Monday Night Football Odds Week 3

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Monday Night Football Odds Week 3

Monday Night Football Odds will feature two critical duels for NFL Futures. Let’s analyze how the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Buffalo Bills might bring surprises and the match between the underachieving Cincinnati Bengals, who will host the Washington Commanders.

Jaguars vs Bills

The early Monday Night Football matchup for Week 3 pits the winless Jacksonville Jaguars (0-2) against the unbeaten Buffalo Bills (2-0) in a crucial AFC showdown. 

The Jaguars, fresh off back-to-back losses, are desperate for their first victory of the 2024 season. Meanwhile, the Bills are riding high after a dominant 31-10 win over the Dolphins.

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars have had a rough start, losing both of their first two games, including an 18-13 home loss to the Browns. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence is feeling the pressure to perform.

In two games, Lawrence has thrown for 382 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions, but his completion rate is just 51%. Against Cleveland, he completed only 46.7% of his passes with no touchdowns. To turn the season around, Lawrence needs to play like the top pick he was in 2021.

Rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. has been a bright spot, with six catches for 141 yards and the team’s only receiving touchdown. Running back Travis Etienne Jr. has been solid, rushing for 44 and 52 yards in the first two games and scoring one touchdown in each.

Defensively, Jacksonville has held opponents to 19.0 points per game. Linebacker Foyesade Oluokun leads the team with 19 tackles, a sack, and a pass deflection. Former first-overall pick Travon Walker has two sacks, contributing to the team’s five this season. However, the defense has yet to get an interception.

Injuries could hurt the Jaguars’ offense. Running back Tank Bigsby, tight end Evan Engram, offensive tackle Cam Robinson, and safety Darnell Savage are all questionable. These injuries could affect both offense and defense.

Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills have started the season strong, winning both games and scoring over 30 points each. Their latest win was a 31-10 blowout over Miami, and they easily covered the spread as 2.5-point underdogs.

Quarterback Josh Allen has been efficient, throwing for 371 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. He has completed 73.8% of his passes and has been sacked only twice. Running back James Cook shined against Miami, scoring three touchdowns before halftime. So far, Cook has 149 rushing yards and 49 receiving yards, with two rushing touchdowns and one receiving score in two games.

The Bills’ defense has been just as strong, allowing only 19.0 points per game. Linebacker Dorian Williams leads the team with 19 tackles, while edge rusher Greg Rousseau has three sacks and a forced fumble. Veteran Von Miller, still impactful at 35, has added two sacks. Cornerback Ja’Marcus Ingram stood out against Miami with two interceptions, including one returned for a 56-yard touchdown.

Buffalo has some injury concerns on defense, with defensive ends Javon Solomon and Dawuane Smoot listed as questionable. Their absence could affect the Bills’ pass rush against Jacksonville.

Prediction

There are reasons to expect improvement from the Jaguars, who are in a must-win situation. With head coach Doug Pederson’s offensive expertise, Jacksonville could get their offense going, especially with Trevor Lawrence under pressure to perform.

While strong, Buffalo’s defense may be overvalued after dominating a Miami team that often struggles against them. Jacksonville’s defense, led by Foyesade Oluokun and Travon Walker, can limit James Cook. The Jaguars will likely rely on Brian Thomas Jr. and their defensive line to keep the game close. While the Bills are the stronger team, the Jaguars’ desperation might help them cover the spread.

Prediction: Jaguars +6

Commanders vs Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals (0-2) will host the Washington Commanders (1-1), with kickoff at 8:15 p.m. ET at Paycor Stadium.

Washington Commanders

The Washington Commanders enter this game riding high after their win over the New York Giants last Sunday. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels secured his first NFL victory, benefiting from the Giants’ need to take risks on fourth downs due to kicker Graham Gano’s injury.

Washington dominated the game, outgaining New York 425-304 in total yards, including 215 rushing yards at 6.1 yards per carry. Brian Robinson Jr. had a career-best game, rushing for 133 yards on 17 carries.

The Commanders have relied heavily on their running game, ranking 5th in the NFL with 176.5 rushing yards per game. However, their passing attack has been less effective, with Daniels averaging just 185.5 passing yards per game (20th) and no touchdowns. Their top receivers have been running back Austin Ekeler and tight end Zach Ertz, while star wideout Terry McLaurin has been limited to eight catches for 39 yards in two games.

Defensively, Washington has struggled, allowing 27.5 points per game (29th) and 348 total yards per game (22nd). Their secondary has given up 227.5 passing yards per game (22nd), while their run defense allows 120.5 yards per game (16th). They have only recorded two sacks and have yet to intercept a pass. Linebacker Bobby Wagner leads the defense with 19 tackles and four tackles for loss, while cornerback Benjamin St-Juste has four passes defended.

The Commanders are dealing with several injuries on defense. Cornerbacks St-Juste and Emmanuel Forbes Jr., along with defensive linemen Jer’Zhan Newton, Clelin Ferrell, and Dorance Armstrong, are all listed as questionable for Monday’s game.

Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals are coming off a tough loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. A pass interference call on a failed fourth-down conversion allowed the Chiefs to kick a game-winning field goal.

Despite the loss, the Bengals outplayed Kansas City in several key areas. They held Patrick Mahomes to just 137 passing yards and forced two interceptions. Cincinnati’s defense applied pressure throughout the game, recording six QB pressures, three sacks, and four tackles for loss.

Quarterback Joe Burrow led the offense with 258 passing yards and two touchdowns, but the Bengals struggled in the running game. Running back Zack Moss has yet to find his rhythm, rushing for only 78 yards on 21 carries this season. However, second-year running back Chase Brown has been more efficient, averaging 6.0 yards per carry. Burrow has plenty of passing weapons, including tight end Mike Gesicki and wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase, Jermaine Burton, and Andrei Iosivas.

Cincinnati’s defense has been strong against the pass, ranking third in the league, but has struggled against the run, allowing 159.5 rushing yards per game (26th). Defensive end Trey Hendrickson has been a standout with two sacks, but the Bengals need more production from other pass rushers to consistently pressure opposing quarterbacks. The team has recorded three sacks, two interceptions, and one fumble recovery.

The Bengals are facing several critical injuries for Monday’s game. Tight end Mike Gesicki, safety Vonn Bell, wide receiver Tee Higgins, offensive tackle Amarius Mims, and defensive tackles Kris Jenkins, Sheldon Rankins, and B.J. Hill are all questionable.

Prediction

Washington’s potent ground game could be a big issue for Cincinnati, given the Bengals’ struggles against the run. The Commanders rank in the top five in both EPA/play and success rate, which could give them an advantage over a Bengals defense that has been vulnerable in stopping the run.

In addition, injuries to key Cincinnati offensive players like Mike Gesicki and Tee Higgins might limit Joe Burrow’s passing options, potentially forcing the Bengals to rely more on their underperforming run game.

Washington has enough talent to keep the game close. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels has shown poise under pressure and could deliver a standout performance on boosting their Monday Night Football Odds. While Cincinnati is still a strong opponent, Washington has an excellent chance to keep the game within a touchdown.

Prediction: Commanders +7.5