American Football is a cruel sport. You can end the season by winning more games than you lost but still not end up in the post-season. The season is also very short, meaning one or two mistakes can cost you limited time and resources to rectify game strategies. So, how about the Giants and Jets? Are either of them enough to make you try the offshore sportsbooks listed here to win some money on them? Or will that only be if you’re placing money on the team to have the worst overall record?
Can Rodgers Return and Help the Jets?
The New York Jets began the 2023 pre-season with a promising start, bolstered by the addition of the legendary quarterback, Aaron Rodgers. His presence elevated the team’s stature, and they were poised to compete at the top end of the AFC East under Robert Saleh’s leadership. However, their hopes were shattered when Rodgers suffered a season-ending injury in the first game of the regular season, leaving the Jets to navigate the rest of the season without their star player. This setback, a testament to the importance of key players, significantly impacted their performance, as they slumped to a 7-10 season and finished third in the division, only ahead of a struggling New England Patriots.
Whether or not Rodgers is in top form for the team, they’ve still got a lot of ground to recover if they mount a severe challenge to post-season football, let alone going to the Super Bowl. A lot of fingers have to be pointed at Robert Saleh, the head coach of the Jets for the past three years. They’ve not improved that much. Head coaches are seldom provided time, so why is Saleh getting a free pass despite consistent failure? The only time the Jets can bank on a different outcome could be when Saleh has left the team.
Those who are not as critical of Saleh will point out that the team’s first draft pick in 2024 was relatively exciting, with Olu Fashanu joining the team after a fruitful college career with Penn State. The team also signed 17 initially undrafted players, which could be a masterstroke if they end up with some diamonds from the rough.
The Jets haven’t had too much luck with the fixture computer, but they’ve not been wholly shafted either with a median difficulty of games for 2024, as it sits in the middle of the pack for overall difficulty. The game in London might work for them as they have to travel less than the Minnesota Vikings do, despite it being the Vikings home tie.
Could the Giants take the Big Apple to the Top?
Celebrating 100 years in the NFL, the New York Giants would like no other accolade than winning the Super Bowl. It can’t get much worse for the franchise as in the 2023 season, they finished with a dismal 6-11 record, finishing third in the NFC East.
After the troublesome year, Brian Daboll is still entrusted with the head coach role. However, his roster does look somewhat improved as players like Drew Lock, Jack Stoll and Jordan Phillips have all signed up for the 2024 season with the Giants. While these three players won’t be the totality of success, they will undoubtedly bolster their overall quality.
The team picked up Malik Nabers in the first draft round, a very exciting wider receiver out of the Louisiana State University programme, having impressed and being named an All-American with the Fighting Tigers, but does he even want to be a Giant? He didn’t seem overly enthused to hear his name called in that spot.
The Giants have every right to grumble about the 2024 schedule. They have to play the Baltimore Ravens and the Philadelphia Eagles, which could be troublesome matches. Like the Jets, they must also play an international game, as they’ll play the Carolina Panthers in Munich, Germany.
Who Will Have the Better Season?
Unfortunately, the two teams will not play each other this regular season…unless they make it to the Super Bowl. Those who want a definitive answer should consider that the Jets have the more manageable schedule, and Aaron Rodgers could be the difference between the teams. The teams will, however, play one another in a pre-season match for the spoils of New York in late August. Could that game show who the superior team at MetLife Stadium is? However, pre-season games typically count for very little towards the overall projection of a season result.
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