If you’ve been paying attention, you know that things haven’t turned out as expected for some of the NFL teams.

One of those teams is the New York Jets, for whom things went sideways a little in the preseason when Aaron Rodgers was a no-show for a while.

Rodgers showed up, the Jets have found themselves in a sea of mediocrity. As a result, head coach Robert Saleh got the heave-ho, while offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, who is there because Rodgers is there, had his play-calling duties stripped.

All of this does not present the most ideal set of circumstances going into Monday night’s game against the Buffalo Bills, who certainly won’t be without focus after losing a couple of games in a row.

Are we seeing the beginning of a destructive soap opera? Or is Saleh’s firing the catalyst to start turning things around?

We try to forecast those answers as we look at that game and others in Week 6.

BUFFALO BILLS at NEW YORK JETS, 8:15 PM ET Monday

NFL Betting Odds from BetOnline:

Buffalo Bills -2.5
New York Jets +2.5

Over 40.5 points -110
Under 40.5 points -110

Aaron Rodgers threw three interceptions and compiled a 54.9 QB rating against Minnesota in London. That’s obviously unlike him. And this offensive line isn’t doing him any favors.

How could the Jets, with running backs like Breece Hall and Braelon Allen, have just 38 rushing yards? Yeah, maybe that play-calling needed to be addressed. Todd Downing will now have those responsibilities, and that was a decision made by Saleh just hours before he got fired.

Hackett is Rodgers’ guy, so there’s no way he’s happy about that state of affairs. And of course, the rumors are that Rodgers had a hand in the coach’s firing. The coldness between the two on the subject of cadence after the Denver game was palpable. Of course, everybody’s denying everything. But it’s hard to believe there is going to be a winning prescription as a result of all this.

Buffalo’s passing game was virtually shut down against Houston. Josh Allen completed just nine of 30 passes. And 49 of his 131 yards came on a TD pass to rookie Keon Coleman. Khalil Shakir’s ankle injury had a real effect on that game, and now he and RB James Cook are “highly questionable” for this one.

The Jets know they have to turn up the volume on the defensive side. It’s tough to recommend them, but the total might be more attractive.

THE PLAY: UNDER 40.5

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS at TENNESSEE TITANS, 1 PM ET Sunday

NFL Lines from BetOnline:

Indianapolis Colts  +2.5 (-103)
Tennessee Titans  -2.5 (-117)

Over 43 points -108
Under 43 points -112

The struggling Titans are coming off a bye week, while the Colts are off a loss at Jacksonville. Indy’s defense is sorely lacking; that unit is last in the NFL and gave up 497 yards to the Jags.

The Colts’ offense moved through the air as necessary with Joe Flacco (33-44, 359 yards), and the offensive line hasn’t done too badly, but this operation is limited with Jonathan Taylor out of the lineup.

Anthony Richardson is set to return at QB for the Colts, and we don’t trust him all that much (six INT’s already). Don’t get us wrong; Will Levis has also thrown some errant passes (also six interceptions). But while Indy WR Michael Pittman is a question mark, DeAndre Hopkins is relatively healthy to come back and help Levis.

Note that Tennessee’s defense is allowing just 4.4 yards per play.

THE PLAY: TITANS -2.5 (-117)

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS at DENVER BRONCOS, 4:05 PM ET Sunday

Football Betting Odds from BetOnline:

Los Angeles Chargers  -3 (-104)
Denver Broncos +3 (-116)

Over 36 points -105
Under 36 points -115

Needless to say, we’re expecting some of the ol’ smashmouth in this one. L.A.’s offensive coordinator, Greg Roman, is already catching hell for his play calls. The same thing happened to him in Baltimore. The best hope for the Chargers might be to run JK Dobbins up the gut. But he was stopped short last time out against Kansas City, with 14 rushes for 32 yards as Jim Harbaugh’s team was held to 224 total yards. Ladd McConkey is a good-looking rookie receiver, but maybe Patrick Surtain (two INT’s including a pick six against Las Vegas) can take him out.

The truth is, Denver has been a revelation on the defensive side of the ball. Currently they’re second best in the NFL at yards allowed per play. There’s a lot of confidence in their camp right now, and while we don’t believe Bo Nix is going to stretch a lot of enemy defenses, he did go 19-27 with two TD’s and no interceptions against the Raiders, indicating progress.

THE PLAY: BRONCOS +3 (-116)

PITTSBURGH STEELERS at LAS VEGAS RAIDERS, 4:05 PM ET Sunday

NFL Odds from BetOnline:

Pittsburgh Steelers -3 (-114)
Las Vegas Raiders +3 (-106)

Over 36.5 points -115
Under 36.5 points -105

It seems like it’s tough to steer clear of quarterback controversy these days. These two teams are right in the middle of it.

Raiders coach Antonio Pierce has made the decision to sit Gardner Minshew on the bench and give the job to Aidan O’Connell, who broke even in ten starts last season. He’s not necessarily an attractive option. And disgruntled wide receiver Davante Adams doesn’t look very much like an option at all.

But is Justin Fields a great option? He’s limited, for certain. And he’s still the starting QB in Pittsburgh, for the time being, although Russell Wilson is now healthy enough to play.

The Steelers have their own receiver who may be looking for a way out, as George Pickens isn’t happy about the way coordinator Arthur Smith is using him in the offense. Mike Tomlin explained his limited playing time on Sunday night by saying he was trying to bring about “more productivity.” That’s hard to figure out.

But the Silver and Black have yet to figure out how to run the football with any consistency, and that puts too much pressure on the second-year signal-caller from Purdue.

Performances like Fields’ 131 yards against Dallas won’t get the Men of Steel too far.  They had an overabundance of opportunities against the Cowboys and still failed. But if it’s a game where they have to grind it out, we prefer the Pittsburgh side.

THE PLAY: STEELERS -3 (-114)

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