Both teams have below-average offenses. Denver ranks 28th as it is struggling to get 4.9 yards per play and New York is 31st at 4.7. Both clubs average less than four yards per carry. The Broncos' defense ranks 12th in yards allowed per play after having faced Tennessee, Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay - all well above-average offenses. The Jets' defense is 18th in that category. If these 0-3 teams are thinking about Trevor Lawrence, tonight’s game could be very conservative.

Denver is starting a new quarterback in Brett Rypien. His start gives the Broncos a bit more consistency in the passing game, which allows guys like Jerry Jeudy, KJ Hamler, Tim Patrick and TE Noah Fant to have productive days against a Jets secondary that's been vulnerable against the pass. On the other side, the Jets' offense can't get out of its own way, and the Broncos defense will be able to capitalize on their ineffectiveness.

Wish I had jumped on this earlier, but I'll still back the Jets at pick'-em against the Broncos, who are led by third-string QB Brett Rypien. New York should get a boost from the (expected) return of Jamison Crowder and tackles Mekhi Becton and George Fant. Look for Gregg Williams' scheme to force turnovers as the Jets finally win.

Barring a tie, which would be so fitting, one of these franchises will become the fourth team this century to start 0-4 in consecutive seasons. Wishing I had taken the Jets Monday when they were getting 3 points as the money is pouring in on Gang Green to where it's a pick'em. The Broncos are devastated by injury and are giving UDFA Brett Rypien his first-ever start at QB. Isn't Sam Darnold better than him? If Darnold can't get well vs. a defense down many key guys, well, he shouldn't be an NFL starter. Meanwhile, the Jets should welcome back top WR Jamison Crowder. They are 4-1 in their past five at home.

The Jets haven’t come close to sniffing a cover, going 0-3 SU and ATS and losing by an average score of 31-12. The Denver defense has played well getting covers the first two weeks. But the injuries (the Broncos' top five players are injured and top two players are out for the year) are just too much for me to side with the Broncos as they travel to the East Coast on a short week. The Bills and 49ers scored lots on the Jets, but the Broncos aren’t equipped to do that. Under.

I thought the Jets, as bad as they are, represented good value last week against a good but not great Colts team. Boy was I wrong. The difference here is that we know the Broncos aren't good right now with their long list of injured players. It's never a good sign when it takes until Tuesday to know who's going to start at QB for a Thursday game, and it makes even less sense to make such a team a road favorite. As bad as Sam Darnold has looked, he's going to be the better QB here, and he'll be up against a defense that would have given up 26-plus points in three straight games if not for a Stephen Gostkowski meltdown in Week 1.

Welcome to a scenario in which home-field advantage is enhanced in an empty stadium. The winless, hapless Jets will be spared the boos that could otherwise rain down on them. There is little else to endorse, so let’s focus on Denver. The visitors, also 0-3, have been ravaged by injuries, the latest Sunday to DT Jurrell Casey (biceps), who becomes the fourth Bronco Pro Bowler on injured reserve. With QB Drew Lock (shoulder) out, coach Vic Fangio must choose from among three candidates to start. Regardless, there is scant time to prepare. A long trip and a short week with a depleted roster might spell doom for a proud franchise.