Saying the New York Jets had a rough season last year is a tremendous understatement. It was as poor a team as I’ve ever seen. It seemed at times they were an NCAA team trying to play in the NFL. With this disappointment came change in the form of Mike Maccagnan as General Manager and Todd Bowles as Head Coach, as well as a tremendous amount of money spent in Free Agency and of course the 2015 NFL Draft. Before we take a look at this year’s schedules let’s take a look at the new additions to the team:
Draft Picks:
Leonard Williams, DE, USC
Devin Smith, WR, Ohio St.
Lorenzo Mauldin, OLB, Louisville
Bryce Petty, QB, Baylor
Jarvis Harrison, OG, Texas A&M
Deon Simon, NT, Northwestern St. (LA)
Trade Acquisitions:
Zac Stacy, RB, St. Louis
DeVier Posey, WR, Houston
Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, Houston
Brandon Marshall, WR, Chicago
Major Free Agent Signings:
Darrelle Revis, CB, New England
Antonio Cromartie, CB, Arizona
Buster Skrine, CB, Clevland
James Carpenter, OG, Seattle
Marcus Gilchrist, S, San Diego
Steven Ridley, RB, New England
This team will look drastically different then what Rex Ryan has had to deal with over the past few seasons, Todd Bowles should be very grateful for Maccagnan for at least on paper putting together a competitive squad. So how will this team perform in 2015? Lets take a look
Week 1: Cleveland Browns
The Browns are an interesting team, they added a lot of interior toughness in the draft through Danny Shelton and Cameron Erving. And I like the running back Duke Johnson selected in the 3rd, however in what was a talented wide receiver draft they failed to acquire one until round 4. This is a team whose best listed WR is Dwayne Bowe who didn’t catch a TD last year, and this team also no longer has Jordan Cameron at Tight End. The Browns also have just as many if not more question marks at QB than the Jets. I think the game will be surprisingly close because of how tough both teams are in the trenches, however, I think Devin Smith breaks out week one, takes the top off the defense and opens up things for the offense. Jets win this one 17-10
Week 2: at Indianapolis Colts
The Colts this year are supposed to take the step up from AFC Championship to the Super Bowl… at least as far as Jim Irsay is concerned; I’m a bit more skeptical. Last year they had a bad case of beating bad teams and losing to the good ones. They made an attempt to get tougher by signing guys like Trent Cole, Kendall Langford, Frank Gore and Andre Johnson in the offseason. And I’m a fan of first round pick Phillip Dorsett, however last season they had a lot of trouble against teams that ran the ball well. I think the Jets game plan will include a heavy dose of Chris Ivory to try and control the T.O.P. Again I predict a close game here, Colts didn’t address their offensive line and the Jets have one of the best defensive fronts in football. But at the end of the day, Andrew Luck has too many toys to not win this game. Colts win 28-24
Week 3: Philadelphia Eagles
Coming into this game at 1-1, it’s time for the Jets to put up or shut up. Chip Kelly gets the chance to prove if all his moves were genius or crazy. I predict a big game for Geno Smith here, the D-Line of the Eagles isn’t great by any means, and I think with time, the receivers of the Jets can beat the new corners of the Eagles. The defense of Bowles defeated the offense of Kelly last year, and you could argue this Jets defense has more pieces in place then the horribly injured Cardinals did, I like the Jets here 20-10
Week 4: at Miami Dolphins
Miami went out this offseason on a mission to take over the AFC East, you could easily argue they won free agency… but free agency doesn’t win football games. They shipped out the problem maker that was Mike Wallace, brought in via trade WR Kenny Stills, drafted WR Devante Paker, Upgraded the D-line with Suh and Jordan Philips and got Jordan Cameron. This one will be blood bath folks. In a very tight low scoring game, I give the Dolphins the edge in game one 10-6
Week 5: Bye Week Jets are at 2-2
Week 6: Washington Redskins
The Redskins had an okay draft at best. In theory they hit all of their needs, but I felt Scherff was a reach at 5 especially with Williams on the board. And they still have one of the oldest worst secondary’s in the NFL. Which in this contest will be their downfall. Geno will be able to connect with Decker and Marshall all day, as well as get the big bodied, Jace Amaro involved early. At this point in the Redskins QB carousel I imagine this is RG3’s last game as a starter for the season. Desean Jackson and company will not be able to find any space to breath with tight man coverage from a secondary filled with lockdown corners. Jets win big in a huge matchup advantage 30-6
Week 7 at New England Patriots
Tom Brady is only suspended for four games, so sorry Jets fans but he’ll be playing in Week 7, with Brady it’s an interesting contest. The Patriots had a very good draft, but certainly lost a lot at the secondary positions losing Revis and Browner to free agency as well as releasing Kyle Arrington. All of which were big parts of the Super Bowl run. I think even with Brady playing in this one, the Jets always play the Pats very tough, and get a very important divisional win here in a tight one 20-17. Geno is able to lead the team for a last second score to win the game.
Week 8: at Oakland Raiders
The Raiders had a very good draft, adding in Amari Cooper to be that number one weapon for Derek Carr, and I love their second rounder Mario Edwards Jr. as well. They also picked up a hand full of players such as Malcolm Smith and Michael Crabtree, however I still feel that they aren’t quite all there yet. The Jets made the right moves in the offseason that filled all their holes and rather well. While I think the Raiders put up a fight, I see the final score being 21-6 Jets on top making the halfway record 6-2
Week 9: Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville took a big hit when Dante Fowler Jr. tore his ACL. So much of their success this year was riding on his ability to disrupt the passer. Geno Smith gets plenty of time in this one to find his new core of WR’s. Leonard Williams has an extra special game in week 9 getting 3 sacks on Bortles to pave the way for a 36-13 win for the Jets
Week 10: Buffalo Bills
Rex Ryan comes back to Metlife on a mission, and succeeds. The defensive front of the Bills coached by Rex creates havoc for Geno Smith all day, he may even get pulled for Fitzpatrick or Petty because of how brutal the attack of Ryan is. The Jets defense creates just as many problems for EJ Manuel but the young quarterback doesn’t have to do much. With Leasean McCoy in the backfield the Bills run the ball to a close victory, Bills win 10-7 snapping the Jets win streak
Week 11: at Houston Texans
The Jets have always been rather successful at beating the Texans, but looking at this Texans team coached by Bill O’Brien, and their successful draft in which they took CB Kevin Johnson and got a steal in WR Jaelen Strong in the third round, it will be a competitive matchup. I see it unfolding like this, Brian Hoyer will be starting QB for the Texans, and they take an early lead with a heavy hand of Arian Foster, however, the Jets adjust to stuff the run and make it so Hoyer has to beat the team with his arm. Geno Smith gets the start again and the Jets answer back with a long TD from Devin Smith and then take the lead with a TD from Eric Decker. The game ends for the Texans when Cromartie runs back a pick 6. Jets win 28-14
Week 12: Miami Dolphins
It’s the same matchup as back in week 4, and it’s the same blood bath. However this time in New York, Geno Smith finds Jace Amaro in the back of the end zone to take the lead in the 4th quarter. Tannehill and the Phins mount a drive to try and take back the lead. They make it to the red zone, but off of a blitz, Calvin Pryor gets the strip sack on Tannehill, Richardson recovers it and Geno kneels to finish the game with a final score of 14-10 Jets win
Week 13: at New York Giants
The Giants years as big brother in New York seems to be coming to an end, at least on paper… In the first regular season matchup between these two since 2011, we have a great matchup. The Giants start off by getting Odell Beckham Jr. involved early, and taking an early lead. Watch the matchups on the line in this one as players like Flowers and Pugh for the Giants will matchup against the Jets Sons of Anarchy. The Jets haven’t beat the Giants in the regular season since 1996… the Giants streak ends in this game as the S.O.A dominate the trenches and allow the Jets offense to take advantage of a porous secondary. Jets Win 17-7
Week 14: Tennessee Titans
At this point in the season coach Whisenhut realizes he should have taken Williams over Mariota. The S.O.A abuses the rookie QB of the Titans with a weak offensive line and no real weapons outside of Dorial Green-Beckham. The Jets offense dominates, in all facets, running and throwing. In their easiest matchup of the year the Jets win 35-0
Week 15: Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are legit contenders this year, at this point in the year they will have Greg Hardy back, and if Randy Gregory can pan out they have a deadly front. They had one of the best offensive lines in football last year and added 1st round talent La’el Collins as an undrafted free agent. In addition they scored Byron Jones in the 1st round. As much as I’d love to see the Jets beat America’s team, The boys stout lines as well as Romo to Bryant is too much to handle, Dallas wins 24-14
Week 16: New England Patriots
How great would a sweep be against New England? It hasn’t happened since 2000, pre Tome Brady… unfortunately it won’t happen again this year. Sometimes having an all star QB is enough to carry a team to a win, even though I like the Jets better on paper. Patriots win a convincing fashion 28-10
Week 17: at Buffalo Bills
I knew from the second Rex Ryan became the Bills head coach; he would be a matchup nightmare for the Jets. With the offensive weapons of Watkins, Clay, and McCoy, the Bills again are too much for the Jets to beat. It’s another tough bloody matchup, but the Jets are unable to get the job done against their former coach. Bills win this one 13-3
In the end, the Jets go 10-6, a huge improvement, make the playoffs as a wild card team… from there anything can happen.
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Craig Gorbunoff
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