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Bet the Bigger Margin of Victory: Cowboys Over Dolphins or Patriots Over Jets

Eric Thompson

by Eric Thompson in NFL Football

Updated Apr 13, 2020 · 8:08 PM PDT

Bill Belichick
Will Bill Belichick lead a demolition of the Jets this weekend? Photo from @ComplexSports (Twitter).
  • Miami is gunning for the title of worst NFL team of all-time with a -92 point differential through two games
  • The hard luck Jets are an even bigger underdog than the Phins, going up against the high-powered Pats in Week 3
  • Which team will have the bigger blowout this week: Dallas over Miami or New England over the Jets?

Perhaps the fish tank will have company this season after all? The butt of every NFL joke through two Sundays, the Miami Dolphins found a little reprieve from the barbs after the New York Jets embarrassing showing on Monday Night Football.

Now both teams will head into Week 3 as historically large underdogs.

The Jets vs Patriots odds have New England favored by 22.5 points. Not far behind is the Dolphins vs Cowboys odds, where Dallas is a 21.5-point favorite at home. Which favorite will deliver the more humiliating blowout? You can bet that too.

Bigger Blowout in Week 3: Patriots-Jets vs. Cowboys-Dolphins

Highest Margin of Victory in Week 3 Odds
Patriots vs Jets -130
Cowboys vs Dolphins Even

All odds taken 09/18/19.

Will the powerhouse Pats or the cruising Cowboys put up a bigger win? Better yet, which of the Jets and Dolphins are a better bet at sliding in for a backdoor cover?

Cowboys Can’t Keep the Peddle Down

While everyone left Week 1 raving about how good the Dallas offense was under offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, the defense didn’t exactly resemble the fearsome unit that carried this team through 2018.

The Eli Manning-led Giants offense (the same Eli Manning who was benched this week for being ineffective) racked up 470 yards against the Cowboys. They also didn’t have a single three-and-out.


They did a better job of keeping Washington under wraps in Week 2, holding them to 255 yards of offense. But without generating any takeaways, Case Keenum was able to hang 21 on Cowboys. Needless to say, bad teams can move the ball on Dallas.


The Cowboys look poised to hang 50 points on a hapless Dolphins D that just traded their best player to Pittsburgh. But if Dallas can’t keep the hammer down in garbage time, it’s all for naught. Because while it looks more impressive, a 52-17 win is the same as a 35-0 win. And the latter definitely seems likely in New England.

Pats No TD Streak is Worth Protecting

Dating back to Super Bowl 53, the New England Patriots have gone 12 straight quarters without allowing a touchdown.

Over that stretch, opponents have run just seven offensive plays in their red zone. This is a run of dominance that rivals the ’85 Bears and ’00 Ravens, and New England will want to keep it going.

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Not that it will be difficult against this banged up Jets offense, down to a third string QB and already hamstrung by having Adam Gase as a coach, New York is barely a threat to score when they have possession. As they showed in a Week 1 loss to Buffalo, their best chance at points is when a healthy defense is on the field.


If C.J. Mosley and Quinnen Williams can’t go this week, there goes the Jets chances of keeping this respectable. Tom Brady will continue to get in a groove with his new offensive weapons and the Patriots defense will remind Luke Falk that being a starter isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

The Play

On the strength of a defense that won’t yield in garbage time, let’s take the Patriots to win by more than the Cowboys.

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