Washington Commanders (4-10) vs. New York Jets (5-9)
Washington Commanders vs. New York Jets 12/24/23 – As the NFL season heads into Week 16, the Washington Commanders and New York Jets are set for a showdown on Sunday. The Commanders, with a 4-10 record, travel to MetLife Stadium to face the Jets, who sit slightly better at 5-9. Both teams have struggled this season, but this game provides an opportunity for each to gain some late-season momentum. Fans and bettors looking for NFL tips and picks will find this matchup a challenging yet interesting puzzle to solve, given the teams’ performance trends and key player contributions.
The Commanders have displayed a diverse offensive strategy. Quarterback Sam Howell has been at the heart of their passing game, completing 64.7% of his passes for 3568 yards while throwing 15 interceptions – however these show weakness in decision making. In contrast, Brian Robinson Jr has provided Washington with a steady ground game supplemented with airplay. Terry McLaurin stands out with 835 receiving yards and three touchdowns on receiving ends; providing reliable targets for Sam Howell.
The Jets offense has been led by quarterback Zach Wilson, who has had a relatively successful season with a 60.1% completion rate and 2271 passing yards. Wilson has performed adequately but still had seven interceptions that have hurt their performance; Breece Hall has been key in breaking through tackles and finding gaps for 637 rushing yards on 153 attempts; Garrett Wilson leads receiving corps with 882 receiving yards, showing potential as an asset for their attack.
Washington Commanders vs. New York Jets Game Info
| When: | Sunday, December 24, 2023 at 1:00 PM ET |
| Where: | MetLife Stadium |
| TV: | CBS |
| Stream: | NFL Game Pass |
Sam Howell QB vs. Zach Wilson QB
Sam Howell has shown real potential in his rookie season despite being handed the keys to a lackluster Washington offense. In 14 games played, he has completed 64.7% of his passes for 3,568 yards, averaging a very solid 6.7 yards per attempt. Howell has also thrown 19 touchdown passes against 15 interceptions. While the turnover numbers are a little high, that is expected for a rookie. Most promising is Howell’s composure and pocket presence, as he has only taken 59 sacks despite a porous offensive line. His mobility and ability to extend plays has already drawn some comparisons to Buffalo’s Josh Allen.
For the Jets, Zach Wilson remains an enigma in his second professional season. He has struggled badly with consistency and decision making. In 12 starts, Wilson has completed just 60.1% of his passes, while throwing for only 2,271 yards, 6.2 yards per attempt and 8 touchdowns versus 7 picks. Shockingly, Wilson has been sacked 46 teams and fumbled a whopping 7 times, losing 4 of those. He often holds onto the ball too long searching for the big play downfield. His 77.2 passer rating ranks 30th out of 33 qualified quarterbacks. Wilson possesses all the natural talent and arm strength coaches covet, but his pocket presence, processing speed and carelessness with the football remain extremely troubling.
NFL Odds/Point Spread: New York Jets -155, Total Odds: 37.5
The Jets are favored with a -3 point spread and a moneyline of -155, indicating oddsmakers’ slight leaning towards the home team. The total of 37.5 points, one of the lower totals in the week, suggests a game dominated by defensive plays or limited offensive efficiency.
Washington Commanders Betting Trends
The Commanders are 1-4 ATS over their last 5 games overall. However, they have owned this matchup with the Jets historically, going 8-4 straight up in the last 12 meetings. They have also gone over the total in 4 of their last 5 contests.
New York Jets Betting Trends
The Jets have gone under the total in 7 of their last 9 games. They are also just 1-6 straight up over that 9 game span, indicating they have struggled to win games. At home, the Jets are 2-5 straight up this season. Historically, when hosting Washington, the Jets are just 1-4 straight up over the last 5 matchups.
Washington Commanders vs. New York Jets 12/24/23 Betting Picks
Considering the trends and key player performances, this game appears to be a close contest. The Jets, being the home team and having a slightly better record, might have a slight edge. However, Washington’s ability to score should not be underestimated, especially with Howell and McLaurin connecting well.
The pick here is a close, low-scoring game, potentially decided by a field goal or a late touchdown. For those seeking handicapper analysis today, the recommendation would be to consider the under on the total points and perhaps lean towards the Jets to cover the spread, given their home-field advantage.
Free Pick and Prediction: New York Jets 19, Washington Commanders 16