The NFL’s Week 2 preseason finale features a Monday night football matchup between the Atlanta Falcons and New York Jets, two franchises desperate to turn around their fortunes in the 2022 season.
While both teams secured narrow road victories in the opening week of preseason play, the Jets experienced a major setback when second-year quarterback Zach Wilson went down with a knee injury in the first quarter of their 24-21 win over Philadelphia. The 2021 No. 2 overall draft pick underwent surgery on a meniscus tear Tuesday, and it’s questionable whether he’ll be ready to go in Week 1 of the regular season.
For now, the Jets are left to move on to preseason game No. 2, in which they opened as a one-point home underdog. Read below for our best free NFL picks and predictions for Falcons vs. Jets in the second week of the preseason.
Falcons vs Jets odds
This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.
The line movement has been erratic throughout the week, with Atlanta opening as a 1- to 1.5-point favorite at most books before the line moved to as much as 3, back down to 1.5 points, and eventually settled at 2.5. The total opened at 42.5 at a majority of sportsbooks and has dipped to 38.0 at DraftKings and WynnBet, and 39.0 at FanDuel and bet365.
Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right up until kickoff and be sure to check out the full NFL odds before placing your bets.
Falcons vs Jets predictions
Predictions made on 8/21/2022 at 12:00 p.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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Falcons vs Jets game info
• Location: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
• Date: Monday, August 22, 2022
• Kickoff: 5:00 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN
Falcons at Jets betting preview
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Betting trend to know
The Falcons are 2-17 ATS in their last 19 preseason games. Find more NFL betting trends for Falcons vs. Jets.
Falcons vs Jets picks and predictions
Our side and total predictions are based upon our analysis of the line and total in this game. Our best bet is our favorite pick across all markets.
Spread analysis
With 4:29 remaining in the first quarter of New York’s first preseason game of the season, Wilson made an early exit after he scrambled to his right for seven yards and went down after the play. In his post-game presser, head coach Robert Saleh affirmed that Wilson should have run out of bounds rather than go for extra yards.
The BYU product finished the contest with 23 yards, connected on three of his five passes, and threw an interception on the opening drive. With Wilson’s status in question for Week 1 of the regular season, Saleh must evaluate the quarterback position closer.
Backup Mike White stepped in following Wilson’s injury and went 10-of-20 for 98 yards without a touchdown or interception. At the same time, fourth-stringer Chris Streveler — who had not taken a snap in offensive team drills this summer — threw a pair of touchdown passes, including the game-winner with 16 seconds left in regulation.
Veteran quarterback Joe Flacco was not in uniform for the game, and Saleh is likely to be conservative with him in Week 2 in light of Wilson’s uncertain health. The injury bug has hit New York elsewhere, too, with offensive lineman Conor McDermott out one to two weeks with an ankle sprain and right tackle Mekhi Becton likely out for the season after suffering a knee injury in practice.
Although the Jets handled the Eagles in their first exhibition game, New York was shaky early on against Philly's starters. In Jalen Hurts’ lone series, he went 6-of-6 for 80 yards and tossed a touchdown.
Backup Gardner Minshew completed all but four of his 12 passes for 81 yards, and third-stringer Reid Sinnett finished 9-of-17 for 81 yards and a score. Philly led all the way up until 8:10 to go in the fourth, outgained New York 311-302 in total offense, and was 4-of-5 on fourth-down. However, New York still managed to pull out a win at the last minute against a much better team than Atlanta’s opponent in Week 1.
The Falcons leaned heavily on rookie quarterback Desmond Ridder, who went 10-of-22 for 103 yards, threw two touchdown passes, and rushed for 59 yards against a Detroit Lions team that has now dropped their last nine preseason games.
Historically, though, Atlanta is actually worse in the preseason. Last Friday’s 27-23 victory marked the team’s second win in its previous 18 preseason matchups. Like New York, the Birds were outgained by the opposing team but still got the win. Detroit recorded 26 first downs to Atlanta’s 18 and went 8-of-15 on third down, compared to 3-of-10 for Atlanta.
Ultimately, the difference in the game was Detroit’s two turnovers, particularly David Blough’s fumble near the two-minute mark in the fourth quarter that gave Atlanta the chance to score a touchdown with 1:30 left to play. Both the Jets and Falcons won in come-from-behind fashion in Week 1, but Atlanta conquered an inferior opponent to get its second preseason win dating back to 2016.
With Flacco likely to play a series or two, plus White and Streveler competing for higher positioning on the depth chart, the Jets' offense can expose Atlanta’s spotty defense and pull off an upset at home.
Prediction: Jets moneyline (+120 at FanDuel)
Over/Under analysis
The Falcons relied heavily on the run in Week 1, with Ridder leading the team in rushing, while fourth-year running back Qadree Ollison added 33 yards on five carries and rookie Tyler Allgeier gained 25 yards on three attempts. Caleb Huntley also rushed for 18 yards, and veteran Damien Williams posted 10 on the ground.
There’s a fierce battle right now for the No. 2 spot behind Cordarrelle Patterson on the Falcons' depth chart. Head coach Arthur Smith will likely work his stable of running backs often against New York, who was the fourth worst defense against the run last season.
The Falcons totaled 139 passing yards and 168 rushing against Detroit, slightly better than how the Jets fared against the run last season (the Lions were the fifth-worst run defense in 2021).
New York put up 183 passing yards and 119 rushing yards on the Eagles last week. In light of its injury woes, we may see the passing game scale back some, emphasizing rookie Breece Hall getting experience in the run game.
Look for the Under — which is 11-5 in the Falcons’ last 16 preseason games and 13-6 in the Jets’ last 19 — to hit in Week 2.
Prediction: Under 39 (-110 at FanDuel)
Best bet
Saleh has reportedly gone back and forth on whether to give his starters playing time in Week 2, but the “heightened environment” of Monday night football has him tempted to provide all of his players a taste of the prime-time spotlight to get ready for Week 1.
The Jets have also looked much better than the Falcons in joint practices, with Flacco performing well in the offense and New York’s defense handling Mariota and the Falcons’ first-teamers.
Even if Saleh is conservative on offense, the Jets will get the job done on the other side of the ball and keep Atlanta from sealing a win in MetLife Stadium.
Pick: Jets moneyline (+120 at FanDuel)
