The Week 2 of the NFL preseason will conclude with this intriguing matchup on Monday, August 22, and here you can check out the best Falcons vs. Jets betting pick and odds.
After recording wins in their respective Week 1 game, both Atlanta and New York are hoping to improve to a 2-0 record in the preseason when they face at MetLife Stadium. The Falcons are -2.5 favorites on BetMGM Sportsbook, while the total is set at 38.5 points. These inter-conference rivals have met once in 2021, and the Falcons won that game 27-20 in Atlanta.
Falcons got an edge over the Lions in Detroit
The Atlanta Falcons opened the preseason with a 27-23 road victory over the Detroit Lions as Jared Bernhardt caught a 21-yard TD pass from Desmond Ridder with a minute and a half to go. The rookie quarterback wasn’t very accurate in this one, completing just ten out of 22 passes for 103 yards, but he did register a couple of touchdowns without interceptions. Ridder also added 59 yards on the ground and led the Falcons in that segment.
It was a rare preseason win for Atlanta, who lost 15 of the last 16 preseason games before this victory. Ridder is a clear No.2 option at the quarterback behind Marcus Mariota. Still, we know how Mariota’s form fluctuates throughout the season, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see Ridder taking the starting job at some point during the upcoming campaign.
Jets to focus on quarterbacks following Zac Wilson’s injury
The New York Jets beat the Philadelphia Eagles 24-21 on the road last week but lost starting quarterback Zac Wilson to an injury. Wilson suffered a non-contact knee injury in the first quarter after he scrambled out of the pocket for a 7-yard run. He did limp to the sideline on his own power, and early reports are saying that Wilson’s injury isn’t a serious one. Zac is going to miss two to four weeks and is not ruled out for the Jets’ season opener against the Baltimore Ravens on September 11.
With Wilson sidelined, the Jets will turn to the veteran Joe Flacco to lead the offense. Flacco could get some playing time on Monday against the Falcons but expect backups Mike White and Chris Strevele to play the majority of the game. Two of them combined for 160 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Philadelphia.
Trends:
Atlanta:
2-15 ATS in the last 17 preseason games0-3-1 ATS in the last four games overall
New York:
4-1 ATS in the last five preseason games4-0 ATS in the last four preseason games against the Falcons
Atlanta Falcons vs. New York Jets Pick
The Falcons gave up almost 400 total yards to the Lions last week, 292 of which were through the air. The Jets are perhaps without Wilson, but Mike White and Chris Strevele, along with Flacco if he plays, are more than capable of torching this poor Atlanta’s secondary. The visitors will focus mainly on the running game after rushing for 168 yards and a touchdown against Detroit. New York’s defense against running was solid against Philadelphia, keeping the Eagles to 88 yards on 28 attempts (3.1 per play). I am backing the hosts to get an edge in this one.
Pick: Take the Jets at +2.5 (-110)
The Total
I mentioned Atlanta’s weak passing defense and I am sure the Jets will know to exploit that and put the Falcons’ secondary under heavy pressure. Denzel Mims was the most targeted wideout for New York’s quarterbacks last week, and I think he will have a big game on Monday. The visitors will be persistent with their running and will likely score a touchdown or two on the ground, so I expect to see more than 38 points combined. Over is 4-1 in the last five H2H meetings.
Pick: Go Over 38.5 points
