Browns Listed as 6.5-Point Favorites vs Jets with Sam Darnold Out
- Sam Darnold (mono) is out for this week’s Monday Night Football matchup with the Browns
- Head Coach Adam Gase has suggested that Darnold will be out until Week 5
- The Jets face the Browns, Eagles, Cowboys and Patriots (twice) coming up in the next six weeks
The New York Jets season has turned on a dime. They looked like they were en route to a 1-0 start, leading the Bills 16-0 late in the third quarter. But they blew the lead, and now a slew of injuries could derail their entire 2019 campaign.
Today, news surfaced that starting QB Sam Darnold is out with mono. The Cleveland Browns vs New York Jets odds shifted immediately, with New York now a 6.5-point underdog on Monday Night Football this coming week (Sep. 16th).
Are they worth a bet?
Browns vs Jets Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Browns | -6.5 (-112) | -300 | Over 44 (-115) |
| New York Jets | +6.5 (-108) | +250 | Under 44 (-105) |
Odds taken 09/05/19 .
Darnold To Miss Multiple Weeks With Mono
Who has Sam Darnold been making out with? In an absolutely shocking piece of news, the sophomore pivot is out, not just for Week 2, but indefinitely. Mono is actually a somewhat serious ailment and early speculation is that he’ll be out until Week 5.
The Jets will turn to Trevor Siemian, which is less than ideal. The veteran quarterback failed with the Denver Broncos in 2017 and has been floating around ever since. Now he’s the driver’s seat behind a mediocre offensive line and an offense that might be missing even more parts.
Jets Injuries Are Piling Up
The Jets had more bad news come in on Thursday morning as star running back Le’Veon Bell was heading for an MRI on his shoulder. If the Jets had any hope of surviving without Darnold, they’d ideally lean heavily on Bell.
Don’t forget that the Jets have already put Quincy Enunwa on injured reserve and tight end Chris Herndon is suspended. This wasn’t an offense with a ton of playmakers to begin with. These losses are significant.
If you thought the issues were strictly offense-related, the defense has been hit too. It looks like the Jets will be without Quinnen Williams, their first-round pick, and star linebacker C.J. Mosley. This is a lot for the Jets to overcome.
Browns Now Favored
As a result of all of the injury news, we’ve seen some huge swings for the betting line. The Browns were favored by 2.5 before the news. Now the point spread is up to 6.5, and that line will climb if Bell and the others are, in fact, out.
Browns Looking For A Rebound
A visit from the Miami Dolphins is what the Jets could really use this week. Instead, they’re hosting a Cleveland Browns team that was embarrassed in Week 1 and should be very focused on rebounding in Week 2.
The Browns were blown out 43-13 at home by the Titans, while quarterback Baker Mayfield threw three picks.
Remember that this is a return home of sorts for Cleveland’s Odell Beckham Jr., who used to play in New York with the Giants. He’ll probably relish sticking it to his former city. The motivational advantages all lie with the Browns in this spot.
What’s The Best Bet?
The Jets blew a 16-0 lead last week and already had kicking concerns to begin with. Now they can add losing their starting quarterback and a number of other important parts of the team.
Whether Bell plays or not, this game has blowout written all over it. The Jets are not a team with a ton of depth and that’s going to show in this spot. Look for Cleveland to get back on track and win by double-digits.
For over 15 years, Dave has been working in mainstream media and sports betting. He hosted a station on Sirius Satellite Radio for four years, and is currently a senior writer for AskMen. He's interviewed hundreds of hundreds of high-profile sports stars like Shaquille O'Neal and Floyd Mayweather.
