“Where do I go now? Where do I go now? Where do I go now, from here?”
Those words are not just from the great mind of Anderson .Paak but also represent the current state of the New York Jets.
After losing to the New England Patriots, one could argue that the Jets are dead in the water. Between struggles on offense, defense, and special teams, New York has massively underachieved in 2024.
As a result, they are 2-6 and one of the worst teams in the NFL through eight weeks. And their next challenge is none other than a very talented Houston Texans team on Halloween night.
It is spooky season in more than one way for the Jets. Can they avoid the ghosts and ghouls that have haunted them this season?
Or, will the boogeyman continue to have its way with the Jets? Follow along as we preview the Jets’ latest regular season matchup.
Jets vs. Texans Game Info
- New York Jets (2-6)
- Houston Texans (6-2)
- 2024 NFL Week 9
- Thursday, Oct. 31, 8:15 p.m. ET
- Amazon Prime
- MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
It’s a spooky AFC showdown for the Jets on Thursday night.
New York will welcome the Houston Texans to Metlife Stadium on Halloween night for an AFC-based Week 9 matchup. As all Thursday night games do, the game will air on Amazon Prime. Al Micheals and Kirk Herbstreit will be in the booth, while Kaylee Hartung will be the sideline reporter.
In keeping with Halloween, the Jets will break out their new-age black uniforms. For the first time this season, they will wear black helmets, jerseys and pants.
Back at MetLife in all black #HOUvsNYJ pic.twitter.com/3mqBzIqm0A
— Woody Johnson (@woodyjohnson4) October 29, 2024
Jets vs. Texans Game History
In a short matchup history, the Jets hold a slight advantage over Houston.
New York holds a 7-3-0 record across ten all-time matchups with the young franchise. It is also 2-0 in its last two matchups against the Texans; it won 21-14 in 2021 and throttled Houston 30-6 at MetLife Stadium in 2023.
Jets vs. Texans Game Odds(DraftKings Sportsbook)
To be honest, I do not understand some of the odds for Thursday night’s game.
According to DraftKings Sportsbook, the Jets are 1.5-point favorites over the Houston Texans. In terms of the moneyline, the Jets are -125 favorites compared to the Texans’ +105 odds. For the over/under, the total is currently set at 42.
The most reasonable line is the over/under. Neither team has been scoring too much on offense, and they both have the defensive capabilities to stop offenses dead in their tracks.
However, it is shocking that the Jets are favored in this game. I understand that Houston is banged up and has struggled with the Jets as recently as last season.
But this Jets team has done nothing to garner enough confidence to be considered a favorite over a 6-2 opponent. They are inconsistent with their play, struggle to do the little things right, and repeat the same mistakes.
There is no world where the Jets should be favored over the Texans, and there is a great opportunity for those bettors out there to make some money from this game.
Jets vs. Texans Injury Report
New York Jets
- OG Alijah Vera-Tucker, Ankle-Out
- DL Leki Fotu, Knee-Out
- LB C.J. Mosley, Neck- Out
- S Ashtyn Davis, Concussion- Out
- S Tony Adams, Hamstring-Out
- WR Allen Lazard, Chest-Out
- OT Morgan Moses, Knee-Questionable
- TE Kenny Yeboah, Abdomen-Questionable
- LB Chazz Surratt, Heel-Questionable
With almost half the roster dealing with some sort of injury, the Jets were bound to be missing a decent chunk of players on Thursday night.
The Jets will be without all of the players they missed last week, with Alijah Vera-Tucker, Allen Lazard, and Tony Adams headlining the absences. Joining them is linebacker C.J. Mosley, who is dealing with a neck injury he suffered last week. Additionally, Morgan Moses, Kenny Yeboah, and Chazz Surratt enter the game as questionable.
New York did not overcome its depth issues against the Patriots last week. It will be even more of a struggle against the Texans this week, who have a much better roster than New England.
Houston Texans
- S Jimmie Ward, Groin-Out
- C Jarrett Patterson, Concussion-Out
- RB Dameon Pierce, Groin-Out
- LB Azeez Al-Shaair, Knee-Out
The biggest loss for the Texans this week was wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who tore his ACL and is out for the season. Otherwise, Al-Shaair and Ward are big losses for the Houston defense. This could help open up more room for Breece Hall and the Jets’ pass catchers to operate.
Jets vs. Texans Game Prediction
- Houston defeats New York 27-20
I do not see a world where the Jets win this game.
This team has had the same issues repeatedly this season. They are unable to play consistent and complementary football; when one issue is fixed, another immediately pops up.
Specifically, I do not know how the Jets will overcome the Texans’ defense during this matchup. With limited mobility, Rodgers will be a sitting duck against an aggressive opposing unit. Unless he becomes more willing to pull the trigger, the quarterback may struggle against a man-heavy and blitz-heavy Texans defense.
On defense, the Jets will have to deal with Joe Mixon all game. There is the potential for Mixon to run all over the Jets, as New York has struggled to defend the run all season. C.J. Stroud, even without two of his top weapons, should still have his opportunities against a slightly depleted Jets secondary.
But when push comes to shove, I cannot take the Jets to win until they show they are an improved team. They have found ways to lose every single week while showing that they simply lack the makeup and mindset of a winning football team. I do not see their losing ways changing this week. Give me Houston by a score of 27-20.
