Jets @ Titans — Week 1
The Saleh Storyline
Robert Saleh coached the Jets from 2021–24 before being fired mid-season. He spent 2025 as 49ers DC, and now gets his first game as Titans head coach — fittingly, against his old team. Aaron Glenn enters Year 2 in New York. Both coaches downplay the "revenge" angle, but the intrigue is real.
The Quarterbacks
Geno Smith returns for the Jets — a veteran who can manage a game, but he's turnover-prone, and Saleh's blitz packages will test his protection instincts. Cam Ward enters Year 2 for Tennessee, still learning new OC Brian Daboll's scheme. Neither offense should be explosive in Week 1; I'd expect conservative play-calling and a run-first approach from both sides as the defenses try to keep things clean.
Weapons
Jets: Breece Hall looks good to play, and Garrett Wilson is a clear WR1 — on paper, the better supporting cast at multiple spots.
Titans: Calvin Ridley, Wan'Dale Robinson, and rookie Carnell Tate (the No. 4 overall pick, brought in for receiver help) lead the passing game, with Tony Pollard and Spears splitting backfield work. Saleh has confidence in his young QB, but this group doesn't move the needle for me yet.
Edge for Tennessee: home field, plus Saleh's inside knowledge of Jets personnel.
The Trend
Teams that posted a turnover differential of -0.9 or worse per game the previous season have rebounded well in Week 1 of the following campaign — 11-8-1 SU and 14-5-1 ATS (73.6%) since 2013 when not facing a similarly bad team. That's +8.5 units, 44.7% ROI, Grade 68. (per Steve Makinen)
The Market
Jets have covered 8 of their last 10 vs. Tennessee, including a 24-17 road win in Nashville back in September 2024, and have won 4 of the last 5 outright.
Titans opened -3; the line has already drifted to -1.5 on Jets support.
The Play
Skipping the spread — I'm not sure Jets ML stays plus money for long, so I'm taking it now.
Take Jets +105.
Let's cash some tickets!