DAVE ESSLER | NFL SIDE SUN, 09/16/18 4:25 PM
283 NEP 0.0 (-110) Pinnacle vs 284 JAC
triple-dime bet
Analysis:
I know this is NOT the sharp side - but here we go. Jacksonville is looking at this game as both revenge for the AFC Championship game last year, and of course as the barometer to prove they belong in the SN discussion. New England is looking at this as one game towards another championship and know that the significance is bigger, because they may well see J'ville in the playoffs. Not to mention that they don't want to give hope to the hopeless. In that Championship game last season New England was without Hightower, an have subsequently signed Adrian Claibborne, so although their offense is "different," it's their defense that's MUCH better than what J'ville saw last year. J'ville is still one-dimensional on offense, and the loss of Marquis Lee is bigger than people think. It won't matter if Fournette plays or not, New England will make° Bortles beat them and I don't think he can. I've talked twice on the Dream Pod about Bortles' fourth quarter numbers - last season he has a passer rating of 16 in games that were within a touchdown in the fourth. Against the Giants last week, in the fourth quarter, he was 4-9 with 30 yard passing. Add to that the Jalen Ramsey stuff - although he hasn't said much directly about Brady, he doesn't have to, and of course he did say stuff about Gronkowski - New England is quiet about on the outside, as they usually are, but I'd be willing to bet that they are using it as more motivation. In the end, yes, J'ville is at home with revenge, but New England has better players and the better coach - and quietly perhaps as much or more motivation to stay on top. Out.
