Jets fans were in a state of absolute panic after a 32-19 road loss to San Francisco in Week 1.
Despite being without starting running back Christian McCaffrey, the 49ers held their own against the Jets on the ground, rushing for 180 yards on 38 carries.
Replacing a quality All-Pro like McCaffrey is never easy, but San Francisco has a history of plugging multiple backs into its system and having success with them. There’s also the idea that this San Francisco team is deeper and better than advertised.
So if the 49ers are the best, the Jets deserve the benefit of the doubt against a lesser opponent when they visit the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.
Jets vs. Titans odds
| team | diffusion | Moneyline | gun |
|---|---|---|---|
| jet | -3.5 (-115) | -196 | 041.5 (-105) |
| Titans | +3.5 (-105) | +164 | U41.5(-115) |
Jet view
In today’s game, financial incentives and fear of injury have reduced the importance of the preseason.
The 49ers were Aaron Rodgers’ first opponent since tearing his Achilles a year ago, and for all the praise New York has given the quarterback for his rehabilitation, the in-game experience hasn’t been the same.
The Jets also had a virtually new offensive line, adding tackles Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses and left guard John Simpson.
The offense committed two turnovers that led to 49ers scores, but the defensive performance was even more frustrating given how aggressively San Francisco pushed the ball.
Rogers accepted at least some of the blame for the defeat.
“I can do better,” he said. “I missed a couple of shots. … I felt like I was throwing the ball pretty well overall, but there were a couple of opportunities that I wish I had had more of.”
Both teams converted six third-down opportunities and completed 19 of 29 passes, but San Francisco held a slight edge in yards per play (5.7 to 5.4) and passing yards (221 to 198).
Could the Jets have done better? Sure. But this is only the first game of an 18-week schedule. Let’s not get too excited.
Titans View
The Titans’ loss was even more humiliating than the Jets’ loss. After jumping out to a 17-0 lead, Tennessee committed three turnovers in the second half and allowed two touchdowns on defense and special teams before losing 24-17 to Chicago and rookie QB Caleb Williams.
On Monday, coach Brian Callahan may have said the best thing he’s said all year: “It was almost like we punted every time on 1st and 10. We probably would’ve won the game the way we threw it away.”
Those comments aren’t a vote of confidence in the offense or second-year quarterback Will Reavis, who finished with just 127 yards on 19-of-32 attempts and a QBR rating of 30.8.
Most of the Titans’ success came on the ground, where they rushed for 140 yards on 26 attempts (5.4 yards per carry). But if Revis struggles in the passing game, the Jets could be more aggressive in loading the box to stop the run.
Facing a Tennessee offense that relies more on its rushing attack could be a blessing in disguise for the Jets’ run defense.
Jets vs Titans Pick
The last thing the Jets want is to start 0-2. Going back to 1990, when the league added the wild card, 279 teams started the season 0-2, and only 32 made the playoffs.
With Tennessee transitioning to a new starting quarterback and head coach, the fan base knows the team is rebuilding. Meanwhile, the Jets have a roster that can win right now.
On Wednesday, Jets tight end Tyler Conklin told The Post that Rodgers had a message for the team after the game that wasn’t all that different from the one he famously told Packers fans to “relax” after a 1-2 start in Green Bay a decade ago.
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Rogers’ honesty and sense of responsibility will likely prove to be a great asset to his colleagues, as he is often seen as a role model.
The Jets have some areas they need to work on on the practice field, but they should be much better against a Titans team that lacks the quality of the 49ers.
Best bet: Jets -3.5 (-110, bet365)
Why Trust New York Post Betting?
Michael Arinze has handicapped most major sports for the New York Post. He has won 15-leg teasers twice in his betting career, and has also won 12-leg parlays, including eight Little League World Series games. He recently correctly picked the finalists for the 2024 European Championships and the Copa America.
