Arizona Cardinals(4-7SU, 4-7 ATS) vs. New York Jets (4-7 SU, 6-5 ATS)
NFL Week 13
Date/Time: December 2, 1pm ET
Where: MetLife Stadium
TV: FOX
byEvergreen,Football Handicapper, Predictem.com
Point Spread: AZ +4.5/NYJ -4.5
Over/Under Total: 37
Some NFL match-ups need no hype while others need a lot of help to drum up even one storyline and this Sundays tilt between the Arizona Cardinals and New York Jets falls in that second category.No offense to either squad but both enter the game at 4-7 and neither really appears to grasp the concept of winning football at this point.Arizona is in the middle of a seven game losing streak and New Yorks season has go so bad the Fireman Ed retired his helmet after last weeks throttling at the hands of New England.The last time these teams met was 2008 when Kurt Warner and Brett Favre threw the ball around the joint for 8 scores and nearly 800 yards, now those two suiting up this weekend would actually make for a great storyline.
Early week bettors found New York as a 3.5 point favorite but the line has moved to 4.5 in a hurry and that is pretty much the universal offer across the online betting sites.The over/under total for the game is also very consistent at 37.
All indications have Ryan Lindley starting again for the Cardinals and he will try to improve on his last start that saw him throw for a solid 312 yards but also four interceptions.The Cards are on their third quarterback and that has really hampered any offensive continuity and Arizona enters the week second to last in points per game.Beanie Wells found the endzone twice last week in his return from injury but the offensive line has not run blocked well, putting the running game near the bottom of the league ranks as well.The defense really played well at the beginning of the year as the Cardinals started 4-0 but the offensive struggles just put too much pressure on the D and that unit hasnt been able to shoulder all the responsibility.Still, the defense is 4thin pass yards allowed and 11thin points allowed at 20.6 per game so they are doing their part to keep the games winnable.
New York shares much of the same as the Jets havent mustered enough yards or points on offense and that has left a solid overall defense overexposed.The Jets are just 28thin both passing yards and total yards per game while managing just 20.1 points per game.The defense is solid against the pass, ranking 7thbut are 30thin run defense which makes for an interesting matchup against Arizonas less than powerful ground game.If New York can find success in stopping the run, the secondary should be able to make some plays against a young QB, even without Darrelle Revis.
Mark Sanchez is certainly the focal point of fan frustration and having that Tim Tebow guy in town only makes that spotlight burn hotter, but Sanchez doesnt really have a ton to work with on offense.Santonio Holmes has played just four games this season due to injury and still remains the teams third leading receiver.Jeremy Kerley has emerged as a nice option but no one is stepping up outside of that and the running game is bogging down with defenses keying on Shonn Greene.Tebow may or may not be the answer but we may see him play this weekend as it appears his rib injury will not keep him out of this contest.At this point, anything is likely to be tried in hopes of sparking this offense.
Arizona will be eager to run the ball against a favorable matchup but they also need to get the ball to Larry Fitzgerald.The talented wide receiver hasnt found chemistry with any of the Cardinal QBs but maybe another week with Lindley will help and Arizona has to know that the ball needs to be in Fitzgeralds hands for that offense to work.Fitzgerald will likely draw Cromartie so Andre Roberts will be in line for a big game and he enters the week leading the team with 639 receiving yards and five scores.
The over/under total of 37 is the truest indictment of these offenses as neither defense is the 2000 Baltimore Ravens so expect three yards and cloud of dirt to be the norm but the Jets have way more to lose personally as the coaching staff and several players are likely playing for their jobs.Sanchez needs to show he can at least beat teams that the Jets appear better than and he should be able to move the ball if he gets some production from the ground game.There wont be a lot of points in this one but I think the Cardinals can put up 16 to 20 which will make this a tough cover for the Jets as they just dont have the firepower and Tebow never really put up points in Denver so dont look for automatic points if he gets in there.The Jets get the win but take the Cardinals and the points.New York 20 Arizona 17
EvergreensPick to Cover the Point Spread: Arizona
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