It could be a battle of the two best defenses in the NFL this Sunday when the New York Jets take on the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Dallas (1-0) looked every bit like one of the favorites in the NFC with a decisive 40-0 win over the New York Giants in the season opener. The Cowboys got a touchdown from Noah Igbinoghene on a blocked field goal and a pick-six from DaRon Bland to storm out to a 16-0 lead in the first quarter. It was 26-0 by halftime and the Giants never really threatened to make a game of it.
The Cowboys did very little offensively and didn’t need much in the end. Dak Prescott threw for 143 yards and Tony Pollard rushed for 70 yards and two touchdowns. The defense gave up just 171 yards to the Giants and recorded seven sacks.
Originally, this game was going to feature Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers in what would likely be his final regular-season game against the Cowboys. But Rodgers suffered a season-ending torn Achilles early in the Jets’ game against the Buffalo Bills. The 39-year-old quarterback had surgery Wednesday.
New York (1-0) managed to overcome the injury and defeat Buffalo 22-16 behind a game-winning punt return for a touchdown by Xavier Gipson. The Jets defense harassed Bills quarterback Josh Allen all night, sacking him five times and forcing four turnovers, including three interceptions by safety Jordan Whitehead.
At FanDuel Sportsbook, the Cowboys’ odds to win the Super Bowl improved to +1100. The Rodgers injury has dropped the Jets’ odds down to +6500.
Let’s take a closer look at the odds and trends for this Week 2 showdown:
New York Jets at Dallas Cowboys
Time/TV: 3:25 p.m. (CBS)
Point Spread: Cowboys -9.5
Over/Under: 38.5
Moneyline: Cowboys -405, Jets +320
Analysis: The Jets will go back to Zach Wilson at quarterback. Wilson, the No. 2 pick in the 2021 Draft threw for 140 yards with a touchdown and an interception. However, this game will be about the defenses, with the Cowboys featuring All-Pro linebacker/defensive end Micah Parsons and the Jets featuring a dynamic defensive line led by Pro Bowler Quinnen Williams. Points might be hard to come by, so both offenses will be focused on protecting the football. The Cowboys will do that a little better than the Jets.
Prediction: Cowboys 21, Jets 13
