Last Monday’s 27-21 Dolphins victory over the Jets was some of the most dysfunctional football I’ve had the displeasure of enduring.
Between 13 accepted penalties that amounted to 101 total yards, 20 missed tackles that netted the Fins 123 yards after contact and three turnovers, what is there to say?
Whether it’s Aaron Glenn or John Doe with the headset, empirically, it hasn’t made much of a difference.
These are the same old Jets.
These are the 0-4 Jets.
What’s funny is that 24 hours prior, we all experienced some of the most exhilarating football in recent memory on primetime television: a 40-40 tie between the Cowboys and Packers — the second-highest scoring draw in the history of the NFL.
That game offered a smorgasbord of exciting moments: seven straight lead-changing touchdowns, Brandon McManus’ 53-yard tying field goal as regulation expired and Jalen Tolbert’s spectacular 34-yard toe-tap catch in overtime.
Dak Prescott dazzled under pressure with 319 yards for three passing scores; he exploited a weak Packers secondary without CeeDee Lamb on the other end of any of those throws.
George Pickens had his Dallas christening in Lamb’s stead, hauling 134 yards for two touchdowns.
We can note, however, that all of that chatter around the dreadful Cowboys defense was substantiated.
If it could have stopped the run, explosive plays or simply a screen pass here and there, Brian Schottenheimer would have slid one extraordinary feather in his cap.
That was a high-functioning Packers offense, though.
The Jets had their hands full stopping the winless Dolphins even after Tyreek Hill left the game. Justin Fields has been good for a remarkable play or two with his legs, but even facing a Cowboys defense that is allowing 6.4 yards per play (No. 31 overall), there’s only so much a one-dimensional operation can do.
The market is clearly skeptical on how it will fare against Fields and Garrett Wilson’s big-play potential. Since opening, the line has moved one point toward the Jets.
With over two thirds of the ticket count on Dallas, public bettors aren’t afraid of this razor-thin point spread, and neither am I.
THE PICK: Cowboys -1.5 (-110 at BetMGM)
Sean Treppedi handicaps the NFL, NHL, MLB and college football for the New York Post. He primarily focuses on picks that reflect market value while tracking trends to mitigate risk.