Current odds

The Jets opened as a 3-point home favorite earlier this summer, but the money has come in on the Ravens and New York is currently 2-point chalk. The Over/Under opened at 37½ this summer and the bettors have come in on the Under and dropped the totaled down to 36.

These are two of the favorites to win the AFC conference this season with the Ravens standing at 5/1 and the Jets standing at 6/1 to advance to the Super Bowl with 10/1 odds for Baltimore and 13/1 odds for New York that they win Super Bowl XLV in Arlington, Texas.

Weather Report

The weather forecast is calling for rain on Monday morning, however the conditions should be clear by Monday afternoon and there is only a 30% chance of showers by kickoff on Monday night at the New Meadowlands Stadium. Temperatures will be around 70 degrees with winds at only 6 mph.

No Holmes, but Revis is Back:

The Jets will be without their top off-season acquisition as wide receiver Santonio Holmes will miss the first four games of the season. Holmes is suspended for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.

And after a 36-day holdout, the Jets finally came to terms with cornerback Darrelle Revis on a 4-year $46 million dollar deal. Revis is widely regarded as the best shutdown corner in the NFL, so getting him back was a big deal for the Jets. Revis’ agent showed up at head coach Rex Ryan’s home with Reevis’ jersey before the deal was done. Ryan had this to say to the agent: "Neil, I don't want the fu**ing jersey. I want him."

Home Cooked Rice

Although this game is being played in New York’s brand new multi-billion dollar stadium, it’s a homecoming for Baltimore’s Ray Rice. The game means a lot to Rice because his hometown of New Rochelle is close by. Rice has requested 35 to 40 tickets for friends and family for the game. "It's a new stadium, my family is up there, and I'm trying to get my high school coaches to come," he said. "I'm trying to make it a special event."

Rice also played his college ball in New Jersey at Rutgers University so to finally return home as a featured running back in the NFL is a dream come true for the Pro Bowl runner. Rice is fresh coming into this game as he touched the football just 13 times during the preseason, rushing eight times for 30 yards and catching five passes for 56 yards. "I feel great," Rice said. "It's the best I've ever felt.”

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San Diego Chargers (-4½, 44½) at Kansas City – 10:15 pm ET (ESPN)

Current odds

The Chargers opened as a 5½-point road favorite earlier this summer and the line briefly touched -6 before moving back down to the current line of -4½. The Over/Under line has seen very little action this summer with the line fluctuating from 45 down to 44½ total points.

The Chargers are a heavy -300 favorite to win the AFC West division this season, while the Chiefs are a +700 long shot. Oddsmakers are giving the Chargers (-500) an 85% chance of making the playoffs for a fifth straight season, while the Chiefs have only a 20% change (+350) of making a postseason appearance for the first time since the 2006 season.

Weather Report

The weather conditions should be clear as there is only a 30% chance of isolated thunderstorms on Monday night at Arrowhead Stadium with a temperature of 75 degrees and winds at only 9 mph.

Mathews Express

San Diego let LaDainian Tomlinson go (he’s with the Jets now) and they used their first-round draft pick on running back Ryan Mathews from Fresno State. Mathews gained 146 yards on 34 carries in the preseason. He averaged an impressive 4.3-yard per rush, and according to Chargers head coach Norv Turner, Mathews will be featured in Monday night’s game.

“I want Ryan to have an opportunity to have an impact on this game,” Turner said. “So he’s going to get the ball. I think in one of those (preseason) halves he had 11 carries. I would think he’s going to get double-digit touches in each half (against the Chiefs). I’d like to see that happen.”

Cassel is the Chief Question Mark

Chiefs’ quarterback Matt Cassel parlayed his solid season in New England to a big paycheck in Kansas City last year. Cassel was given a free pass last season as he and the Chiefs were just beginning a big rebuilding project. But after a dismal preseason for Cassel, he has a lot of doubters out there, including former NFL quarterback and current CBS analyst Rich Gannon.

“There’s a sense of urgency. I think he realizes this is an important year,” Gannon says. “I’m just trying to be realistic. I think he’s a fine player. Do I think he’s a Pro Bowl-caliber player right now? Well, no. He’s got to get better. As you look at him in the preseason, it’s still a work in progress.” Keep this little quote in mind as it may be a nice motivator for Cassel if Gannon is the commentator for one of his games later this season.