The NFL is a bounce-back league. Teams that get blown out and embarrassed one week often play better and even win the next. It’s a challenge for handicappers to try to figure out when that will — and won’t — happen.

Were the 33-0 loss to the Patriots and Sam Darnold’s four interceptions, one lost fumble and ghost sightings mere apparitions on the Jets’ path to becoming a winning team? After all, that did come one week after Darnold threw for 338 yards and two touchdowns in a 24-22 victory over the Cowboys.

The view from here is there was a time-release element to the torture Bill Belichick inflicted on the Jets. He gave the Jaguars and future Jets opponents the playbook on which blitz schemes will allow them to get right in Darnold’s face, and which plays will work on third down to keep the Jets defense on the field.

Jacksonville wouldn’t be laying a near touchdown to many teams. However, the Jaguars can grind with Leonard Fournette and go deep with D.J. Chark. And defensively, they rank fourth in the NFL with 21 sacks. It’s forecast to be 86 degrees and wet, and shapes up to be another mess for a battered Jets team that is traveling on a short week.

The pick: Jaguars, -6¹/₂.

New York Giants (+7) over DETROIT LIONS: Detroit is a bit of a wild card this week. Kerryon Johnson is on IR, and he had more than half of the team’s rushing yards. And defensively, the Lions traded starting safety Quandre Diggs to Seattle and may be without top corner Darius Slay. Of course, Detroit still does have Matthew Stafford dealing to Marvin Jones Jr., Kenny Golladay and Danny Amendola against a Giants defense that has been sieve-like. But the macro math shows both teams are allowing the same 26.7 ppg, and that the Lions’ two victories both have come by three points.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+2¹/₂) over TENNESSEE TITANS: Had the Chargers’ Melvin Gordon gotten in on the final play instead of fumbling, the Titans would be 2-5 with a benched starting quarterback (Marcus Mariota). The Bucs arrive off a bye. Jameis Winston can ruin games but also has a far higher upside than anything the Titans possess.

Los Angeles Chargers (+4) over CHICAGO BEARS: These teams went 12-4 last season and are a combined 5-8 in 2019. This is only a slight lean, but it’s in the Chargers’ direction mainly because I trust Philip Rivers more than Mitchell Trubisky on a 60-degree but gusty day at Soldier Field.

Seattle Seahawks (-3¹/₂) over ATLANTA FALCONS: Speaking of bounce-backs, Seattle, led by MVP front-runner Russell Wilson, is a team that can do it. Meanwhile, Falcons coach Dan Quinn is on shaky ground, Matt Ryan is out on Sunday and the team traded Mohamed Sanu to the Patriots. At 1-6, it really looks as if they’re folding up the tents. Locked in this price late in the week before Ryan was ruled out. This line has more than doubled to 8 1/2 at most books.

BUFFALO BILLS (-1¹/₂) over Philadelphia Eagles: Philadelphia is normally a great underdog play, but the Eagles have been blown out at Minnesota and Dallas and now have to play a third straight road game (and fourth in the past five weeks). Bills have fattened up to 5-1 by beating the worst teams in the league, but New Era Field provides a nice home-field edge.

Los Angeles Rams (-13) over Cincinnati Bengals (in London): The Rams are just 4-3 and are trying to climb back to the upper echelon in the NFC. Bengals coach Zac Taylor came from the Rams and may get some mercy from Sean McVay, but it’s got to be hard to take an 0-7 team across the pond.

Arizona Cardinals (+10¹/₂) over NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: Drew Brees returns from his five-week absence due to a thumb injury and the line has increased by a point or more from what you see above. He won’t have his top backfield threat, Alvin Kamara. Kyler Murray and the Cardinals have won and covered three in a row versus bad teams (Bengals, Falcons, Giants). Figuring Murray can score enough to stay within this big number.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (-5¹/₂) over Denver Broncos: Tricky line because the Colts’ four wins have been by two, three, six and seven points. Broncos also have a little extra time off of their 30-6 home decimation by KC (minus Patrick Mahomes for most of it). Have a lot of trust, though, in Colts coach Frank Reich and a strong offensive line.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (-5¹/₂) over Carolina Panthers: Carolina is 4-0 SU and ATS with Kyle Allen at quarterback, with three of those games being shootouts (38-20, 34-27, 37-26). This will be a much different kind of game, as a dominant 49ers defense has allowed just 10 total points in the past three games.

Oakland Raiders (+7) over HOUSTON TEXANS: Though the Raiders’ 42-24 loss at Green Bay turned into a blowout, there was real upset potential until Derek Carr fumbled for a devastating touchback. Oakland can stay close to a Houston team that has a loss and a one-point win in three home games.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (-13) over Cleveland Browns: The line jump from 10¹/₂ to 13 after the Patriots’ annihilation of the Jets is a lot. But Bill Belichick makes mincemeat out of young quarterbacks, rookie coaches and undisciplined teams, and the Browns have all of that.

Green Bay Packers (-3¹/₂) over KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: Matt Moore did fine using all of KC’s weaponry in last week’s rout at Denver, and Andy Reid has had some extra time to get Moore ready for this. But Aaron Rodgers has been at the height of his powers of late, and his top target, Davante Adams, might return.

Miami Dolphins (+14) over PITTSBURGH STEELERS: Miami’s 31-21 loss in Buffalo was just a three-pointer before the Bills returned an onside kick for a touchdown. Mason Rudolph returns, but it’s hard to lay this many with a backup quarterback.

Best Bets: Seahawks, Rams, 49ers.
Lock of the week: Seahawks (Locks 2-5 in 2019).
Last week: 7-7 overall, 0-3 Best Bets.
Thursday: Vikings (L)