Sharp bettors take sides on Patriots-Jets ‘Thursday Night Football’

Times have changed in the AFC East rivalry between the New York Jets and New England Patriots.

The Jets broke a 15-game losing streak to the Patriots in last season’s regular-season finale, but now bettors have to lay nearly a touchdown to back New York against New England on “Thursday Night Football.”

The Jets are consensus home favorites of 6 points over the Patriots at Las Vegas sportsbooks. The Westgate SuperBook is offering the best price on the Jets at -6 (-105).

Sharp bettors have backed both sides.

“There was really sharp money on the Jets -6,” SuperBook director John Murray said.

The line has come down from 6½, with the South Point the only book still offering 6½ (always -110 at South Point).

“There was some early sharp action on the Patriots +6½, but the late money is coming in on the Jets,” Red Rock Resort sportsbook director Chuck Esposito said. “We’re going to need the Patriots when the game kicks.”

The consensus total is 38½.

The Patriots dominated the rivalry for two decades with quarterback Tom Brady and coach Bill Belichick, but now both have departed.

This is the first time in 25 meetings that the Jets, playing their home opener, are favored over the Patriots. The 24 straight games were the longest active head-to-head streak of one team favored over another in the NFL, according to ESPN Stats & Info.

The Jets (1-1) won and covered -4 in a 24-17 victory last week at Tennessee after getting blown out 32-19 at San Francisco in their season opener.

The Patriots (1-1) covered +3½ for some bettors in a 23-20 overtime loss to Seattle, but pushed for others at +3, after stunning the Bengals in a 16-10 season-opening win at Cincinnati.

“To me, the Patriots have been one of the surprise teams,” Esposito said. “They’ve been extremely competitive. They could easily be 2-0 and are not quite as bad as everybody kind of thought they were.”

Jets running back Breece Hall is the +350 favorite to score the first touchdown of the game at the SuperBook. Jets receiver Garrett Wilson and Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson are 6-1.

The prop totals for Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, playing his first home game for New York since tearing his Achilles tendon in last season’s opener, are 214½ passing yards and 1½ touchdown passes (under -145) at the SuperBook. He is -130 not to throw an interception (yes +110).

The prop totals for Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett are 167½ passing yards and 0½ touchdown passes (over -160). He is a pick’em (-110 on both sides) to throw an interception.

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com. Follow @tdewey33 on X.