Bet Patriots to Regress, Jets to Regroup in AFC East
- Despite a Week 1 win for the Patriots, that should not change how the betting public views them.
- The Bills vs Dolphins will be a great game, but bettors should focus on NFL player props around Josh Allen.
- The Jets have one of the best defenses in the league and will face an offense that collapsed in Week 1, with the line leaning in their favor.
The AFC East had a good opening week, with three teams getting wins. The biggest surprise was the New England Patriots, who shocked NFL lines by beating the Cincinnati Bengals in the week’s biggest surprise.
Starting the season with such a strong week for the AFC East seems on brand, considering it could be one of the toughest divisions in the NFL. Three teams have their odds at +190 or lower to win the division while the Patriots are left on the outside.
What makes the AFC East a little more interesting this week is that the Miami Dolphins will host the Buffalo Bills in an excellent Thursday Night Football matchup. Both teams are coming off comeback wins, and the BetUS sportsbook has that game slated to be very close.
3 Top Picks in AFC East Week 2
1. Steer Clear of Patriots
In Week 1, the Patriots beat the Bengals 16-10 against all odds. They were up against the largest NFL spread of the week, which was set at 7½ right before kickoff.
Rhamondre Stevenson vs Bengals:
💪 120 Rushing Yards
💪 118 Yards After Contact pic.twitter.com/uZmPS3I9Ig— PFF Fantasy & Betting (@PFF_Fantasy) September 9, 2024
The Patriots played solid defense and while the Bengals shot themselves in the foot, they stayed composed, relying on the running game. Rhamondre Stevenson carried the ball 25 times for 120 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Jacoby Brissett did not inspire much for the future, completing 15 of 24 passes for 121 yards.
However, things could be different going into this Week 2 matchup against the visiting Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks did not exactly play clean football, having two turnovers and going without a touchdown until the second half.
Once they got going, though, the offense was putting together drives, which should test the Patriots’ defense. Plus, the Seahawks defense played well in Week 1, allowing 231 yards and forcing three turnovers, which could be challenging for an uninventive offense.
Last week, I also picked against the Patriots, but I still don’t have faith in them after beating the Bengals. Maybe that is a mistake, but it looked more like a case of the Bengals losing the game than the Patriots getting the win.
Bet on Seahawks (-3) Spread vs Patriots
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2. Prop Up Bills QB Allen
This week’s Thursday Night Football game is going to be a must-watch. The Bills and Dolphins NFL futures odds of winning the AFC East are tied at +190, and while it is only Week 2, this could impact the tiebreakers for the division winner.
This game might be difficult to bet in for picks against the spread or straight up because of how evenly matched the rosters are. Both teams struggled early in Week 1 and had to pull off solid comebacks to start the season off 1-0. That has led to some unanswered questions going into a quick turnaround matchup. The Dolphins are favored, but not by much.
However, we learned this week that no matter what happens around Bills QB Josh Allen, he will not be the reason his team loses. He showed that last week with a four-touchdown day, two through the air and two on the ground, after a tough start.
JOSH ALLEN YOU DOG.
📺: #AZvsBUF on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/GP6h0Kzre3— NFL (@NFL) September 8, 2024
The Bills will put it all on Allen’s arms and/or legs in the red zone to make a play. If this game is going to be close , when it comes to the Bills needing a touchdown in the red zone, Allen will call his own number. Furthermore, the Bills don’t have a great running back option for short yardage, and they have leaned on Allen to do that, He had 15 rushing touchdowns last season.
Bet on Josh Allen Anytime TD (-200) vs Dolphins
3. Bank on Jets Defense vs Titans
The biggest reason to back the New York Jets in NFL picks this week is because of how awful the Tennessee Titans were in Week 1. The Chicago Bears had 148 total yards of offense and didn’t score a touchdown, but they still managed to beat the Titans 24-17. With all the talent around Aaron Rodgers, the Jets’ offense will be better than it showed in its opener.
In addition, the Jets’ defense is definitely on the same level, if not better, than what the Titans faced last week against the Bears. The Titans had three turnovers, two of which were interceptions, and one was returned for a touchdown. It seems logical that the Jets can put together something similar.
Even though that might be hard to imagine after an opening-week loss to the San Francisco 49ers, in which the Jets’ defense allowed 32 points and 401 yards, it is still the backbone of the team. The Titans’ offense did not show nearly the same things as the 49ers’ offense, making it a much easier opponent for the Jets to handle.
Plus, the Jets had some solid moments on offense in Week 1. Rodgers threw for a touchdown in his first complete game as a Jet. It might not have lived up to the hype of some of the Jets’ NFL predictions, but it was more than enough to back them against the Titans.
Bet on Jets -3½ Spread vs Titans
Odds and information are accurate at the time of writing. Please check with official sources for the latest updates before placing any bets
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Questions Of The Day
What is the best AFC East team to bet on in Week 2?
The Jets have a lot of hype around them and should be able to show that in a favorable Week 2 matchup..
Is there a player prop to pay attention to for Week 2 in the AFC East?
In Week 1, Josh Allen showed why he is one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL and expect that to continue in a close game with the Dolphins.
