Jets vs. Saints prediction: Week 16 NFL bets, odds

With Week 16 set to kick off, the New Orleans Saints host the New York Jets in a game that will do little to alter the playoff picture for either team. New Orleans sits at 4-10, while New York is 3-11, and oddsmakers have installed the Saints as 6.5-point favorites at home with a total of 40.5. The matchup has taken on a different tone for both clubs as the season winds down, but it also offers a glimpse at long-term questions for each franchise.

The Saints have leaned on rookie quarterback Tyler Shough since Week 9, and the early returns have been mixed in a season defined by inconsistent offense. Shough has started four games, winning three of them, and has strung together back-to-back victories as he continues to gain comfort at the NFL level. Offensively, New Orleans has averaged 16.1 points per game this season, a figure that ranks among the lowest in the league and underscores the challenges the Saints face on that side of the ball. Shough’s development comes at a time when the team needs a spark, and this matchup against a Jets defense that has shown vulnerability could offer another test of his growing command of the offense.

The Jets enter this game with their own offensive concerns, but it is their defense that has drawn attention for the wrong reasons in recent weeks. New York has been able to pressure with blitzes—one of the highest rates in the league—yet that aggression has not translated into sacks or takeaways, and the unit has not intercepted a pass in 14 games, the longest streak in NFL history. Over the last two games, the Jets have allowed 82 combined points, including 48 to the Jacksonville Jaguars last week. Those numbers illustrate a defense that has struggled to capitalize on opportunities and has been unable to convert pressure into game-changing plays.

Shough’s matchup against a Jets defense that can bring heat but has surrendered big plays could be favorable for the Saints’ developing quarterback. Conversely, New York’s offense remains a concern, and the Jets will likely lean on ball-control and field-position repair efforts as they try to avoid being overwhelmed. The dynamic of the game is further framed by the odds and the betting market, which sees the Saints as the team with the momentum to his this week’s result.

From a betting perspective, the Saints’ approach has drawn attention. The New York Post Betting staff highlighted a specific prop for this game: the Saints Over 23.5 points, listed at -106 on FanDuel. The pick reflects confidence that Shough can guide New Orleans to a productive offensive showing against a Jets defense that has been unable to consistently force turnovers or finish drives. The selection is part of broader betting guidance aimed at identifying edges in Week 16 matchups, rather than a definitive forecast of the game’s final margin.

The Week 16 meeting is not likely to alter the broader trajectory for either team this season, but it can shape how each side evaluates players and approach in the final weeks of the year. For the Saints, accumulating points and observing Shough’s progress could influence future decisions at quarterback. For the Jets, the game offers another data point in assessing personnel and schemes as the franchise looks ahead to the offseason. The final outcome could hinge on which unit can execute its game plan more cleanly and capitalize on scoring opportunities in a game where both teams have battled through lengthy slumps.

As the season nears its end, all eyes will be on Shough’s continued development, the Saints’ ability to generate offense, and whether the Jets can finally tighten gaps that have plagued them this year. The Week 16 matchup promises a concise test of how much progress each team has made as they close one of the more challenging seasons in recent memory for both franchises.