Carson Palmer and the Arizona Cardinals often have trouble covering as a home favorite, but have an excellent opportunity to break out against the New York Jets’ porous pass defense. The Cardinals are the eight-point favorite against the Jets in the Monday night matchup.
Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com
Arizona is only 2-8 against the spread in their last 10 home games after an outright defeat against the Los Angeles Rams in their most recent outing at University of Phoenix Stadium, but they are 8-0 straight up in their last eight home games after losing their previous home game.
Prior to missing Week 5 while completing the NFL concussion protocol, Palmer had been struggling, with his lowest quarterback rating since 2013. The scenario seems tailor-made for the Cardinals. The Jets allow a NFL-worst 9.2 yards per pass, and CB Darrelle Revis (hamstring), has not been participating in practice. Arizona might finally be able to get Carson, WR Larry Fitzgerald, WR Michael Floyd and WR John Brown on the same page.
The Cardinals will have to creative with how they get RB David Johnson into space. The Jets have the second-ranked rushing defense thanks to NT Steve McLendon and DE Muhammad Wilkerson. Arizona is 0-6 ATS in their last six Monday games.
The Jets, who are 1-4 on the season after their desultory 31-13 loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers, are 1-5-1 ATS in their last seven games after an ATS loss. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick can be erratic, and the Jets might be hampered in the passing phase now that WR Eric Decker (partially torn rotator cuff) is out for the season. Primary WR Brandon Marshall will also have to contend with an elite CB, Patrick Peterson.
Arizona defenders such as FS Tyrann Mathieu and ILB Deone Buccanon also thrive at taking away the middle of the field, where Decker’s ability will be sorely missed. With veteran RB Matt Forte, the Jets are solid but unspectacular in the rushing phase. New York is also minus-9 in takeaways, which is hardly a way to win games.
The total for Monday night is set at 46.5 points. The total has gone under in five of the Jets’ last six road games. The total has gone under in six of the Cardinals’ last seven home games after a loss at home.
