The Jets’ big win in Week 1 was followed by a “shoulda” vs. the Packers and a “coulda” at the Lions.
asserted
win → follow → Lions
We’re left to try to characterize what we’re seeing and figure out whether it’ll be good enough to beat the Bears this Sunday at Soldier Field, or any of the other opponents on the upcoming schedule.
asserted
it → leave → schedule
On the plus side, the Jets appear to be better than they’ve been, and far superior to the beer-league bunch that finished last season.
asserted
that → appear → bunch
That might not be saying much, but we’re allowed to marvel at a 31-of-37, three-touchdown passing performance by Geno Smith, the explosiveness of first-round pick Kenyon Sadiq and the sticky fingers of Garrett Wilson.
uncertain
we → say → Wilson
The Jets were scoring in the fourth quarter in Detroit after Breece Hall got injured, and without AD Mitchell, Omar Cooper Jr., and Mason Taylor.
asserted
Hall → score → Mitchell
Add three first-round picks and a high-priced free agent or two next offseason, and we can see where this might be going.
uncertain
this → add → picks
The Jets are underperforming their stats on the scoreboard.
asserted
Jets → underperform → scoreboard
There are holes in the offensive line, which was supposed to be the strength of the team.
asserted
which → be → team
The defense, despite a No. 2 ranking in yards allowed, has not come up with the big stops when needed in the past two weeks.
asserted
defense → allow → weeks
They still have not made an interception since the 2024 season.
asserted
They → make → season
The special teams, historically good last season, have fallen off.
asserted
teams → fall → ?
And Aaron Glenn still has not proven he can make good in-game coaching decisions.
asserted
he → prove → decisions
So off we go to Chicago, where the spread is a curiously light 3.5 points even after the Bears’ destruction of the Eagles on Monday night.
asserted
spread → go → night
Maybe oddsmakers are waiting for clarity on whether the Bears will start Case Keenum, Tyson Bagent, or even a rehabbing Caleb Williams at quarterback.
asserted
Bears → wait → quarterback
The Bears can be had if the Jets were to play a perfect game, but I don’t see that happening.
asserted
that → have → game
Chicago has an incredible 39 takeaways in 20 games since the start of 2025.
asserted
Chicago → have → 2025
The Jets have six.
asserted
Jets → have → six
Smith thus far has turned it over just once, on the sack/fumble to end the Lions game.
asserted
Smith → turn → game
He hasn’t thrown an interception.
asserted
He → throw → interception
If he starts now, combined with the Glenn vs. Ben Johnson coaching mismatch and the absence of Hall, the Jets will be toast.
asserted
Jets → start → Hall
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NEW YORK GIANTS (+2.5) over Arizona Cardinals
It’s unusual enough that the 1-2 Cardinals are favored on the road against the 2-1 Giants.
asserted
Cardinals → read → Giants
What’s remarkable is that the line is climbing, from 1.5 to 2.5 on Thursday morning.
asserted
line → ’ → morning
The oddsmakers seemingly are focused on the Giants ranking last in the NFC with 46 points, and the diminished arm strength of Jameis Winston.
asserted
Giants → rank → Winston
They don’t mitigate much of the shock value of Jaxson Dart’s injury vs. the Rams or the bad weather last week vs. the Titans.
asserted
They → mitigate → Titans
My sense is they’re giving a little too much credit to the Cardinals for their belated comeback against the 49ers and expecting Jerimiyah Love to take it to the next level in New Jersey.
asserted
Love → give → Jersey
Yes, the Giants got away with one vs. Tennessee when Cam Ward could have likely waltzed in with the winning touchdown but instead threw an interception right into Jevon Holland’s hands.
uncertain
Ward → get → hands
But I’ll take the points at home with John Harbaugh in his 297th regular-season game as a head coach against Mike LaFleur, who’s in his fourth.
asserted
who → take → fourth
And I figure the arrival of J.J. McCarthy will give us the best version of Jameis Winston, whatever that can be.
asserted
that → figure → Winston
Washington Commanders (+3.5) over Indianapolis Colts
It’s the first London game of the season.
asserted
It → ’ → season
I’m a bit worried to jump on a Marcus Mariota bandwagon.
asserted
I → ’m → bandwagon
The Commanders upset the Seahawks last week but were outgained by 179 yards.
asserted
Commanders → upset → yards
Hoping there’s enough spread cushion here to cover if the Colts pull it out.
asserted
Colts → hop → it
Tennessee Titans (+11.5) over BALTIMORE RAVENS
The Ravens and Cowboys are the first NFL teams to play in Brazil on a Sunday to be scheduled again seven days later.
asserted
Titans → play → Sunday
We’ll see if that 9,500-mile round trip, combined with the last-second win, leaves the Ravens a little sluggish against a desperate 0-3 Titans team.
asserted
trip → see → team
Green Bay Packers (-3.5) over TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Packers have some extra time after getting drubbed at home by the Falcons last Thursday.
asserted
Packers → have → Falcons
Undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels steps in for the injured Baker Mayfield.
asserted
Daniels → step → Mayfield
He’ll add some speed to the Bucs offense but there were reasons they were 0-3 for Mayfield and dead-coach-walking Todd Bowles.
asserted
they → add → Mayfield
That’s reflected in this spread.
asserted
That → reflect → spread
Figuring the sight of the Bills across the ball will wake up the Patriots.
asserted
sight → figure → Patriots
The Jaguars have two blowout wins and a loss at Denver in which they led 13-3 in the third quarter.
asserted
they → have → quarter
…and 24 more, not listed.
The Aporia
