Jets-Patriots Week 3 Spread Opened at 17, Now 22.5

• The Jets are down to third-string quarterback Luke Falk, who is expected to start in New England in Week 3
• The Patriots have outscored their first two opponents 67-3 
• Key injuries to Jets linebacker C.J. Mosley and defensive lineman Quinnen Williams will have an impact on the spread

For a second straight week, it looks like the New England Patriots will be favored by about three touchdowns against another NFL team. Before the Jets hosted the Browns on Monday Night Football in Week 2, New York was already down to backup QB Trevor Siemian, which had led oddsmakers to open the Patriots as 17-point favorites this Sunday (Sep. 22, 1:00 PM ET).

Things went from bad to worse on MNF for the Jets. Siemian went down with a brutal ankle injury, forcing third-stringer Luke Falk to come on.

To be blunt, the Falk-led Jets were bad, losing 23-3 at home. Falk’s numbers don’t look horrendous in the box score (20/25, 198 yards, no TDs, no INTs), but much of his yardage came in garbage time on easy completions with the Cleveland defense sitting back.

After witnessing the anemia of the “new-look” Jets, the spread in the Jets vs Patriots odds has ballooned to New England -22.5. Is the smart play to lay the points with the Pats?

Jets vs Patriots Odds

*Odds taken 09/17/19 

Jets Are Reeling

It’s been an awful couple of weeks for the Jets. They lost in Week 1 mostly because of a kicker who couldn’t make an extra point or a field goal, then quarterback Sam Darnold got mono.

Now, not only are they down to Luke Falk, but they were also forced to play without first-round pick Quinnen Williams and star linebacker C.J. Mosley in Week 2, and it’s unclear if both will play this week.

The Jets also flat-out benched cornerback Trumaine Johnson, who hasn’t played anywhere near his $72.5 million contract.

All in all, the Jets are in shambles as they visit the league’s best team.

Patriots Get Another Cupcake

It’s been a “grueling” start to the season for the Patriots. After blowing out the Pittsburgh Steelers 33-3 on the opening Sunday Night Football, they visited the Miami Dolphins and handled them 43-0. Not that they needed the help, they also added Antonio Brown to the fold this past weekend.

Of course, we know the offense is explosive, but what’s been more impressive is the defense, which has allowed a total of three points so far. They’ve allowed a total of 492 yards combined through two weeks while picking off three passes and creating five takeaways.

New England’s upcoming schedule is quite easy as they face the Jets this week, the Buffalo Bills next week, the Washington Redskins after that, then the New York Giants and the Jets again. Outside of the Bills, the Patriots shouldn’t break a sweat for the next month or so.

Can The Jets Cover A Big Number?

This is still a divisional game but it’s hard to see the Jets playing well here. They’re changing quarterbacks mid-week again and are on short rest.

The concern here has to be the Jets defense, which couldn’t hold the fort in two games at home. Now they’re going on the road. If there’s no Mosley and no Williams, this undermanned team is going to get the doors blown off. On top of that, I don’t know if they can score 10-14 points to even cover.

Without Mosley and Williams, I would lay the points with the Patriots. If they play, I’d lean more to the under as this will be a low-scoring affair.