TNF: Broncos vs. Jets odds, picks & predictions

Despite an 0-3 start, the Denver Broncos head in as three-point road favorites on Thursday Night Football against a debilitated New York Jets team.    

Also 0-3, New York has seen its luck dwindle with each passing week, as injuries continue to pile up on the roster.

In Week 1, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen torched the Jets on his 312 passing yards, 57 rushing and three total touchdowns. Meanwhile, Sam Darnold completed 21 of his 35 passes for 215 yards, one score, and threw one interception in the 27-17 loss.

The Jets rushing attack fared worse, with Frank Gore leading his team with 24 yards on six carries, while Le’Veon Bell mustered 14 yards on the same number of attempts.

The run game improved against a 49ers team eviscerated by injuries in Week 2, but the Niners still pulled out a 31-13 win, even after quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, running back Raheem Mostert, and defensive end Nick Bosa were all sidelined.

Week 3’s defeat to the Colts was New York’s worst outing, yet. Darnold went 17-of-29 with one touchdown and was picked off three times. Two of his interceptions were returned for touchdowns in the Colts’ 36-7 slaughtering.

Broncos vs. Jets injury report

Bell missed his second straight game on Sunday after being placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury.

Receivers Breshad Perriman (ankle) and Jamison Crowder (hamstring) also missed the game in Indy, as did right tackle George Fant (concussion). Perriman did not practice Monday, while Crowder and Fant were limited.

Linebacker Jordan Willis and offensive lineman Mekhi Becton sustained injuries Sunday, as well, and are questionable for Thursday. Receiver Chris Hogan was a limited participant in practice because of rib and knee issues.

Broncos aren’t in much better shape

If you thought New York was shorthanded, the Broncos may be worse off.

Jeff Driskel has been a less than stellar backup to Drew Lock, who sprained his right shoulder against Pittsburgh last week. In two appearances this season, Driskel has completed 54.7% of his passes for 432 yards and three scores. He has been sacked 11 times and picked off twice.

Driskel was replaced by third-stringer Brett Rypien in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 28-10 defeat in Tampa. Rypien completed all but one of his nine passes and threw an interception against the Buccaneers.

Head coach Vic Fangio has said he’s unsure whether Driskel or Rypien will get the start Thursday. The Broncos also picked up Blake Bortles last week, but on a short week, he is unlikely to see playing time.

The Denver defense is a whole other issue. Defensive end Shelby Harris (neck/quad) did not practice Monday, nor did linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu (quad), safety Kareem Jackson (back), or cornerback Bryce Callahan (wrist).

This comes after Denver already experienced a huge blow, when Von Miller hit the injured reserve with an ankle injury just before the start of the regular season.

The Broncos rank fourth to last against the pass (277.7 yards per game), which might have given Darnold a jolt of confidence, if he weren’t missing so many of his teammates on offense.

Denver’s run-stop unit has been far more effective (102.3 yards per game) and may still cause issues for Gore, even with a limited lineup. 

Broncos vs. Jets betting trends

The Broncos are 4-1 against the spread versus teams with a losing record and 5-2 ATS in their last seven road games.

The Jets are 1-4 ATS in their last five games as an underdog and 2-6 ATS in their last eight games overall.

The Under is also 4-0 in the Broncos’ last four games as a road favorite and 5-1 in the Jets’ last six games overall.

With two winless, injury-depleted teams going up against one another on a short week, both offenses should sputter and find it difficult to put up points.

The Broncos’ question mark at quarterback nearly gives the Jets an advantage, but Melvin Gordon can pick up the slack against New York’s lackluster run defense (ranked 24th).

The total is set low at 40, but seeing as neither team has scored more than 21 points in a game this season, the Under is worth a look.  

Score prediction: Broncos 21, Jets 17

Pick: Broncos -3, Under 40

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