ROLE PLAYING ON THURSDAYS...

NFL 2019 TNF WEEK FIFTEEN

GAIRZO’S TNF RECORD = 6 – 8

NEW YORK JETS @ BALTIMORE RAVENS - 16.5 45 [O]

Handicapping NFL games this late into the season creates as unique a set of problems as ‘cappin Weeks 1-4.

Let’s do some role-playing, shall we?

You are John Harbaugh—which of course, means you have the most punchable face in America; keep your guard up.

Now, you also know you have perhaps, the most balanced team in the league and you are in good position to earn home field advantage throughout the playoffs. You are scheduled to play a disappointing Jets club that has won four out of their last five—against teams more woeful than the Jets.

How do you approach a Thursday Night game when your QB is nursing a quad and too many other players are generally hurting from 14 bruising NFL games?

Knowing Harbaugh, he plays it smart. This is the NFL; there are no gimmees. Look for his game plan to protect Lamar Jackson, run the ball down the Jet’s throat, and maybe go into halftime 13-3, winning a 23-10 yawner.

Now, you are Adam Gase, the surly first year head coach of the Jets who needs a big game from an underachieving team missing a star running back who goes bowling when he’s on the injury report. (Gee, I wonder who that could be.)

You appeal to your team’s professionalism and convey they have a golden opportunity to make a statement for next year—and right now for themselves.

Gase has to hope his defense steps up, maybe a special teams play….but he knows that's Harbaugh's specialty.

Harbaugh’s game plans have been working all year—I see no reason to doubt he can make this one work too.

Were taking the Magpies to win a snoozer; the Jets barely beat the spread, Under the Number.

Ravens 27 Jets 16