The new-look New York Jets travel to Pittsburgh for a Sunday night showdown with the Steelers. The Jets acquired star wide receiver Davante Adams this week in a trade. Will the Jets use Adams’ debut to get back in the win column? Who should you back to make a winning NFL pick at the top-rated sportsbooks?
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NFL Pick
- Under 38 (-110) at Bet365 (check our Bet365 Review)
New York Jets vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Sunday, October 20, 2024 – 08:20 PM ET at Acrisure Stadium
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a team that is going through a mid-season transition. Last week, the Jets made headlines by firing head coach Robert Saleh. This week, the Jets remained in the headlines by acquiring star wide receiver Davante Adams. This move reunites Adams with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The two had a prolific connection in Green Bay and the Jets are looking to rekindle that chemistry. However, the Jets still have plenty of problems on their offensive line.
The Jets are coming off a loss against the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football. They have a short week to prepare for the elite defense of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Although Adams will help, the Jets still have issues on their offensive line.
The Jets moved to a more run heavy approach in the game against the Bills. Will that be effective against the Steelers though? The Bills have one of the worst run defenses in the league, while the Steelers have one of the best run defenses in the league. If the Jets are unable to run the ball, how much pressure will the Steelers put on Rodgers, and how much will he force the connection to Adams?
Another thing to consider is how this will affect Jets star wide receiver Garrett Wilson. Wilson is one of the best wide receivers in the league and will definitely see his target share go down now that Adams is in the fold. While this makes the team better on paper, will we see some chemistry issues with the Jets moving forward?
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are making changes of their own this week. The Steelers are looking at a change at starting quarterback, replacing Justin Fields with Russell Wilson. This is odd for a team that is 4-2.
Fields is having a good season statistically. He has thrown for 1,337 yards with a 66.3 completion percentage, 10 TDs, and only one interception. He has a passer rating of 93.9. However, the Steelers do have the 28th ranked passing offense and are only 21st in yards per attempt.
How Wilson will fare as the starting quarterback remains to be seen. Wilson was passable for the Denver Broncos last season but nothing to get excited about. The Steelers do have a weak offensive line, and Wilson is a downgrade in terms of mobility and ability to evade a pass rush.
The Steelers are still built on their defense and they should give the Jets problems this week. The Steelers are excellent against the run and their pass rush should give Aaron Rodgers pressure and limit his time in the pocket. The Steelers are 4th in rush yards allowed at 85.5 yards per game. They are 8th in overall yards per game allowed at 294.2 However, they are 26th in yards per game on offense at 298.3. The Steelers hope that Wilson will give their offense a boost.
Jets Defensive Line vs Steelers Offensive Line
If the Steelers do make the move to Russell Wilson, the Steelers are going to need to protect him against the Jets’ fearsome pass rush. One of the reasons that Fields was looked to be the better for this Steelers team is his ability to evade pass rush and keep plays alive. Wilson was able to do that earlier in his career, but does not look as mobile at age 36.
If the Steelers cannot establish their run game and protect Wilson, they are in for a long night. If the Steelers can give Wilson some time, he can show why he was once considered one of the best quarterbacks in the world.
The Pick
I’m leaning towards the Steelers here but the best play to make on this game is the under. The Jets are going to have problems establishing the running game against the Steelers, and the move to Russell Wilson is probably a mistake for the Steelers. I expect both teams’ offenses to look shoddy and their defenses to look elite. This will be a low-scoring game. Bet on two of the best defenses in the leagues and take the under.
NFL Pick: Under 38 (-110) at Bet365
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