Jets vs. Falcons Free NFL Picks for Week 5

Britain has given America the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and Doctor Who. On Sunday, America is sending the Falcons and Jets over to England. Apparently, we’re still not over the Revolutionary War.

The Jets upset Tennessee in overtime for their first win of the year on Sunday, and the Falcons blew a late lead to Washington and now has given up more points than any other team.

We’ll take a look at the NFL odds and the best sportsbook to bet with this week. 

New York Jets vs. Atlanta Falcons 

Sunday, October 10, 2021 - 09:30 AM EDT at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

The NFL returns to London and will treat the British to a Week 5 game between two of the worst teams in the league. The Jets looked destined to become the league’s first 0-17 team in the first three weeks before they upset Tennessee in overtime on Sunday.

The Falcons blew a late lead at home to Washington on Sunday and have now given up more points than any other team in the NFL. They’ll be matched against the team that has scored the fewest, in the Jets.     

https://youtu.be/t3bhmNoEbVE

Step Forward for Wilson

For the first three weeks, rookie quarterback Zach Wilson was a key part of the Jets’ struggles. He threw a total of just two touchdowns with seven interceptions as the Jets scored a total of 20 points, half of the next lowest-scoring NFL team.

https://twitter.com/nyjets/status/1445028432627310596?s=20

Coach Robert Saleh had a solution to the problem, instructing Wilson to focus on safe “boring” passes instead of risky ones.

Instead, Wilson led a fourth-quarter comeback against the Titans with some crazy schoolyard plays, completing a 54-yard pass while running away from the pass rush on a full sprint. He also threw a 29-yard completion after fumbling a snap and scrambling again, and when his receivers were covered, Wilson used hand signals to tell Corey Davis to “go deep,” then hit him in the end zone for a 53-yard score.

https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1444750704057495554?s=20

When the dust cleared, he had 297 yards and matched his three-game touchdown total in the fourth quarter alone.

Wilson’s production helped bolster a Jets defense that also stepped up in the win. New York sacked Tennessee seven times on Sunday and didn’t give up a play longer than 27 yards in the nearly 70-minute game. They also held Tennessee to 5-of-19 on third down conversions. And the Jets did all of that without starting safety Marcus Maye, who is also expected to miss this week with a sprained ankle.

A one-week blip? Or measurable progress on both sides of the ball? We’ll get a clearer picture on Sunday.

https://twitter.com/AtlantaFalcons/status/1444730363171987458?s=20

Tough Loss

The Atlanta Falcons were seconds away from evening their record at 2-2 and winning their second straight game. After being the then-winless Giants in Week Three, Atlanta led Washington, 30-28, with less than a minute left. Washington scored the game-winning touchdown, their second in the final four minutes, to send the Falcons to a frustrating defeat.

The loss wasted a big performance by the Atlanta passing game. Matt Ryan threw for 283 yards and four touchdowns, three to Cordarrelle Patterson. “We had multiple opportunities to win that game,” coach Arthur Smith said.  “We didn't.”

Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images/AFP

The Falcons also suffered a pair of injuries. Cornerback Isaiah Carter hurt his knee during the game and had to be carted off the field. Punter Cameron Nizialek, who also kicks off for the Falcons, hurt his hamstring. The Atlanta kicker had to take over punting duties the rest of the way. Both players will have their injury status updated as the week goes on.

The Pick

The Jets posted their first win, but there are still red flags about Wilson’s approach. If he can follow Saleh’s advice and avoid unnecessary risks, his development would accelerate. He seems determined to do it his way, though, which is a recipe for disaster more often than exciting wins like Sunday.

For your NFL pick, look for Ryan and the Falcons to outscore the Jets across the pond.  

NFL Pick: (visit our Sportsbook Review)

*The pick reflects the line at the moment the writer made the play, the odds at the beginning of this article show the live line movement. Since the lines might vary, don’t forget to refer back to our live odds.