Jets Continue to Hold Strong Without Aaron Rodgers
Chargers vs Jets Week 9: Los Angeles Slight Road Favorite
The NFL Week 9 schedule concludes Monday (8:15 p.m. ET) with the Los Angeles Chargers and New York Jets squaring off in primetime.
Los Angeles opened as a 1.5-point road favorite but is now up to -3 (-125). It’s also -180 on the moneyline. New York, meanwhile, is +3 (+105) on the spread and +155 to win outright. The total is 40 (-110 Over, -110 Under).
Can the Jets pull off the upset at home? Read on as we break down both teams and dive into the Chargers vs Jets Week 9 odds.
Los Angeles Chargers vs New York Jets 
Day/Time:
Location: MetLife Stadium; East Rutherford, N.J.
Streaming: ABC, ESPN
Chargers vs Jets Betting Trends
The Los Angeles Chargers are 3-4 against the spread, including 1-2 away from home. The total has gone Under in Los Angeles’ last five games. The New York Jets, meanwhile, are 4-2-1 ATS, including 3-1 at home. The total has gone Under in five of the Jets’ last six games at home and nine of their previous 12 overall. That’s important to remember when assessing the Chargers vs Jets Week 9 odds.
Waiting Game Continues for Rodgers
The New York Jets won ugly in Week 8, edging the New York Giants 13-10 in overtime. The Jets settled for a push as a 3-point favorite but did manage to go Under the total of 34.5, an unusually low number by NFL standards.
Winners of three straight, the Jets are now 4-3 and in the thick of the wild card race in the AFC. Oddsmakers are still a bit skeptical, pricing them +220 to make the playoffs per NFL odds this week. However, the door is ajar if they can continue to overcome the seismic loss of Aaron Rodgers (torn Achilles).
Rodgers, who originally was thought to be out for the season, is reportedly hoping to return by the end of 2023. It’d be a remarkable recovery in such short a time, but the Jets seemingly haven’t ruled out the possibility of having the four-time MVP back for the home stretch.
But that makes no difference this week. The Jets — at least for the time being — are still Zach Wilson’s team. Wilson has struggled but continues to be bailed out by a strong run game and dominant defense. The Jets rank top 10 in scoring defense, holding opponents to an average of 18.4 points. They’re tied for fourth in the NFL with 13 takeaways, including eight interceptions.
If Wilson can protect the football, which has been a problem during his brief career (23 interceptions in 29 career games), the Jets are capable of beating practically anyone. They’ve proven that already with victories over the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles. But protecting Wilson, who’s been sacked 23 times in seven games, is also a concern. Keep that in mind when analyzing the Chargers vs Jets Week 9 odds.
For the moment, New York is +900 to win the AFC East and +4000 to make the Super Bowl.
Will the Real Chargers Please Stand Up?
The Los Angeles Chargers made quick work of the Chicago Bears in Week 8, cruising to a 30-13 victory. Los Angeles, a 9.5-point favorite, opened a 17-0 lead in the second quarter and covered the spread for the first time in four games.
The Chargers are uber talented, with an MVP candidate (+4000) at quarterback in Justin Herbert. Yet, they’re just 3-4 and staring at the possibility of missing the playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons. Oddsmakers have them priced at -190.
How good are they really? That’s still to be determined. No stranger to close games, the Chargers are 0-3 against winning teams this season. Per NFL scores, their first three losses came by a total of nine points.
Certainly, things could be dramatically different for the Chargers. But they keep finding ways to lose, regardless of their quarterback. Herbert is off to another fantastic start, with 13 touchdowns compared to just four interceptions. His 270 passing yards per game rank sixth in the NFL. As a whole, Los Angeles’ offense is top 10.
That said, inconsistency continues to bog down Los Angeles. Injuries, in particular, have hurt. Mike Williams’ season-ending knee injury has left a big void in the passing game. Can rookie first-rounder Quentin Johnson finally step up and become the target that Los Angeles is lacking besides Keenan Allen? We’ll find out sooner than later.
Handicapping the Game
It’s the second straight primetime game for the Chargers, and all eyes will be on Herbert. If the Chargers are able to turn around their season and climb back into the AFC playoff picture, it’ll be because of their prized quarterback. Thus, he’ll be under a lot of pressure this week — both literally and figuratively.
While it’s hard to trust Wilson, the Jets have proven capable of winning on the backs of running back Breece Hall and their defense. They’ve given up just 45 points during their three-game win streak, which includes a 20-14 upset of Philadelphia. They’ll certainly lean on them again against the high-powered Chargers.
Given their strengths, the Jets should be able to keep it close, if not win outright. The Chargers have yet to earn the benefit of the doubt.
For NFL scores for today, betting odds, analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
