Rookie Quarterback Leads Texans as Road Favorites vs. Jets

New York is an underdog for fourth straight game as Houston and No. 2 overall draft pick invade Meadowlands in Week 14

They are playing a December home game against a dome team that starts a rookie quarterback, but the New York Jets are not favored to win.

Currently tied for a wildcard playoff spot, the Houston Texans, led by rookie field general C.J. Stroud, have won four of their last five games with the lone blemish being a three-point setback to Jacksonville. As a result of their recent fortunes, the Texans (7-5) opened as a 6.5-point road favorite over the Jets (4-8) on the betting line this week.

The slumping Jets carry a five-game losing streak into Week 14. Robert Saleh's team has been a point spread underdog in four of the last five outings. They failed to cover the spread all four times and also lost outright as a slight road favorite in Las Vegas.

"We have to focus one at a time. I get it. Whether you’re in or out of it, it doesn’t matter. You have to show up. You have to work. You have to find ways to get better and compete," said Saleh after a December 3 setback at home. 

While Stroud will take the snaps for Houston, New York has not yet named its starting quarterback for the December 10 meeting. Saleh and Co. are reportedly mulling the option of re-instating Zach Wilson as the starter. The former No. 2 overall draft pick was benched in favor of journeyman backup Tim Boyle the past two games. In Sunday's 13-8 loss to Atlanta, Boyle took a seat at the start of the fourth quarter and veteran Trevor Siemian took over. 

"No, I’m still not there yet," said Saleh on Monday when asked about the starting QB decision.

As a team, the Jets have a league-low seven passing touchdowns through 12 games. Boyle has accounted for one touchdown and four interceptions in a three-game span that includes a Week 11 relief appearance against Buffalo.

After being selected second overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, Stroud leads the NFL's sixth-ranked offense (373.1) nearly three-quarters of the way through his rookie season. He has completed 63.4 percent of his passes for 3,540 yards and 20 touchdowns while being picked off five times. As a team, the Texans rank third overall in yards per pass play (7.84).

The Jets have scored a combined 27 points over their last three contests. For the season, New York averages 14.3 points per game, the third-worst mark out of 32 teams. Their 4.91 yards per pass play ranks next to last. 

The implied point total (over/under) is 34.5, according to SI Sportsbook. Meanwhile, money line bettors must lay -300 odds to back the Texans while the Jets offer a +230 potential payout. 

The Jets and the Texans will clash at 1:00 pm ET on Sunday in East Rutherford. The AFC matchup will be carried over the air by CBS.

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