The New York Jets will host the Houston Texans in a late-season Saturday NFL game during week 15. As the season winds down, the Texans are still fighting for a playoff spot in the AFC while the Jets are playing for draft position. Both the Jets and Texans feature young quarterbacks and solid defenses, so this should be a low-scoring affair.
The Houston Texans saw their nine-game winning streak snapped by the Indianapolis Colts in week 14. Houston still sits in first place in the AFC South with a 9-4 record. The Jets were able to snap a six-game losing streak with a win over the Buffalo Bills to improve their record to just 4-9 on the season. The Texans are a six-point road favorite over the Jets in this game.
Darnold Showing Flashes of Greatness
Jets rookie quarterback Sam Darnold has struggled with consistency this season, but he has shown flashes of great potential. Darnold has thrown for over 2,104 yards this season but has thrown 15 interceptions to just 12 touchdowns. The young QB will face one of the best defenses in the NFL in this game, and ball security could be a major issue.
Running back Isaiah Crowell has not practiced yet this week and is listed as doubtful for this matchup. Crowell has rushed for 685 yards and six touchdowns this season but was injured in the week 14 win over Buffalo. The Jets defense must also play better in this game, as they have allowed 25.4 points per game so far this season. Trumaine Johnson leads the Jets with four interceptions this season.
Defense Leading Houston Charge
The Texans are back to playing terrific defense this season, and it will likely lead to a playoff berth. The Texans have allowed just 19.9 points per game this season, and they feature one of the top defensives lines in the league. J.J. Watt has been an absolute monster this season, averaging 12.5 sacks and forcing five fumbles this season. Look for the Texans to blitz the young QB in hopes of creating turnovers.
Houston features one of the best rushing attacks in the NFL, but their running backs struggled in the week 14 loss. The Texans are averaging over 136 rushing yards per game this season, and Lamar Miller is closing in on another 1,000-yard season. Quarterback Deshaun Watson has completed 47 percent of his passes this season but has also been sacked a whopping 46 times. Watson’s favorite target, Deandre Hopkins, has caught 84 passes for 1,151 yards and nine touchdowns this season. The Houston offense is capable of putting up plenty of points.
Texans Get Big Road Win
Winning in New York won’t be an easy task for the Texans, but they desperately need this win. Houston will need to establish their running game early to give Watson and the passing attack some room to operate. The Jets look like they will be a playoff contender in future seasons, but they still have plenty of holes in their roster. Look for the Houston defense to harass Darnold into some mistakes, and the Texans will get a much-needed win. Bet the Texans -6.0 over the Jets.
