Monday Night Football Betting Picks September 23rd: Jaguars vs. Bills, Commanders vs. Bengals

We are finishing off Week 3 with a Monday night doubleheader, so it’s an excellent viewing night for those folks with two televisions in the main room. The Buffalo Bills are the highlight team and seeking to improve to 3-0.

There is a winless team in each game. The Jacksonville Jaguars are trying to avoid an 0-3 hole when they visit the Bills. The Cincinnati Bengals are also looking for their first win when they host the Washington Commanders.

Buffalo’s offense hasn’t been as pass-reliant, but nobody seems to miss former star wideout Stefon Diggs. Cincinnati is used to its predicament, having started 0-2 in five of the past six seasons. In 2022, they recovered to reach the AFC Championship Game.

Let’s examine three betting predictions.

WHEN WILL TREVOR LAWRENCE STEP UP?

Big things were expected of Trevor Lawrence when the Jacksonville Jaguars selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in 2021. His second season was solid, but he regressed last season, and his play is a prime reason why the Jaguars are sputtering this season.

Lawrence received a five-year, $275 million extension in the offseason, but he hasn’t played like an elite quarterback. He is completing just 51 percent of his passes, and Jacksonville ranks 27th in scoring at a meager 15 points per game.

The Bills are 2-0 and are clicking despite star quarterback Josh Allen throwing just 42 total passes in the two contests. Allen has thrown three touchdown passes while helping Buffalo rank third in the NFL in scoring offense at 32.5 points per game.

The biggest task for Allen is avoiding Jacksonville star Josh Hines-Allen, who used to go by… Josh Allen. In 2021, Jacksonville upset the Bills 9-6, and Hines-Allen had an interception, recovered a fumble by Allen, and notched a sack.

Bills -5.5 spread, -110 (DraftKings)

BREAKOUT TIME FOR BENGALS

The Bengals were upset by the New England Patriots in Week 1 and lost to the Kansas City Chiefs on a last-second field goal last week. Now Cincinnati attempts to climb out of the hole, and it has a scheduling gift in Week 4 — the Carolina Panthers — so the .500 mark is reachable.

One excellent development is receiver Tee Higgins making his season debut after being sidelined with a hamstring injury. That also means fewer double teams for star wideout Ja’Marr Chase and another top target for quarterback Joe Burrow to have on his radar.

Washington will look to control this contest on the ground as it is impressively churning out 176.5 rushing yards per game with Brian Robinson (173 yards) off to a fine start. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels has added 132 on the ground and is completing a stellar 75.5 percent of his passes but also has been sacked seven times.

Veteran linebacker Bobby Wagner (19 tackles, four for loss) is fitting in well on defense while playing for coach Dan Quinn, his former defensive coordinator with the Seattle Seahawks. Expect the Commanders to be in this game to the end even if Cincinnati escapes with a victory.

Commanders +7, -108 (DraftKings)

Prop bets are plentiful with two games on tap

Allen (228.5, -113) has only passed for 371 yards in two games despite completing 73.8 percent of his passes. Might it be time for a big outing? James Cook (61.5, -113) has rushed for 149 yards and is getting 15 carries per game.

Lawrence (222.5, -113) has thrown for 382 yards but will need to come closer to his career completion percentage (63.4) to be the right buy. Former Buffalo wideout Gabriel Davis (38.5, -113) might be a worthy choice, as he could top his target with just three catches.

Burrow (261.5, -113) has 422 passing yards, and the return of Higgins should bolster his production. Chase (80.5, -113) will have more opportunities to get loose, while Higgins (44.5, -113) should be good once the rust is off.

Daniels (195.5, -113) is a wild card in his first game on the Monday Night Football stage. If Washington can control the ball, Robinson (53.5, -113) could be in line for another solid game.

Trevor Lawrence under 222.5 passing yards, -113 (FanDuel)