New York Jets Are Heavy Underdogs Against Cleveland Browns With Sam Darnold Out On Monday Night

The New York Jets’ chances of winning their first game of the 2019 NFL season in Week 2 plummeted Thursday morning. Head coach Adam Gase announced that quarterback Sam Darnold will miss multiple games with mononucleosis, turning the team into heavy home underdogs in their upcoming matchup with the Cleveland Browns.

With Trevor Siemian set to replace Darnold under center, the Jets are now six-point underdogs on “Monday Night Football” at New Jersey’s FanDuel Sportsbook. Cleveland is favored by 6.5 points over New York at the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook.

The betting line had been 2.5 points at most sportsbooks before the Darnold news broke. Only the Miami Dolphins are bigger home underdogs than the Jets in Week 2, according to the latest point spreads at OddsShark.

The New England Patriots are laying 18.5 points in Miami.

New York realistically might not pick up their first victory until they face the lowly Dolphins. The Jets might have the league’s most difficult schedule over their next six games before visiting Miami in Week 9.

After hosting the Browns, the Jets will go on the road to face the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles in consecutive games with a Week 4 bye sandwiched in between the two contests. New York will almost certainly be home underdogs against the Dallas Cowboys and Patriots in Week 6 and Week 7, respectively. The Jets visit the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 8.

The Jets blew a 16-3 fourth-quarter lead at MetLife Stadium against the Buffalo Bills in Week 1, managing to lose a game in which they forced four turnovers and committed none of their own.

The Browns were arguably the NFL’s most disappointing team in Week 1. Cleveland was the biggest favorite to lose straight up, falling at home to the Tennessee Titans 43-13. The Titans were 5.5-point underdogs.

Cleveland has high expectations in 2019. The preseason odds suggested they were a legitimate Super Bowl contender.

Baker Mayfield threw three interceptions in the opener. He’s likely to perform much better Monday. The Browns have a clear and sizeable advantage at the game’s most important position.

Siemian will make his first start since the 2017 season, during which the quarterback threw for 12 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. In 24 starts with the Denver Broncos, Siemian went 13-11 with a 79.9 passer rating.