Rams vs. Jets Spread

Written by Jason Lowry

With their big win over the Bills last week, the New York Jets sit tied atop the AFC East at 5-3, and will look to maintain at least a share of the lead when they host the St Louis Rams this weekend. The Rams surprised everyone with their wins over Dallas and Washington a few weeks back, but they have lost two straight, including a beating last week from the Cardinals 34-13. The oddsmakers aren’t giving the Rams much of a shot in this one, as the Jets come in 9 point favorites.

The Rams can’t be happy with their performance last week, putting up just 13 points at home, and the main reason for that was quarterback Marc Bulger was the leading rusher with 32 yards. As Steven Jackson just wasn’t healthy enough to be any force in this game. As it stands now Jackson is very unlikely to step on the field in uniform this week, so the Rams are going to have to find some answer as to how to run the football. Bulger had a decent day throwing the football, but his two interceptions are something this offense can’t afford to happen. Playing on the road this week is going to be tough for a team without their best offensive player.

This means the Rams defense is going to have to play lights out this week, and its hard to imagine them doing so on the road this week after giving up over 450 yards of offense to the Cardinals last week, as they let Kurt Warner light it up for 342 yards and 2 scores, while Tim Hightower powered his way for 109 yard and a score. The key will be stopping the run and hoping Brett Favre continues some of his struggles and gives the ball to the defense a few times.

The Jets really shocked a lot of people going into Buffalo and bringing home a win last week, as many experts had their money on the Bills. This week though the Jets have a huge spread to cover, and they have to start getting a little more out of Brett Favre as he added to his NFL leading interception total with another pick last week. Favre wasn’t terrible though throwing for 201 yards, but he was unable to find the endzone. This week we expect a big day out of both Thomas Jones and Leon Washington on the ground, as the Rams come in giving up a league worst 168 yards a game on the ground.

The Jets defense might not of cared if Steven Jackson played this week, as they way their run defense looked last week they might of been able to stop about anyone. They held Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson to a combined 31 yards. And it wasn’t like the Bills were throwing all over them, as Edwards had 289 yards but had just 1 touchdown to two interceptions. Look for another big day from this unit this week, as the Rams have little to nothing on offense when Jackson is out of the lineup.

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