The New York Jets’ season so far has been an abject emergency, but their 2024 campaign isn’t totally derailed. The 2-6 Jets can still salvage their 2024 season, but they need a win in Thursday night’s game against the Houston Texans to stay alive.
Unused York is on a five-game losing streak, tying the longest losing streak Aaron Rodgers has ever had in his tenure. Rodgers has just 12 touchdowns in eight games, the fewest he has had in his Hall of Fame career at this level in any season. The 85.1 passer rating through eight games may be the worst start for Rodgers.
CJ Stroud will make his “Thursday Night Football” debut, but the Texans will be limping along at wide receiver. Stefon Diggs is out for the season with a torn ACL and Nico Collins is injured with a hamstring concussion. Tank Dell, Robert Planks and Xavier Hutchinson will be the Houston government’s wide receivers next.
Houston is looking to expand its AFC South supremacy and seniority with the Kansas Town Chiefs in the race for home-field advantage in the AFC. Unused York are simply looking for a win to fuel their associated season. This is our preview and sports activities making a betting prediction of the “Thursday Night Football” matchup.
Where to watch the Texans at the Jets
Aaron Rodgers’ occupation on ‘Thursday Night Soccer’
Obviously, this isn’t the same version of Rodgers that the NFL saw before he ruptured his Achilles tendon, but Thursday remains one of Rodgers’ favorite days at the event. In his role on Thursday, Rodgers finished 67% of his passes with 39 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, and a passer rating of 106.5. Rodgers’ teams are 12-5 and he has thrown for 262.6 yards for the season.
Sarcastically, Rodgers’ last win was on a Thursday. Rodgers finished 77.1% of his passes for 281 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions for a passer rating of 118.9, looking just like the old Rodgers. The Jets quarterback has gone 30 consecutive games without throwing for more than 300 yards and 17 consecutive games with three or fewer touchdown passes.
The Jets may use the “Thursday” version of Rodgers this time, instead of the only one they’ve had in his era.
Great Texans receiver status
The Texans will have trouble running two wide receivers in Nico Collins (hamstring) and Stefon Diggs (knee), which will be a good test for CJ Stroud in a shortened event. Tank Dell (24 catches, 229 yards, 2 TDs) will be the primary pass-catching option, followed by tight end Dalton Schultz (23 catches, 223 yards, 0 TDs).
Robert Planks and Xavier Hutchinson have just 10 receptions for 110 yards on the season, but more targets should come with the Texans depleted of big receivers. The Texans could stay in the running competition and Joe Mixon, who has 503 rushing yards in five games, the most by any player in franchise history in his first five games.
This will be a big test for the Texans’ offense, especially since the passing competition will be directed at Sauce Gardner and DJ Reed this time around. I would possibly give Stroud a little adjustment.
Prediction
This isn’t exactly the best way for both teams to head straight into a Thursday contest, making it difficult to expect a winner. The Jets are talented, but they are a bewildered mess that just suffered their worst foul of the season against the New England Patriots. The Texans simply made their mistake. A big receiver (with Collins out) is sick, giving his administration two wide receivers who are not available for the game.
The Texans’ intensity at wide receiver will be examined. This is also a contest where the defense has to get to Rodgers and evaluate his mobility out of the region. As for the Jets, they want to play turnover-free football and, truth be told, get their running game going. Unused York is 29th in yards per lift (3.9) and 30th in yards per speed per contest (86.1).
Crunchy to consider within the Jets right now. Certain groups are also harmful to health. Select: Texans 26, Jets 24
Premium: SportsLine expert Eric Cohen leans toward Unused York in this Thursday night contest. You’ll find more 9-year-old seeding predictions here on SportsLine.
