The New York Jets will try to win for the first time in six games when they visit the injury-plagued New England Patriots in an AFC East matchup on Thursday Night Football. The Jets have lost their last five games both straight up and against the spread, but they have gone 3-1 ATS in the past four meetings with the Patriots.

Point spread: Patriots opened as 7.5-point favorites; the total was 45.5 early in the week, according to sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark (line updates and matchup report).

NFL pick, via Odds Shark computer: 32.3-19.5 Patriots

Why the Jets can cover the spread

New York has managed to give New England fits over the years despite losing five of the last six meetings. The Jets snapped a five-game series losing streak with a 30-27 victory in the second meeting last season after losing the first one 13-10, and they covered the spread both times.

In fact, three of the past four games between the teams have been decided by exactly three points. New York should also be able to take advantage of a couple major injuries suffered by the Pats last week, as they lost linebacker Jerod Mayo (knee) and running back Stevan Ridley (knee) for the season, per Shalise Manza Young of The Boston Globe.

Why the Patriots can cover the spread

New England has really been rolling since doubters proclaimed this team to be dead following a 41-14 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football in Week 4. The Patriots have beaten their last two opponents by a combined score of 80-39 and covered the spread easily in both games, with the total going over each time.

While they are dealing with injuries to key players, including quarterback Tom Brady (ankle), bettors can make the argument that no team in the NFL is better at rising to the occasion and motivating itself. New England is coming off a 37-22 rout of the Buffalo Bills as a one-point road underdog last week and has covered three of its last four home games against AFC East opponents.

Smart pick

With a spread that could close at 10 points or higher, it’s hard to build a strong case to take the favorite here considering the injuries that the Patriots are dealing with. The Jets have stayed close with New England lately and remain an offensively challenged team, although results of the last few meetings in the series prove otherwise. New York is averaging better than 21 points in the past four meetings, while New England has scored nearly 30 per game during that stretch.

The over has cashed in eight of the last nine meetings along with 10 of the past 13 home games for the Patriots against divisional foes. Look for another high-scoring matchup on Thursday night.

Betting trends

• The Jets are 1-5 SU in their last six games when playing New England.
• New England is 5-1 SU in its last six games when playing at home against the Jets.

All spread and odds data powered by Odds Shark. Follow us on Twitter for injury updates and line move updates.