Jaguars vs. Jets Week 16 matchup preview and current betting lines
The Jacksonville Jaguars (6-8) and New York Jets (7-7) are both virtually facing a must-win game this Thursday night if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Jaguars have won three of four after another thrilling comeback from 17 points down against the Cowboys. The Jets lost a tough one, 20-17, to the Lions at home.
In the past, a Thursday night game in December between the Jaguars and Jets would be a signal to get that last-second Christmas shopping done. But this one has some intrigue to it with the Jaguars still trying to win the AFC South, and the Jets still trying to get a wild card spot.
With Mike White still not cleared for contact, the Jets will start Zach Wilson at quarterback again. That means the second career meeting between the top two picks in the 2021 draft, Trevor Lawrence and Wilson.
Last December, the Jets beat Jacksonville 26-21 thanks to getting a kickoff return for a touchdown, stopping the Jags on a game-tying two-point conversion in the fourth quarter, and a goal-line stand at the 1-yard line in the final seconds. Wilson only passed for 102 yards, but he had a 52-yard touchdown run on his way to 91 rushing yards. The Jets ran wild with 273 yards on the ground.
To Lawrence’s credit, he passed for 280 yards without an interception against the better defense on the road, and something similar will need to happen this week. One thing he can’t repeat is to lose 28 yards on a sack-fumble like he did last year.
The NFL Week 16 odds have the Jets as a 1-point home favorite with a total of 38 points. It is the second week in a row the Jets are a 1-point home favorite, but they still lost to Detroit on Sunday.
Players to watch in the Jaguars vs. Jets game
Jacksonville Jaguars
Zay Jones: Formerly a bust in Buffalo as a second-round pick in 2017, Jones is having the best season of his career with 764 yards. He just had the best game of his career with three touchdowns and 109 yards against Dallas to complete the comeback win. With the Jaguars able to throw Jones and Christian Kirk at rookie corner Sauce Gardner, at least one of their top receivers should be able to have another fine game.
New York Jets
Zonovan Knight: He has taken over as the lead back in the offense with at least 13 carries in the first four games of his career. But Detroit’s defense shut Knight down with 23 yards on 13 carries. The Jaguars are a middling run defense, which is still better than where they were last year when New York destroyed them on the ground. Knight should be the leading rusher again in this one.
Our Best NFL Bets for the Jaguars vs. Jets game
We have two NFL Week 16 predictions for this important matchup in the AFC playoff race.
Jaguars vs. Jets Point Spread Pick: Jaguars +1 (-110)
The Jaguars vs. Jets spread opened with the Jets as a 1.5-point home favorite. The line has moved down a half point with some sportsbooks even making the Jaguars a 1-point favorite. Like last week against Detroit, this line is fluctuating.
Wilson had his second 300-yard passing game of the season last week, but just like the first, it ended with the Jets scoring 17 points and losing at home. Keeping the run game in check against the Jets is crucial to beating them this year. Make Wilson pass, because he will make mistakes and take sacks. The Jaguars were able to intercept Dak Prescott twice even if the overtime throw was a deflection. But the Jaguars have six takeaways in the last two weeks against good teams (Titans and Cowboys).
Lawrence has been on fire in the best month of his young career. He has gone over 300 yards and three touchdown passes in three of the last four games. Given they were all against teams vying for the postseason, it’s even more impressive.
The Jets have a solid defense, but it is not impossible to beat. Jared Goff and the Lions braved the elements last week and put up 20 points without turning the ball over once. If they can do that, then the Jaguars can have another solid game offensively with the confidence they have on that side of the ball now.
This was such a close game last year, and one that Jacksonville frankly would have won with one more yard at the end. With better coaching and quarterback play this year, and still something to play for in the AFC South, let’s roll with the Jaguars to keep it going and get the cover for your NFL bet of the week.
Remember to read our NFL picks page for more betting tips.
Bet on NFL with caesars >Jets Prop: Garrett Wilson Over 57.5 Receiving Yards (-115)
Wilson is the odds-on favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. In a deep wide receiver draft class, no one has more catches (67) or receiving yards (966) than Wilson through Week 15. He has had a 100-yard receiving game with three different quarterbacks already (Joe Flacco, Zach Wilson, and Mike White).
Do not fear Wilson being the quarterback. Wilson has gone over 57.5 yards in four straight games and in 8-of-14 games this season.
The Jaguars just allowed 126 yards to CeeDee Lamb last week. It was the fourth 100-yard game against the Jaguars this season. The Jaguars have allowed 22 different games of over 57.5 receiving yards this season, or over 1.5 such receivers per game.
Wilson can make big catches as he did against Detroit, or he can be a target machine. Either way, he should be able to hit this over.
bet on NFL with betmgmFrequently asked questions about the Jaguars vs. Jets game in Week 16
The game is being played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The Jets have not been favored often in the last two years for reasons that are obvious, but Robert Saleh is 3-1 ATS as a favorite since 2021. However, he just lost his first last week against the Lions.
You can find them at our player prop picks and daily NFL predictions.