MNF Chaser: Jets-Titans

The Jets have something to play for and are the better team right now

Originally Published: December 17, 2012
By Ben Fawkes | ESPN Insider

The final "Monday Night Football" game of the year isn't a marquee matchup like last week, but it still has playoff implications as the New York Jets take on the Tennessee Titans.

For the Jets, it has been a season mostly to forget. The Tim Tebow acquisition has played out as many thought it would, creating a distraction for the team, while Tebow hasn't significantly helped on the field at all. Mark Sanchez appears to have taken steps backward, though losing Santonio Holmes for the season in Week 4 and having Dustin Keller healthy for only eight games certainly haven't helped. Still, Sanchez's QBR is at 29.1 (34th of 36 qualifying quarterbacks), the lowest of his career, and he doesn't appear to making strides to be the franchise quarterback the Jets envisioned.

For the 4-9 Titans, it also has been a season to forget. Losers of four of their past five games, the Titans limp into the game having been beaten by 14 or more points six times this year. Jake Locker has flashed the potential to be a franchise quarterback, but also displayed the inexperience of a second-year starter. The pick-six from the shadow of his goal line last week at Indianapolis is a prime example of the latter. Chris Johnson has had a good season with 1,037 yards rushing, but with the 29th-ranked offense and 27th-ranked defense according to Football Outsiders DVOA, it's hard to get excited about the future in Tennessee right now.

The Jets are 7-6 against the spread this season (4-2 ATS on the road), and the Titans are 4-9 ATS (2-4 ATS at home). Despite that, the public is backing the Titans so far (59.8 percent), according to ESPN Insider's PickCenter.

Let's get line analysis from Jay Kornegay of the Las Vegas Hotel and a pick against the spread from Geoff Kulesa of Wunderdog Sports.

New York Jets at Tennessee Titans

Spread: Opened Titans minus-2.5, now Titans minus-2
Total: Opened 42, still 42


To read more about how to bet Monday night's matchup between the New York Jets and Tennessee Titans, become an Insider today.

Ben Fawkes

NFL
  • Associate editor at ESPN Insider
  • Joined ESPN in 2009
  • Coordinates NFL, soccer and gambling coverage

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