Thursday Night Football Odds: Week 3

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THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL ODDS WEEK 3

In Week 3 of the NFL season, an AFC East rivalry takes the spotlight on Thursday Night Football as the New England Patriots face off against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Let’s see which one has the Thursday Night Football Odds in their favor. 

Despite being the visiting team, the Patriots have a dominant record at MetLife, winning their last eight games. NFL Futures continue to shift; New England will aim to extend that streak to nine victories when the teams kick off at 8:15 p.m. EST.

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New England Patriots 

The Patriots head into this game following a narrow 23-20 loss in their home opener, but they have been highly competitive in both games. Under new head coach Jerod Mayo, New England’s defense has been particularly effective, allowing only 33 points over two games, the fifth-fewest in the league. 

Their run defense has been stout, giving up just 116 rushing yards (second-best in the NFL) on 3.3 yards per carry (third). However, their pass defense has allowed 491 yards, ranking 25th in the league, though they limit opponents to a respectable 6.7 yards per attempt (15th). The defense has recorded six sacks and forced two turnovers, proving to be a key factor in their success.

Offensively, the Patriots rely heavily on their running game, with Rhamondre Stevenson accounting for a significant portion of the team’s production. New England has totaled 600 yards and 36 points through two games, ranking 20th in both categories. 

Stevenson has been responsible for 216 yards and 12 points, making him a critical part of their attack. The Patriots average 4.7 yards per carry and rank third in rushing attempts, indicating their clear preference for a ground-and-pound approach.

Jacoby Brissett has struggled in the passing game, completing just 58.8% of his passes for 270 yards and one touchdown. Tight end Hunter Henry has emerged as the most reliable target, with eight receptions for 109 yards, most of which came in their Week 2 loss.

Despite Brissett’s inconsistencies, New England has avoided turnovers and limited sacks, which will be crucial in this divisional matchup.

Key injuries heading into this game include several question marks along the Patriots’ starting offensive line, with Ja’Whaun Bentley, Anfernee Jennings, Jabrill Peppers, and Marcus Jones all listed as questionable.

New York Jets

The New York Jets secured their first win of the season with a 24-17 victory over the Tennessee Titans, thanks to a late touchdown from rookie Braelon Allen. Now, they return home to MetLife Stadium, hoping to build on that momentum. However, the Jets’ defense has struggled mightily against the run, allowing 310 rushing yards (24th in the NFL) on 4.7 yards per carry (20th). These issues have contributed to the Jets giving up 49 points over two games, ranking them 25th in the league in scoring defense.

Their pass defense has been more solid, holding opponents to 7.4 yards per attempt. The pass rush has been a bright spot, with seven sacks in two games, and they notched their first two takeaways of the season against Tennessee. Improving their run defense will be critical to slow the Patriots’ rushing attack.

Offensively, the Jets have scored 43 points over two games, ranking 14th in the league, but their yardage production has been less impressive. Aaron Rodgers, returning healthy this season, has helped elevate the team, but they are still 27th in total yards and 20th in yards per play. 

The run game, led by Breece Hall, has struggled, producing only 169 rushing yards (26th) on 3.9 yards per carry (21st). The passing game has been efficient, though nothing spectacular, averaging 6.4 yards per attempt.

Critical injuries for the Jets include C.J. Mosley and D.J. Reed, who are listed as questionable, while Jermaine Johnson is out.

Prediction

The key to this game will likely be the Patriots’ rushing attack against the Jets’ vulnerable run defense. New York has given up over 125 rushing yards in both games, and the Patriots’ ground game is well-equipped to exploit this weakness. If New England can control the clock and field position, it will put the Jets in a difficult spot, as their offense has struggled to generate consistent production.

On the defensive side, the Patriots’ ability to stop the run and pressure the quarterback will make things challenging for the Jets’ offense, mainly if Aaron Rodgers can’t find his rhythm early. Expect New England to keep this game close and possibly win outright.

Prediction: New England Patriots +6.5