The New York Jets and the New York Giants will renew their annual preseason rivalry on Saturday as the two teams meet up at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The Jets have put in a strong defensive effort so far in the preseason, though the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were able to beat them 13-6 last weekend. The Giants are 1-1 so far, and are coming off of a 21-19 win over the Carolina Panthers.
Saturday’s game will get Jets fans their first chance to see Aaron Rodgers in action for New York. We’ll take a look at how that might impact the NFL Odds and give you a free NFL picks and predictions for Jets vs. Giants on August 26.
Jets vs Giants odds
Jets vs Giants predictions
The New York Jets made arguably the biggest splash of the last offseason by signing the 39-year-old Aaron Rodgers in an effort to solidify their quarterback position. It seemed likely that the Jets wouldn’t play Rodgers in the preseason, but that expectation changed with the team announced that their new acquisition would take some snaps in the preseason finale.
Whether that’s designed to create excitement, get Rodgers just a little bit of in-game familiarity with his new teammates, or to give the Jets a better chance of beating their in-stadium rivals, the decision has created unusual buzz for this contest. It’s one of a number of factors that suggest the Jets will be taking this game more seriously than the New York Giants.
It’s unclear if Giants starter Daniel Jones will even play on Saturday, after he went 8-for-9 with a touchdown against Carolina last weekend. Saquon Barkley could also sit, and the Giants are likely to only play their younger offensive linemen in front of whoever is taking snaps behind center.
That could be a problem, as the Jets defensive front has been absolutely dominant during the preseason. Their backups have largely held opposing offenses in check, giving up just 11.3 points per game so far this season. If the Jets decide to unleash their starters on defense for any significant amount of time, the Giants may struggle to put together drives in this game.
I wouldn’t normally put a lot of stock into how a game “feels,” as I prefer to rely on data. But when we’re talking about a preseason contest, the way the teams are approaching the game can have an outsized impact on the final result.
For the Giants, this game is a learning experience. They want to see who will grab the last few roster spots, see what Isaiah Simmons can give them at different spots around the defense, and make sure everyone gets to the regular season without significant injuries.
The Jets, on the other hand, seem to want to make yet another statement. They have made a huge deal about the signing of Rodgers, have made themselves the subject of Hard Knocks this season, and want to make sure they’re taken seriously by the rest of the league as they try to ride an aging quarterback and an outstanding defense to a playoff berth. What better way make a statement then by taking it to big brother?
The Jets are a clear favorite in this game, and that seems more than justified. Not only are the Jets terrorizing opponents on defense in the preseason, but they’re going to take this game far more seriously than the Giants. The line is still well under a touchdown, so I’m comfortable taking the Jets and laying the points.
My best bet: Jets -6 (-110 at PointsBet)
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