Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-0 SU, 0-0 ATS) vs. New York Jets (0-0 SU, 0-0 ATS)
Week 1 NFL
Date/Time: Sunday, September 8, 2013 at 1PM EST
Where: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
TV: Fox
By Loot, NFL Football Handicapper, Lootmeister.com
Point Spread: TB -2.5/NYJ +2.5
Over/Under Total: 41
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On Sunday, September 8, The Tampa Bay Buccaneers travel to East Rutherford to take on the New York Jets. Each team missed the playoffs last season and are looking for a bounce-back year in 2013. Tampa has done everything they can to improve, while The Jets really need something good to happen after a 6-win season in 2012.
Jets’ coach Rex Ryan seemed to lose his mojo after consecutive AFC Championship Game appearances in 2009 and 2010. A defense that allowed 16.9 points in those two seasons has seen that number spike to 23 points a game in 2011 and 2012. A lot of bad personnel moves were made and Ryan couldn’t coach his way out of trouble. This defense also suffered the loss of Darrelle Revis and really needs an upgrade in the run-stop category.
Adding to the Jets woes is an offense that seems to be going nowhere. You have a pair of quarterbacks in camp with Mark Sanchez and Geno Smith and neither guy can establish any distance from the other. The skill positions look depleted and offseason moves were minimal in that area. They have little to choose from at running back and no clearcut number-one receiver. Santonio Holmes is coming off the PUP list, so maybe that offers a glimmer of hope, as does the signing of former Saints’ RB Chris Ivory, who will have a chance to shine after struggling to get touches in a crowded Saints’ running game.
There are certainly some things that each team does well. The Jets’ O-line should be a little better this season, some 2nd-year guys could blossom, and the secondary is decent, even with the Revis departure and a lack of depth. New OC Marty Mornhingweg should help, even if the offense has no real playmakers or continuity at the moment.
The Bucs were 7-9 last year under first year head coach Greg Schiano. A fair amount of optimism is present in Tampa. There is a natural amount of higher hopes that accompany a coach entering his second season, particularly when players seem to be buying in and are coming off a season plagued by injuries. But increased hope more specifically stems from how Tampa revamped a league-worst secondary to a point where it now appears to be an actual team strength. They got CB Darrelle Revis, who should be good-to-go to face his former team. Despite his well-publicized injuries, he is still the best in the business when healthy. They also got FS Dashon Goldson from the 49ers and CB Johnathan Banks in the draft. A secondary that gave up almost 300 yards per game should be a ton better and that’s bad news for the weak Jets’ quarterbacking.
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On offense, the Bucs look to be in good shape. QB Josh Freeman is a fearless pocket passer with legs. He needs to be more accurate and take a step forward in 2013. He has the weapons, including two top receivers in Mike Williams and Vincent Jackson. He can also hand the ball off to one of the league’s biggest surprises from 2012--rookie RB Doug Martin, who ran for 1454 yards and caught 49 balls. Freeman has the luxury of working with a deep and talented offensive line that played well last season, despite a lot of injury problems.
The Bucs have a lot of hopes with a good QB-RB-WR-WR package behind a solid line and a talented secondary. They still lack a slot guy or tight end that can produce offensively. Jackson and Williams are a nice 1-2 punch, but they are thin outside of that. They lost their top pass rusher from last season and look a little iffy in that area. And while Lavonte David (their leading tackler from ’12) and Mason Foster are strong linebackers, they are thin in that area, as well.
The fact that a lot of people are down on the Jets is understandable. Being in a major market is a two-sided coin. When the Jets were rolling, they were probably overrated with all the hype. Coming off a bad year, having QB problems, and a coach on the hot seat is not something exclusive to the Jets, but you’d almost think that with the way the coverage has portrayed the situation. With everyone so down on the Jets, there are two possibilities--either they are as bad as it is being made out to be or maybe they’re a little better.
These are two teams that are up in the air. Tampa Bay looks to be up-and-coming, but we say that about a lot of teams and naturally, there isn’t enough room for all those teams to get better. And while the Jets definitely have a downward arrow next to their name at this point, they are at home and getting points against a team coming off a losing season. That’s not such a bad spot. Then again, if they step on the field looking like the Jets of 2012, it might be a long afternoon.
Loot's Pick to Cover the Point Spread: Take the Buccaneers and lay 2.5 points.
