by Chuck Sommers
Thursday, Dec 23, 2021
Game time: 1 p.m. ET
Venue: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
Where to watch: CBS
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: PK
BetMGM: Jaguars -1
Caesars: PK
Season record
Jaguars: 2-12 (Last place, AFC South)
Jets: 3-11 (Last place, AFC East)
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Jaguars - Jets preview and analysis
Last week
Jaguars: lost 30-16 vs. Texans
Jets: lost 31-24 at Dolphins
Welcome to this week’s version of the Toiler Bowl where it has potential to be clogged this week.
The New York Jets and Jacksonville Jaguars will play on Sunday with draft implications on the line for the loser. And who would’ve thought we’d reach the point where a game would be so bad that it would be a pick in some books, but alas, we’re here.
There is nothing more aesthetically pleasing on the eyes during a Sunday afternoon than watching the battle of the top two quarterbacks of this past year’s NFL Draft going at it. And while there will be no moral victories this season for either Trevor Lawrence or Zach Wilson, there is the task of figuring out who is the best at this whole thing.
The loser of this game will likely ensure one step closer to the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft, the place where the Jaguars were last year and took Lawrence with that pick. Lawrence’s rookie season has been a tire fire, but to no fault of his own. Urban Meyer is gone, but Jacksonville’s struggles were still there in a 14-point loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday.
Lawrence threw for 210 yards but no touchdowns. He didn’t throw any interceptions, which he’s done well at keeping down for most of the year. James Robinson did have a touchdown, but the Jacksonville offense has not reached its potential all season.
"We just didn't play a clean football game," interim Jaguars coach Darrell Bevell said.
The Jaguars have only averaged 14 points per game, another sign that the rebuild will be long and no light at the end of the tunnel in sight. At least Jacksonville doesn’t need to address quarterback again; maybe someone catching the ball thrown by Lawrence would help.
Wilson could use one of those as well, and maybe some other things while the Jets try to figure out what went wrong this season. New York lost its third straight game, 31-24 to the scorching Miami Dolphins for their sixth straight win.
Wilson was held to 170 yards on just 13 of 23 passing and ran for a touchdown in the loss to the Dolphins. The Jets actually led 17-7 at one point before crumbling underneath the Gotham rubble.
"We could never get anything rolling in the second half when it comes to sustaining drives," Jets coach Robert Saleh said.
That almost seems like the Jets’ situation for the entire year. It’s an offense that scores 17.9 but a defense – led by the defensive mind of Saleh – that’s given up 30.6 points per game through 14 games.
In short, these are two bad teams and we are all relegated to watch them.
Prediction
If you had the choice, stay away from this game. If you really have to, the Jaguars are due a win in the post-Urban era. Jaguars by 7
Betting trends
The Jaguars are 9-11 ATS in their last 20 as a road dog.
The Jaguars are 1-7 ATS in their last eight following a loss by 10 or more to a division opponent.
The Jets are 1-6 ATS in their last seven as a favorite.
The Jets are 52-78 ATS off a road loss since 1992.
Players to watch
Jaguars: Running back James Robinson had 88 yards from scrimmage and a rushing touchdown in his first instance of an increased workload.
Jets: Wide receiver Keelan Cole has at least 65 receiving yards in two of three games against AFC South teams this season.
Statistical leaders
Jaguars:
Passing: Trevor Lawrence – 2,945 yards, 9 TD, 14 INT
Rushing: James Robinson – 757 yards, 8 TD
Receiving: Marvin Jones – 624 yards, 3 TD
Defense: Josh Allen – 5.5 sacks
Jets:
Passing: Zach Wilson – 1,911 yards, 6 TD, 11 INT
Rushing: Michael Carter – 448 yards, 4 TD
Receiving: Jamison Crowder – 431 yards, 2 TD
Defense: Quinnen Williams – 6 sacks
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
