thursday Night Football showdown at MetLife Stadium promises to be a gritty contest.

Game Details:

• Matchup: New England Patriots vs. New York Jets
• Date: Thursday, Week 3
• Time: 8:20 p.m. ET
• Location: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
• TV: Amazon Prime Video

Jets vs. Patriots Odds (via BetOnline)

Team	Spread	Total Points
New England Patriots	+6.5 (+100)	Over 39.0 (-110)
New York Jets	-6.5 (-120)	Under 39.0 (-110)

Rodgers’ Modest Performance

Aaron Rodgers may have secured his first win as a Jet in Week 2, but his stat line against the Tennessee Titans was far from spectacular. Rodgers completed 18-of-30 passes for 176 yards and two touchdowns in the 24-17 victory.

While the numbers were pedestrian, Rodgers’ perfect 5-for-5 on the game-winning 74-yard fourth-quarter drive highlighted his ability to deliver when it matters most.

One key for Rodgers will be getting star receiver Garrett Wilson more involved in the passing game. Wilson has only seen six targets in each of the first two games, and Rodgers will likely look to lean on him more heavily in Week 3.

However, that task won’t be easy against Patriots’ shutdown corner Christian Gonzalez. The second-year cornerback was stellar in Week 2, holding Seahawks’ DK Metcalf to just three receptions for 24 yards on seven targets.

Patriots Fall to .500

New England was close to becoming one of the NFL’s most surprising 2-0 teams but fell 23-20 in overtime to the Seattle Seahawks. Despite the loss, the Patriots showed their defensive mettle, allowing both DK Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba to go over 100 yards receiving while limiting Seattle to only 46 rushing yards.

The Patriots will need to continue their strong run defense against a formidable Jets ground attack. New York boasts a powerful duo in Breece Hall and rookie Braelon Allen.

The 20-year-old Allen was a difference-maker against Tennessee, scoring two touchdowns, including the game-winning score.

New York vs. New England

The Jets enter as 6.5-point favorites in their third game in 11 days. After an embarrassing 32-19 loss to the 49ers on Monday Night Football, New York bounced back with a gritty win over Tennessee in Week 2. Now, they face a Patriots team that has shown flashes of potential on both sides of the ball.

The over/under of 39 points is one of the lowest on the Week 3 slate, and for good reason. Both Rodgers and Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett have yet to pass for more than 200 yards in a game this season. Expect a low-scoring, defensive battle between these division rivals.

Best Bet

After a stellar 120-yard, one-touchdown performance in Week 1, New England running back Rhamondre Stevenson followed it up with 81 yards and another score against Seattle in Week 2. Additionally, Antonio Gibson contributed 96 yards on the ground.

With the Jets allowing 180 rushing yards to the 49ers in Week 1, expect the Patriots to lean on their ground game. Jerod Mayo’s game plan will likely focus on controlling the clock with the run, taking advantage of a Jets defense that has struggled against the run early this season.

Given New England’s ability to move the ball on the ground and the Jets’ challenges defending the run, the best bet is for the Patriots to cover the +6.5 spread.

Additionally, with both teams featuring conservative passing attacks and stout defenses, the UNDER 39 is a strong play for this Thursday Night Football showdown.

Final Picks:

• Spread: Patriots +6.5
• Total: Under 39

This AFC East clash should be a tightly contested, low-scoring game with both teams relying on their run games to set the tone. Expect New England to keep it close and cover the spread while the combined score stays below 39 points.