Joe Namath held his tongue about the Jets’ failures and disappointments for many, many decades.
That’s why it was so stunning this week when the 80-year-old living legend and all-time No. 1 Jets fan let it all out about how he really feels about Zach Wilson, Robert Saleh, Joe Douglas and the state of the team.
First off, good for Broadway Joe. He has the right and the standing to say whatever he wants about the Jets.
I agree with him more on some of his comments than others.
But he’s not the only one who has seen enough of Zach Wilson, for sure, and mismanagement is the reason we all have to watch him again on Saturday night against Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift and the awesome Kansas City Chiefs.
I find it incredible how quickly this situation has imploded on the Jets.
Aaron Rodgers tears his Achilles on the fourth play on opening night yet they battle hard, create a lot of sacks and turnovers and reel off a game-winning punt return against the Bills.
After that game, many were praising Saleh for keeping the team’s spirits up, Douglas for his vast improvement of the roster and even saying they were willing to support Wilson.
Just two losses later, the coach is clueless, the GM negligent and the quarterback completely useless.
That’s probably an overreaction in its sum, even if you’re on board with some of it.
There are a lot of twists and turns and unfathomable results in an NFL season, such as the Cowboys winning by 40, then 20, before losing to the winless Cardinals.
So I’m not quite there yet with my all-time NFL hero in his call essentially to blow the whole thing up.
The Jets have a wealth of good-to-excellent players, and once they figure out how to use Wilson better, or if Trevor Siemian proves competent, they can win some games as the schedule softens.
But I can’t go there on Sunday night. It will be showtime for the Chiefs’ traveling circus.
Even if the Jets’ defense can put up a good fight, the points will mount for Mahomes & Co. Kansas City’s defense, built on its pass rush and a strong secondary, will extend Wilson’s nightmare. And the spread, still in single digits incredibly, isn’t enough.
The pick: Chiefs -8.5.
Jacksonville Jaguars (-3) over Atlanta Falcons
The NFL opens its London season.
The Jaguars are coming off a 37-17 home loss to the Texans, another one of the unpredictable results I mentioned earlier.
The week before that, Jacksonville’s defense held the Chiefs to 17 but Trevor Lawrence couldn’t get the ball in the end zone.
This selection is just an expectation that Lawrence and the Jags are way better than what they’ve shown so far.
Miami Dolphins (+2.5) over BUFFALO BILLS
Bills: “We won by 34 points last week.” Dolphins: “Hold our beers!”
Another interesting betting angle this week is that after Dolphins 70, Broncos 20, Miami is an underdog and Denver is favored.
This could be the best game of the NFL’s early season.
The slight lean is to the Dolphins because they’ve proven they can score all day long against all three of their opponents.
Maybe the small spread will end up being decisive as well.
CAROLINA PANTHERS (+4.5) over Minnesota Vikings
I’d like this a little more if Andy Dalton was starting but Bryce Young is slated to return.
It seems as if new coach Frank Reich is starting to figure out his offense a bit better.
Happy to take more than a field goal at home against a winless Vikings team that had a bunch of very close wins last season.
Denver Broncos (-3.5) over CHICAGO BEARS
How bad must the Bears be for me to pick a winless team that just lost 70-20 as 3.5-point favorites on the road?
“Because: Bears” is a viable reason to take the Broncos.
That and a little more confidence in Sean Payton and Russell Wilson than their Chicago counterparts.
Baltimore Ravens (+3) over CLEVELAND BROWNS
The 2-1 Ravens have averaged 23.6 ppg despite a mountain of injuries through three weeks, and now they’ll be getting some key guys back.
Kareem Hunt, whom the Browns signed to replace Nick Chubb, will play but already has two dings (ribs/groin) listed.
Pittsburgh Steelers (-3) over HOUSTON TEXANS
Houston’s rout at Jacksonville might be what’s keeping this spread so low.
Tough travel week for the Steelers with back-to-back distant road games but T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick are wreaking havoc.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (-1) over Los Angeles Rams
Sean McVay will have to prepare for two different kinds of quarterbacks, with Gardner Minshew doing well and Anthony Richardson available for the Colts.
Also a short week for LA off a Monday night loss in Cincinnati.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (-3.5) over Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Alvin Kamara returns from his three-game suspension and will make a difference in place of the injured Jamaal Williams.
No concerns backing Jameis Winston, who will replace the injured Derek Carr. Bucs travel off a Monday night beatdown by the Eagles.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (-8.5) over Washington Commanders
Eagles were 8-0 last season before they lost 32-21 to Washington, so that should be fresh in their minds.
Commanders got destroyed by the Bills last week and this shapes up to be quarters 5-8 of that game.
Cincinnati Bengals (-2.5) over TENNESSEE TITANS
Cincy’s 1-2 record, a short week and Joe Burrow’s calf are the reasons the Bengals are available at this bargain price.
Aside from that, the Bengals are just better than the Titans, so for that reason, I’m in.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (-5.5) over Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders will have the road-crowd advantage at SoFi but those fans may have to be cheering for Brian Hoyer or Aidan O’Connell if Jimmy Garoppolo can’t clear concussion protocol.
Chargers could pull away if they don’t do too many “Chargers things.”
New England Patriots (+6.5) over DALLAS COWBOYS
While the Patriots don’t have the firepower to go score for score with the Cowboys, I figure Bill Belichick learned some things from the Cardinals last week (and even the Jets in the second half two weeks ago) that will help him limit Dallas’ output.
Betting on the NFL?
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (-14) over Arizona Cardinals
Two of the three double-digit favorites covered last week, including the 49ers at home.
The Cardinals were the double-digit ’dog that not only covered, but won.
Maybe the Cowboys were way overconfident.
The 49ers are on alert, and have extra rest and time to prepare.
Monday
NEW YORK GIANTS (-1) over Seattle Seahawks
The matchup of Seattle’s Geno Smith-DK Metcalf-Tyler Lockett-Kenneth Walker III offense vs. the Giants’ defense scares the heck out of me.
Still, the Giants need to play a complete game, and this is the level of competition they’ve been able to beat.
Under Brian Daboll the Giants are 0-6 straight up against the Cowboys, Eagles and 49ers, and 11-4-1 against everyone else.
Best bets: Steelers, Panthers, Colts
Lock of the week: Steelers (Locks are 0-3 in 2023)
Last week: 8-7-1 overall, 1-2 Best Bets
Thursday: Lions