And last but not least on our 2021 NFL season previews of the AFC East, the New York Jets.
Jets fans now have legitimate hope this season. Not only is Adam Gase gone, but they got a new head coach in Robert Saleh and the 2nd overall pick in Zach Wilson. They also put together one of the best draft classes in the league, not only with Wilson, but with offensive guard Alijah Vera-Tucker and wide receiver Elijah Moore. They also added some intriguing names in free agency like Carl Lawson, Sheldon Rankins, and Corey Davis.
The AFC East is going to be an interesting division to watch this season. However, Wilson's adjustment to the NFL is going to take time in figuring out how high the Jets offense goes this season. He has a trio of running backs to work with in Tevin Coleman, Michael Carter, and La'Mical Perine, plus a receiving core of Davis, Denzel Mims, Moore, and Jamison Crowder. They're likely not going to make the playoffs this season, but they're on the right track of the rebuilding process.
Schedule
Week 1: @ Carolina Panthers
Sunday, September 12, 1:00 PM on CBS
Off the bat and we get Sam Darnold against his former team? This is going to be fun. Quarterback-wise, the talent favors Wilson, but Darnold didn't have to wait long for his revenge game, and his new team is more prepared for success than the Jets are. Plus, Christian McCaffrey is back, and the Panthers have a talented wide receiver core and a young, up-and-coming defense. For the Jets, it's not fun to lose to your former starter, but such is the pain of having to go through a rebuild.
Week 1 score: Panthers 28, Jets 20
Week 2: vs. New England Patriots
Sunday, September 19, 1:00 PM on CBS
The Jets almost took out the Patriots at MetLife Stadium last season in Week 9, but the Joe Flacco-led Jets were downed by a Nick Folk field goal in the final seconds. The Pats were not a good team last season, but they are expected to be better this season. Don't even expect them to just lie down and die to a rookie QB in Wilson. Unless the Jets' running game exceeds expectations, they won't have enough firepower to pull off an upset.
Week 2 score: Patriots 24, Jets 13
Week 3: @ Denver Broncos
Sunday, September 26, 4:05 PM on CBS
Playing at the Mile High City actually works to the Jets' favor, which is Wilson stretching the field in play action. Another difference between the Jets and the Broncos is that one team has their quarterback situation figured out, and that is the Jets. They are liable to surrender points, but don't be surprised if Saleh puts up a defensive gameplan that throws either one of Drew Lock or Teddy Bridgewater off balance, and the Jets pull off an upset victory.
Week 3 score: Jets 27, Broncos 23
Week 4: vs. Tennessee Titans
Sunday, October 3, 1:00 PM on CBS
While Saleh's defense stopped the Broncos in the clutch last game, the Titans are a much bigger challenge. Despite the Titans losing offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who was the man behind the career revival of Ryan Tannehill, Derrick Henry is still around, and he is hard to stop. Tannehill can torch you downfield if you let your guard down against Julio Jones and AJ Brown. The Titans should win this easily.
Week 4 score: Titans 38, Jets 24
Week 5: @ Atlanta Falcons (International)
Sunday, October 10, 9:30 AM on NFLN
Zach Wilson gets his chance to expand his brand across the Atlantic Ocean, but 9:30 AM Eastern Time football isn't that much fun. The Falcons are a fun opponent, as they can put up points with the best men they have even if they aren't known for holding on to leads. The Falcons had a game in England against the Lions in 2014. Unfortunately, they saw a 21-0 lead turn into a 22-21 loss. Fast forward to 2021. The Falcons haven't done a lot to improve their defense, and it doesn't help that they are in a bad salary cap situation and that they lost Keanu Neal this offseason. This game will go per the Falcons narrative: They grab an early lead, but Wilson leads the Jets to a comeback victory.
Week 5 score: Jets 37, Falcons 34
Week 6: BYE WEEK
Week 7: @ New England Patriots
Sunday, October 24, 1:00 PM on CBS
Good news: The Jets are coming off their bye week. Bad news: They are playing the Patriots in Foxborough. They have not won at Gillette Stadium in a decade. Don't expect this to change this season. Bill Belichick feasts on rookie quarterbacks, and don't think that Wilson is an exception here. This isn't the NCAA, this is the NFL. Even when the Pats were subpar last season, they were still 5-3 at home.
Week 7 score: Patriots 20, Jets 18
Week 8: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Sunday, October 31, 1:00 PM on CBS
Joe Burrow has Tyler Boyd, Tee Higgins, and Ja'Marr Chase at his receiving core, plus Joe Mixon on the ground game. He went 2-7-1 in his rookie year, but expect this Bengals team to be better this season. They added Trey Hendrickson, Chidobe Awuzie, and Mike Hilton defensively. Although the Jets don't have the guys on the back end to match it up, competitive football is the name of the game for Robert Saleh, so putting up points shouldn't be hard for Zach Wilson here. The two defenses here aren't anything special, so expect a shootout here. It's also worth noting that the Jets lost their last three games against the Bengals, and it extends to four here.
Week 8 score: Bengals 38, Jets 34
Week 9: @ Indianapolis Colts (TNF)
Thursday, November 4, 8:20 PM on FOX
The Colts' success lands at the hands of Carson Wentz. Either they are a playoff team or they are a 7- or 8-win team depending on if he can turn his career around now that he is reunited with Frank Reich. Outside of the quarterbacking position, the Colts are a team ready to compete, with a solid offensive line, a top 10 defense, and several young guns ready to make noise. But dealing with championship expectations might not help. This game may scream a trap game as Zach Wilson will make things interesting, but the Colts still pull away here.
Week 9 score: Colts 30, Jets 27
Week 10: vs. Buffalo Bills
Sunday, November 14, 1:00 PM on CBS
It doesn't matter where this game is played, Josh Allen and his receiving core of Stefon Diggs, Emmanuel Sanders, Cole Beasley, and Gabriel Davis will be too much for a Jets secondary whose only good defensive back is Marcus Maye, while everyone else is unproven. However, with Robert Saleh as the Jets' head coach, the Jets are not going down without a fight. Unfortunately for them, the Bills are the far superior team.
Week 10 score: Bills 24, Jets 20
Week 11: vs. Miami Dolphins
Sunday, November 21, 1:00 PM on CBS
The Jets are on a 4-game losing streak and are heading home facing a playoff team. However, playing at home can go towards their favor here. The Dolphins still have some question marks on offense and Robert Saleh can implement some exotic schemes, combined with Zach Wilson's playmaking ability, should keep this game close. Although the Dolphins outscored the Jets 44-3 in their last two meetings, this is a new Jets team with a new quarterback who is only getting better throughout the season. This game would be a trap game for Tua Tagovailoa and co., and the Jets get a well-earned feel-good win here.
Week 11 score: Jets 24, Dolphins 21
Week 12: @ Houston Texans
Sunday, November 28, 1:00 PM on CBS
The Jets' 3rd win of the season could not have come at a better time, because the week after, they face quite possibly one of the worst teams in NFL history. As bad as the Jets' roster looked heading into the offseason, they made a lot of improvements, while the Texans are crashing and burning. Gang Green can easily handle the Texans, regardless of if Deshaun Watson suits up.
Week 12 score: Jets 35, Texans 16
Week 13: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Sunday, December 5, 1:00 PM on CBS
The Eagles are a wild card team this season, but not in terms of playoffs. First, they have a new head coach in Nick Sirianni and they have a dynamic wide receiver in DeVonta Smith. The O-line is getting their key players back in Brandon Brooks, Lane Johnson, and Andre Dillard, and the young defense can pose a threat. However, the question is if Jalen Hurts can be their franchise quarterback. But the fact that the Jets are facing a good defense can spell trouble for Zach Wilson.
Week 13 score: Eagles 23, Jets 17
Week 14: vs. New Orleans Saints
Sunday, December 12, 1:00 PM on FOX
The Saints' toughest challenge is replacing Drew Brees, but it's possible that Jameis Winston can take over and play well. You can talk about how he led the league in picks in 2019 all you want; he also led the league in passing yards and was 2nd in passing touchdowns that year as well. He's not afraid to throw the ball downfield, and it's likely that a year with Sean Payton and Pete Carmichael Jr. has helped him with his decision-making. Even when their cornerback depth is thin, the Saints should do just enough to get the win, with Alvin Kamara being the biggest X-factor outside of Jameis, because Kamara is a problem for anyone who puts him on coverage.
Week 14 score: Saints 31, Jets 24
Week 15: @ Miami Dolphins
Either Saturday, December 18 or Sunday, December 19, time and network TBD
The Jets stole the first game against the Dolphins in Week 11, which could have prompted question on if Tua is a legit starting quarterback by this point. The Jets might have the better quarterback between these two teams, but the Dolphins' defense is going to be too much for Zach Wilson to handle, especially in Miami. The Fins get revenge here.
Week 15 score: Dolphins 34, Jets 20
Week 16: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Sunday, December 26, 1:00 PM on CBS
Trevor Lawrence vs. Zach Wilson is a game everyone should have some interest sparked in. It's the battle of the top two picks of the 2021 Draft class, and this one for a chance that Wilson can prove he is possibly the best quarterback in the class, but the Jaguars might have more talent on the roster than the Jets, most notably on the front seven and in the secondary.
Week 16 score: Jaguars 30, Jets 26
Week 17: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sunday, January 2, 1:00 PM on FOX
This might possibly be a spot where the Buccaneers could rest some of their starters, but if they unexpectedly drop some games during the season like they did last year, no can do. In the last two games of last season, the Bucs scored 47 and 44 points. Plus, the Bucs retained every starter form last year's Super Bowl-winning team. Maybe the Jets can score some points in garbage time to make it look close than it seems.
Week 17 score: Buccaneers 41, Jets 24
Week 18: @ Buffalo Bills
Sunday, January 9, 1:00 PM on CBS
Assuming that the Bills are fighting for the 2 seed with the Ravens, they keep all their starters for this game. Last season, the Bills were one win away from the Super Bowl, and the Jets were a loss away from winning the Trevor Lawrence sweepstakes. That's something that is likely going to keep this from being a one-score game to end this off.
Week 18 score: Bills 31, Jets 21
Final Record Prediction: 4-13
Projected Starters
Offense
QB: Zach Wilson
RB: Tevin Coleman/Michael Carter
WR: Corey Davis, Denzel Mims, Jamison Crowder
TE: Chris Herndon
OL: Mekhi Becton (LT), Alijah Vera-Tucker (LG), Connor McGovern (C), Greg Van Roten (RG), Morgan Moses (RT)
Defense
DE: Carl Lawson (LE), Vinny Curry (RE)
DT: Sheldon Rankins (LDT), Quinnen Williams (RDT)
LB: Blake Cashman (WLB), CJ Mosley (MLB), Jarrad Davis (SLB)
CB: Bless Austin (LCB), Bryce Hall (RCB)
S: Ashtyn Davis (SS), Marcus Maye (FS)
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