The NFL returns to London for the first time in two years on Sunday when the Atlanta Falcons take on the New York Jets in a battle of two teams who are 1-3 for their season at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Both these teams have stuttered this season but a trip to London has revived many a season in the past and each of them will be going into this one hoping that they can pick up the benefits that come from a London success.
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons haven’t begun life under Arthur Smith too positively but there have been one or two signs over the last couple of weeks that they might be beginning to warm to the task. I say that because a couple of weeks ago they were able to get the better of the New York Giants, and they only narrowly went down last week to Washington Football Team. Matt Ryan produced a couple of clean games in those contests which might be significant here.
The one area where an urgent and immediate improvement is needed is defensively. The Falcons have given up the joint most passing touchdowns this season and are giving up plenty of yardage in every game they play at the minute. We saw last week that even when Matt Ryan has a good game, he and his offense can’t get the job done on their own, and with Calvin Ridley a non-runner this week that offense is lacking a little bit of firepower.
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New York Jets
The New York Jets also head to London 1-3 for the season but they will be boosted by the fact that their win came last week. While it has to be said that all they beat was a bashed up Tennessee Titans side who had little to offer in the passing game, it was a significant win because it was the first of the career of rookie quarterback Zach Wilson, a player who looks to be coming up to the level of the NFL with every passing week and who might well have a defence there to be picked off to go after here.
One area where the Jets have been performing throughout the season to date is on defence. They haven’t always been able to get the job done for their side but they have taken the challenge to the opposing offenses and if they can keep Matt Ryan quiet for a drive or two then the confidence right throughout the Jets will rise as they bid to match their total tally of wins for the whole of last season in what is just their fifth match of this term.
Betting
I like the New York Jets here. They just have one or two less questions hanging over them heading in here for me. Atlanta Falcons’ defence looks something of an abomination at the minute and you wouldn’t think that is going to improve on a week where they have had to travel to London and everything that comes with that. With Calvin Ridley out as well, the Matt Ryan led offense might not be as potent as it might have been at another time.
The Jets are steadily getting better on offense with Zach Wilson clearly getting acclimatised to the level and building partnerships with certain receivers. The Jets own defense is performing well and I think they can do enough to slow down the Falcons offense and if they do that then I expect Wilson to continue to deliver the goods from where he left off last week in the overtime win over the Titans. Jets for me in this one.
Tips
Back New York Jets to beat Atlanta Falcons for a 3/10 stake at 2.25 with Betfair
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