MNF: Houston Texans v NY Jets
Facing the undefeated Houston Texans is probably not the confidence boost that the Jets and their flailing quarter-back, Mark Sanchez, would have picked going into the last football of the weekend and Monday Night Football tonight.
The New York Jets quarter-back has enjoyed the continued support of his coach during his fourth season in the league, but Ryan’s faith appears unjustified so far. Jets fans are even clamouring for the introduction of Tim Tebow. So make no mistake, even at 2-2 in a tight division, the pressure is on the home side as they entertain the undefeated Texans.
Rex Ryan, who is still yet to post a losing campaign in the NFL, polarises opinion and has suddenly found himself open to criticism from all four corners after last week’s humiliating 34-0 defeat to the San Francisco 49ers. After all, drawing a blank – even against the fearsome Niners D – has an uncanny knack of unifying critical opinion.
Sanchez is the man who has been patently falling short on the field, though. He barely threw for 100 yards last Sunday and has connected with fewer than 50 percent of his passes in three successive matches for the first time in his career. He should surely have matured into his role by now. Instead, he’s being outperformed by rookies with a quarter-back which probes the depths of 30th. To make matters worse, Sanchez is now without the considerable services of Santonio Holmes at receiver. The wide-man has damaged his left foot and is out for the foreseeable future.
Meanwhile for the Texans, Matt Schaub has a beautifully balanced line at his disposal, securely anchored to the bedrock running of Adrian Foster (103 carries already this term) and the elusive patterns of Andrew Johnson (perhaps only one game shy of 10,000 receiving yards). All of which has seen the Texans average over 30 points per game on offense and earn the tag of Superbowl favourites (currently available at 6.0 to back).
Redeeming features for the Jets’ chances merely reside in the annals of head-to-head results. The Texans have never beaten them (0-5), with three of those losses coming on the road. It’s a stat which appears salient but is in fact closer to spurious. New York’s second team rank a distant second in most departments against Houston. Even with all their issues on offense, they are also missing their defensive leader, corner Darrelle Revis, for the remainder of the campaign with a torn knee ligament.
The Texans should dominate this one from the opening kick-off, taking the first-half and match handicaps en route to a comfortable victory. The Overs on Total Points also appeal, as does Foster for that opening TD.
- Back Over 39.5 Total Points @ -111
- Back Houston Texans TD to be First Scoring Play @ +200
- Back A Foster to be First / Anytime Touchdown Scorer @ +500
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