[h=1]MNF Chaser: Jets-Titans[/h][h=3]The Jets have something to play for and are the better team right now[/h]
By Ben Fawkes | ESPN Insider
The final "Monday Night Football" game of the year isn't a marquee matchup like last week, but it still has playoff implications as the New York Jets take on the Tennessee Titans.
For the Jets, it has been a season mostly to forget. The Tim Tebow acquisition has played out as many thought it would, creating a distraction for the team, while Tebow hasn't significantly helped on the field at all. Mark Sanchez appears to have taken steps backward, though losing Santonio Holmes for the season in Week 4 and having Dustin Keller healthy for only eight games certainly haven't helped. Still, Sanchez's QBR is at 29.1 (34th of 36 qualifying quarterbacks), the lowest of his career, and he doesn't appear to making strides to be the franchise quarterback the Jets envisioned.
For the 4-9 Titans, it also has been a season to forget. Losers of four of their past five games, the Titans limp into the game having been beaten by 14 or more points six times this year. Jake Locker has flashed the potential to be a franchise quarterback, but also displayed the inexperience of a second-year starter. The pick-six from the shadow of his goal line last week at Indianapolis is a prime example of the latter. Chris Johnson has had a good season with 1,037 yards rushing, but with the 29th-ranked offense and 27th-ranked defense according to Football Outsiders DVOA, it's hard to get excited about the future in Tennessee right now.
The Jets are 7-6 against the spread this season (4-2 ATS on the road), and the Titans are 4-9 ATS (2-4 ATS at home). Despite that, the public is backing the Titans so far (59.8 percent), according to ESPN Insider's PickCenter.
Let's get line analysis from Jay Kornegay of the Las Vegas Hotel and a pick against the spread from Geoff Kulesa of Wunderdog Sports.
Kornegay says: "We opened the Titans as minus-2.5 favorites over the Jets and it quickly dropped to minus-1.5. For most the week, the books offered Tennessee either minus-1.5 or minus-2. We don't expect a lot of New York support and therefore the line should creep up to a solid minus-2 to -2.5 by kickoff. The total remained 42 all week but it might drop down a bit on game day."
Prediction: Line should move up to Titans minus-2.5, total could drop
Wunderdog says: "Go ahead and laugh at the Jets all you want, but the fact is they still have a shot at the postseason and they are playing a very winnable game tonight. The playoffs are a stretch for the Jets, but three wins in their final three games puts them at 9-7 and they finish the season against the Titans, Chargers and Bills -- three teams that are out of it.
"New York is 4-1 ATS in its last five road games and the Jets certainly have the talent to win this game, especially against a Titans team that is just 2-4 this season at home and has been outscored 75-52 in three straight losses. New York's strength is the ground game, ranked 13th in the NFL. The Tennessee defense is allowing 127 yards rushing per game (24th) and 250 yards passing per contest (26th). Tennessee has been bad from Week 1 and isn't getting any better, losing five of its past six. The Titans are on a 1-5 ATS run, 3-7 ATS in their past 10 games following a loss and 0-5 ATS in their past five games in December.
"Of late, the Jets have been playing like a desperate team, and it's been working. The Jets are 6-0 ATS in their past six meetings, including 4-0 ATS in their past four meetings in Tennessee. The past three seasons, New York has taken care of business against teams with losing records, going 14-3 straight-up such games. Play the Jets here."
Wunderdog's ATS pick: Jets
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By Ben Fawkes | ESPN Insider
The final "Monday Night Football" game of the year isn't a marquee matchup like last week, but it still has playoff implications as the New York Jets take on the Tennessee Titans.
For the Jets, it has been a season mostly to forget. The Tim Tebow acquisition has played out as many thought it would, creating a distraction for the team, while Tebow hasn't significantly helped on the field at all. Mark Sanchez appears to have taken steps backward, though losing Santonio Holmes for the season in Week 4 and having Dustin Keller healthy for only eight games certainly haven't helped. Still, Sanchez's QBR is at 29.1 (34th of 36 qualifying quarterbacks), the lowest of his career, and he doesn't appear to making strides to be the franchise quarterback the Jets envisioned.
For the 4-9 Titans, it also has been a season to forget. Losers of four of their past five games, the Titans limp into the game having been beaten by 14 or more points six times this year. Jake Locker has flashed the potential to be a franchise quarterback, but also displayed the inexperience of a second-year starter. The pick-six from the shadow of his goal line last week at Indianapolis is a prime example of the latter. Chris Johnson has had a good season with 1,037 yards rushing, but with the 29th-ranked offense and 27th-ranked defense according to Football Outsiders DVOA, it's hard to get excited about the future in Tennessee right now.
The Jets are 7-6 against the spread this season (4-2 ATS on the road), and the Titans are 4-9 ATS (2-4 ATS at home). Despite that, the public is backing the Titans so far (59.8 percent), according to ESPN Insider's PickCenter.
Let's get line analysis from Jay Kornegay of the Las Vegas Hotel and a pick against the spread from Geoff Kulesa of Wunderdog Sports.
[h=3]New York Jets at Tennessee Titans[/h]Spread: Opened Titans minus-2.5, now Titans minus-2
Total: Opened 42, still 42
<offer>Total: Opened 42, still 42
Prediction: Line should move up to Titans minus-2.5, total could drop
"New York is 4-1 ATS in its last five road games and the Jets certainly have the talent to win this game, especially against a Titans team that is just 2-4 this season at home and has been outscored 75-52 in three straight losses. New York's strength is the ground game, ranked 13th in the NFL. The Tennessee defense is allowing 127 yards rushing per game (24th) and 250 yards passing per contest (26th). Tennessee has been bad from Week 1 and isn't getting any better, losing five of its past six. The Titans are on a 1-5 ATS run, 3-7 ATS in their past 10 games following a loss and 0-5 ATS in their past five games in December.
"Of late, the Jets have been playing like a desperate team, and it's been working. The Jets are 6-0 ATS in their past six meetings, including 4-0 ATS in their past four meetings in Tennessee. The past three seasons, New York has taken care of business against teams with losing records, going 14-3 straight-up such games. Play the Jets here."
Wunderdog's ATS pick: Jets
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