The Jets get to visit Green Bay in the summertime – before the frozen tundra sets in – in this Week 2 matchup against the Packers. Neither team has a starting quarterback battle but there remain compelling storylines to watch on each side. It’s time to continue our NFL odds series and make a Jets-Packers prediction and pick.
While the chaos in Green Bay has finally calmed down after Aaron Rodgers resigned for the 2021 season, it seems to be his swan song season in the green & gold. Comparisons are already being made to Michael Jordan's 1998 “Last Dance” with the Chicago Bulls, so every Packers game this season will garner attention. But Rodgers will be a non-factor in the preseason he rests up for his final regular season as the Packers quarterback.
Meanwhile, the Jets are just beginning their journey with a new quarterback. Zach Wilson will be the team's Week 1 regular season starter, but he received limiting playing time in the preseason opener. This game will be all about getting a sense of the backup players and who will emerge as the team's second quarterback as well.
Here’s how the bookmakers have set the Jets-Packers odds and lines for Saturday's matchup.
NFL Odds: Jets-Packers Odds
New York Jets -2 1/2 (-108)
Green Bay Packers +2 1/2 (-112)
Over 33 1/2 points (-115)
Under 33 1/2 points (-105)
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Why The Jets Could Cover
The two featured quarterbacks in this game for the Jets will likely be Mike White and James Morgan. White bounced between the Jets active roster and practice squad in 2020, and received the most snaps in the team's preseason opener. He completed 13 of 19 passes for 127 yards in the air. He's battling for the backup quarterback spot with Morgan, who was a Jets 2020 draft pick. last week, Morgan completed five of nine passes for 45 yards. The former Florida International University quarterback is actually from the Green Bay area and played high school football nearby. Playing in his first professional start at Lambeau Field will surely be a special moment for Morgan and his family. If Morgan can get increased playing time in this game, expect him to step up bigtime back on his home turf.
Meanwhile, White played decent in Week 1 as well, and is attempting to gain a more permanent roster spot in 2021 after lots of moving on and off the roster last season. But based on the number of snaps received by both of these QBs in Week 1 of the preseason, I can Morgan getting increased playing time here and making more of a name for himself. It's always awesome to see a young quarterback get to play back in his home state, so the fact that Morgan is literally minutes from his former high school is extra memorable. I like Morgan to throw a touchdown in this game and give the Jets their second win of the preseason. If they win, I also expect them to so by at least three points, thus covering the spread.
Why The Packers Could Cover
All eyes will be on Jordan Love in this game, who is getting his last few starts in before Aaron Rodgers takes back the starting role for the regular season. But Love's efforts in the preseason are not for lost – he's likely in line to be the Packers starting quarterback for the 2022 season, so the Packers want to see what they can out of Love while they have the opportunity to do so preseason action. Obviously, if there is any tension between Rodgers and the Packers this season, which shouldn't be ruled out, Love could possibly even become the starter in 2021. While this is unlikely, Love still has much to prove in his second professional season.
Ironically, he's stepping into the role Aaron Rodgers once held as a young quarterback. When Rodgers was drafted in 2005, he sat behind Brett Favre for a few seasons before finally becoming the Pro Bowl QB that we all know him as today. Love knows he is the backup already this season, but that doesn't mean he still isn't going to prove to doubters that he is more than just a “backup”.
Plus, the Packers got blown out of the water in Week 1 buy a Texans team that is expected to be one of football's worst teams this season. Even the Packers backups are good enough to avoid falling to 0-2 in the preseason. Given that they're actually underdogs here against the Jets (again, preseason odds tend to be crazy), then taking the points here is the smart play.
Final Jets-Packers Prediction & Pick
I predict that Jordan Love will be the star of this game. Neither of the Jets quarterback options for this game have done much to prove their anything more than a mediocre backup quarterback, and I don't expect that sentiment to change in this game. With Love behind center, the Packers rebound from their 7 point performance in Week 1 and beat the Jets outright here.
FINAL JETS-PACKERS PICK: Packers +2 1/2 (-112)
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