The best betting sites favor the Commanders over the Jaguars by a field goal in their 2022 NFL season opener.
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Washington Commanders Odds by BetOnline
| Team | SP/RL | TOTAL | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaguars | +3 ( -110 ) | 44 ( -110 ) | +140 |  |
| Commanders | -3 ( -110 ) | 44 ( -110 ) | -165 | |
|
||||
Betting Jacksonville Jaguars
As per usual, the Jags are road dogs at the best online sportsbooks. The 2022 season is the Jacksonville Jaguars’ 28th season in the NFL and first under head coach Doug Pederson. During the previous season, head coach Urban Meyer was fired after only 13 games in his first season as coach for the Jags. OC Darrell Bevell was appointed interim head coach for the rest of the season.
Jacksonville had the first overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft. They used it to pick Trevor Lawrence. The Jags came into the season carrying a 15-game losing streak from the season prior. The losing streak went on as the Jags started 0–5, before they defeated the Miami Dolphins 23–20 in London.
The 2020–21 Jaguars’ 20-game losing streak is the third longest such streak in league history, after the 1976–77 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (26) and the 1942–45 Chicago Cardinals (29). The Jags finished 3–14, improving on their 1–15 record from the previous year.
However, they did not make the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season following a Week 14 loss to the Tennessee Titans. The Jags clinched the first overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, thus becoming the first team since the Cleveland Browns in 2017 and 2018 to have the top pick in straight years. On December 16, after less than a year and with repeated scandals surrounding the team, Meyer was fired as head coach. He was replaced with Darrell Bevell for the rest of the season.
Betting Washington Commanders
The Commanders are slight home faves according to the best betting sites. The 2022 season will be the Washington Commanders’ 91st in the NFL and third under head coach Ron Rivera. This is the team’s first season under the Commanders names.
New logos and uniforms have been introduced after temporarily playing as the Washington Football Team for the past two seasons after the retirement of the Redskins name in 2020. The team traded for Indianapolis Colts QB Carson Wentz.
Washington failed to improve on their 7–9 record from the previous season last year. They failed to repeat as division champs. They missed the playoffs for the fifth time in their last six seasons following a Week 17 home loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Washington was the first team since the 1995 Tampa Bay Buccaneers to have their last five games of the season within the division. The season was the last under the transitional “Football Team” name. They rebranded as the Commanders in 2022.
The Commanders finished the preseason without a win following a 17-15 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday night. The biggest story from the contest had little to do with the outcome. And a lot to do with the Commanders’ fifth-round rookie QB Sam Howell.
Washington Players
With starting QB Carson Wentz and backup Taylor Heinicke sidelined to avoid injuries, Howell got the start. He turned in a remarkable outing. The 21-year-old North Carolina alum went 24 of 35 for 280 yards and a TD.
Howell was Washington’s leading rusher. He recorded 62 yards on eight runs. That is an average of 7.8 yards per carry. The Commanders’ second-lead rusher was Jaret Patterson. He had 11 carries for 47 yards.
After the game, Patterson spoke well of Howell and the career ahead of him. “That kid, he’s a baller,” Patterson said. “I’ve been watching Sam since college when he was at UNC. His future’s bright. He just keeps doing what he’s doing. I think he’s going to be a problem in this league.”
Howell’s immediate prospects aren’t necessarily as flattering. He is likely going to be on Washington’s 53-man roster after Tuesday’s cuts. It is possible that Howell will be a healthy scratch for every game this season, barring any unforeseen event.
There’s also the chance that Howell translates his strong preseason closing into outstanding performances in practice, potentially beating Heinicke out for the backup spot. Still, Washington didn’t pick Howell expecting that he would contribute during his rookie year.
The main goal of his preseason was to demonstrate that he has the tools required to be a quarterback in the league, and Howell’s versatile display against the Baltimore Ravens more than accomplished that objective.
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Washington Commanders NFL Pick
Washington Commanders.
