The 2024 NFL season rolls on with a crucial Week 3 slate, packed with key early-season matchups. Kicking off the action, the New England Patriots take on the New York Jets on Thursday Night Football.
Other notable games include the Miami Dolphins against the Seattle Seahawks, the Baltimore Ravens versus the Dallas Cowboys, and the San Francisco 49ers meeting the Los Angeles Rams. On Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs face the Atlanta Falcons, while Monday Night Football features the Jacksonville Jaguars against the Buffalo Bills and the Washington Commanders squaring off with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Let’s see if we can find some betting value in the NFL Vegas odds from a selection of the games.
Below are the money line odds for the game from three of the best Vegas NFL Football betting sites.
New York had a rough start in NFL Week 1 against San Francisco but bounced back with a crucial road victory over Tennessee in Week 2. Meanwhile, the Patriots opened the season with a road win against Cincinnati before falling in overtime at home to Seattle last week. A touchdown spread in a divisional matchup between two defense-first teams presents a risky bet. The Jets have struggled offensively against strong defenses, and New England’s defense will pose another significant challenge.
With this being the Jets’ home opener, I expect them to secure a win. However, New England’s defense and ground game should keep the contest competitive. I anticipate the Patriots will pressure Rodgers on Thursday Night Football, making it a closer game than expected.
New England Patriots +6.5 at New York Jets.
It’s hard to feel confident in the 49ers covering a spread of more than a touchdown after their loss last week. The situation becomes even tougher for San Francisco with Deebo Samuel expected to miss the game, and Christian McCaffrey on injured reserve. Without those two key players, the 49ers’ offense lacks the same punch, which may hinder their ability to cover the spread.
On the other side, the Rams were disappointing in their loss to the Cardinals last week. However, this is the same team that nearly pulled off a road win against the Lions in NFL Week 1. Now, playing at home and in a must-win situation after an 0-2 start, they’ll be hungry for a victory. History shows these matchups in Los Angeles are often tight, with three of the last five being decided by a field goal, including a playoff win for the Rams. Even if San Francisco manages to win, expect a determined Rams team to keep it close.
49ers vs. Rams +7.5.
The Bills may not be balanced enough to confidently cover the spread in this game, but they have a few advantages working in their favor. Playing at home on Monday night after a Thursday game gives them extra rest and preparation time. With Josh Allen and James Cook leading the offense while they continue to seek consistency at wide receiver, Buffalo will be tough to contain for a full four quarters, even against a Jacksonville defense that has held opponents to 20 points or fewer in two losses.
More importantly, the Jaguars don’t appear capable of putting up enough points to outlast Allen and the Bills. Trevor Lawrence has struggled, completing just 51% of his passes and taking seven sacks so far, while Travis Etienne hasn’t been a major factor in the running game. Jacksonville’s offense has totaled just 30 points across their two games, whereas Buffalo has surpassed 30 points in both of their first two matchups. While the Bills might be undervalued in terms of their ability to win decisively, taking their money line feels like a solid, safe option.
Jaguars vs. Bills money line (-240).
Indianapolis is still searching for its first win of the season after looking disjointed in their NFL Week 2 loss to the Packers. Despite holding Green Bay to just 122 passing yards in the 16-10 defeat, the Colts’ defense struggled against the run, as Malik Willis completed 12 of 14 passes and Packers’ running back Josh Jacobs racked up 151 rushing yards on 32 carries. Heading into this game, Indianapolis is heavily favored, especially with Jordan Love sidelined due to a knee injury.
A big reason for the Colts’ rough start has been the performance of second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson. While he’s thrown for 416 yards and three touchdowns, he has only completed 49.1% of his passes and already has four interceptions, including three in the loss to the Packers.
Meanwhile, Chicago’s defense, which led them to a win in Week 1, nearly delivered again on Sunday Night Football against the Texans. I expect the Bears’ defense to pressure Richardson into another subpar outing, giving Chicago a good chance to cover the spread, if not win outright.
Chicago Bears +1 at Indianapolis Colts.
See below our list of the best online betting sites in USA 2024. You can read our reviews to help determine the best option for your NFL bets.
