Buccaneers 24, Jets 16 and Vikings 13, Giants 10: Preseason Week 1 Recap
Football is back in New Jersey, and both MetLife tenants have now opened the 2026 preseason. The Jets fell to Tampa Bay 24 to 16 on Friday night, and a day later the Giants lost a tight one to Minnesota 13 to 10 on Saturday afternoon. Preseason is its own kind of betting. Starters play a series or two, the result rides on backups and rookies, and the sharp approach treats it very differently from the regular season. Below are recaps of both MetLife openers, the angles worth watching, and how to approach preseason lines without getting ahead of yourself.
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Recap: Buccaneers 24, Jets 16 (Friday, Aug 14, MetLife Stadium)
Final score: Tampa Bay 24, Jets 16. The Jets opened the 2026 preseason at home on Friday night and came up short against the Buccaneers at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. The 40 combined points landed on the higher side for a preseason opener, though, as usual, front-line starters played sparingly and the outcome was settled by the second and third units on both sidelines.
That is the backdrop to keep in mind for any takeaways: this was a backups-and-rookies game, the kind of Week 1 preseason result that says more about roster depth than about where either team stands heading into the season. The Jets fell short on the scoreboard, but the reps that matter in mid-August are the ones handed to players fighting for the back end of the 53.
Betting angle. The over on a modest preseason total would have cashed here, a reminder that preseason openers do not always play as low-scoring as the script suggests. That is exactly why totals in these games are a lean rather than a lock, and why live betting, once you can see who is actually on the field, is more informative than any number posted days ahead. Lines are thin and move fast, so always confirm the current number in the app before you commit anything.
Recap: Vikings 13, Giants 10 (Saturday, Aug 15, MetLife Stadium)
Final score: Minnesota 13, Giants 10. A day after the Jets opener, the Giants took the same field and dropped a tight one to the Vikings on Saturday afternoon. The 23 combined points landed on the lower side for a preseason game, and as usual the front-line starters played sparingly, with the outcome settled by backups and rookies.
This was an evaluation game for both coaching staffs, not a statement game, and it stayed close throughout. For Giants bettors, the story was in the depth competitions: the backup quarterback reps, the interior line rotation, and the rookies and camp bodies fighting for the last spots on the 53. Minnesota did the same on the other sideline and did just enough to win by three.
Betting angle. The under on a modest preseason total would have cashed here, with only 23 points on the board in a game both staffs used mainly to look at depth. That is the repeatable preseason lean, though never a lock, and it is why live markets, once you can see who is actually on the field, tell you more than any number posted days ahead. Lines are thin and move fast, so always confirm the current number in the app before you commit anything.
How to Bet Preseason Football Without Overthinking It
- Snap plans beat spreads. Who plays and for how long matters more than the number. Depth wins preseason games while star power usually watches in a cap.
- Totals over sides. Vanilla play-calling and backup-heavy football make unders and first-half unders the most repeatable preseason angle, though never a lock.
- Live betting is your friend. Once you can see the field, you know more than any pre-posted line did. Preseason is one of the best spots to wait and react.
- Bet small. Preseason outcomes are high in variance and close to random, so size stakes accordingly and treat it as entertainment rather than an edge.
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Bottom Line
Both New Jersey teams have now played their Preseason Week 1 openers at MetLife. The Jets fell to Tampa Bay 24 to 16 on Friday night, and the Giants lost a close one to Minnesota 13 to 10 on Saturday afternoon. Both games were best approached the same way. Watch the snap plan, lean toward totals and live markets over pre-posted sides, and keep stakes small. Preseason is fun and it is football again, but it is close to a coin flip on the scoreboard. Confirm every number in the FanDuel app before you place, and bet within a budget you have set in advance.