The 2021 NFL offseason was one of the greatest in New York Jets history. This began with the firing of miserably failed HC Adam Gase and the hiring of Robert Saleh, former San Francisco 49ers DC. Then in early April, it was announced that the Jets were going to be heading in a different direction at QB as Sam Darnold was traded to the Carolina Panthers. Darnold during his three seasons in green and white showed flashes of excellence but could never put it all together along with staying healthy.
With the second pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Jets then selected QB Zach Wilson out of BYU. Wilson had a very promising college career and is already in the conversation as one of the next NFL greats. But the Jets did not stop there. They drafted USC OT Alijah Vera Tucker to help bolster their O-Line, Ole Miss' Elijiah Moore the stud wide receiver, and the two Michael Carters (one the running back and one the defensive back). This was just the draft, there was much more to come.
The Jets then snagged WR Corey Davis from the Tennessee Titans, TE Tyler Kroft from the Buffalo Bills, and S Lamarcus Joyner from the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency. The Jets have been lacking a number one wide receiver since the 1-2 punch of Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker from 2015-16 and a solid tight end since Dustin Keller in 2012.
While it appeared the Jets have improved in almost all phases of the game, one area of concern is their secondary. During the offseason, CB Brian Poole was traded to the New Orleans Saints and CB Bless Austin was cut and later signed with the Seattle Seahawks. In that case, the Jets don’t have any veteran players at the cornerback position. They will be playing Javelin Guidry and Bryce Hall who were both undrafted free agents last season and made some plays late in the season for the green and white last year.
Now onto my predictions for the season:
Week 1 @ Carolina Panthers- Win, 27-21 (1-0)
Zach Wilson and Sam Darnold will meet right away in their revenge game to start the season. Yes, Darnold has a better supporting cast and a better head coach right now than he had with both Todd Bowles and Adam Gase with the Jets. The Jets also got better at addressing problems at every position except for their secondary. Look for the secondary to be tested and Christian McCaffery to rush for over 150 yards but Zach Wilson and the new look Jets offense will be just enough for the Jets to escape Charlotte, NC with the shootout victory.
Week 2 vs. New England Patriots- Win, 20-13 (2-0)
This one has a similar feel to Rex Ryan and Mark Sanchez’s first game against Bill Belichick and Co. The Jets were trash talking all week about while the Patriots may have the better head coach and quarterback, that the Jets themselves had the better team and the proved it with holding the Patriots offense to 3 field goals. This time however, it will be the first battle between rookie quarterbacks Zach Wilson and Mac Jones. Both quarterbacks struggle to generate a high scoring game but it is a critical 4th quarter interception by the Jets defense that seals the deal on this one. At this point, the Jets already have the same number of wins they had all of last season.
Week 3 @ Denver Broncos- Loss, 24-17 (2-1)
Many teams struggle adjusting to the altitude at Mile High Stadium in Denver, CO. That will be the case for the Jets as their offense is able to provide no answers to the swarming Broncos defense. This will be a close game but the Broncos pull it out late.
Week 4 vs. Tennessee Titans- Loss, 31-14 (2-2)
The Jets offense will struggle all afternoon against the aggressive Titans defense and will force multiple turnovers. In addition, Derrick Henry will have a field day at MetLife Stadium as he rushes for over 300 yards, just bulldozing the Jets defense with 2+ touchdowns.
Week 5 @ Atlanta Falcons (In London)- Win, 24-14 (3-2)
After two straight losses the Jets will need to get back on track if they wish to be respected in the league this season. After falling behind 14-0, the Jets offense wakes up in the second half to score 24 unanswered points as the Falcons choke yet again. At this point, the Jets have more wins than they had all of last season.
Week 6 Bye Week- At this point, the Jets are 3-2 and get a much needed rest before taking on the New England Patriots at Foxboro.
Week 7 @ New England Patriots- Loss, 31-21 (3-3)
The Jets have not swept the Patriots since 1998. That trend continues this year. Bill Belichick and Mac Jones are still infuriated that they lost back in Week 2 and have figured out to be smart with the football and to not let Zach Wilson get into a rhythm.
Week 8 vs. Cincinatti Bengals- Win, 34-31 (4-3)
The Jets playing the Cincinatti Bengals at the Meadowlands on Halloween. Surely Wilson won’t be seeing the ghosts that Darnold did? The answer is no, he will not be as he beats second-year QB Joe Burrow in an epic shootout by throwing for 350 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Week 9 @ Indianapolis Colts (Thursday Night)- Win, 30-24 in OT (5-3)
The Jets travel to Lucas Oil Stadium to take on Carson Wentz and the Colts. Last year, the Jets were blown out by the Colts 36-7. Not this time as the Jets save their best plays for the 4th quarter trailing by 10 getting a field goal midway through the quarter and a pick six by CJ Mosley to tie it. This will set up Zach Wilson’s first overtime, game-winning touchdown drive.
Week 10 vs. Buffalo Bills- Loss, 34-20 (5-4)
The Jets and the Bills meet up in what could be for 1st place in the AFC East. The Jets are well rested after their overtime win over the Colts. Josh Allen torches the Jets secondary and the Bills defense makes the necessary plays to seal the fourth loss of the season for the Jets.
Week 11 vs. Miami Dolphins- Win, 27-10 (6-4)
The Jets are hellbent on revenge after losing sole possession of 1st place in the AFC East to the Buffalo Bills. Tua Tagovailoa is going through his sophomore slump and will not have journeyman veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick to pick up the pieces. Tua is under constant pressure the whole game and the Dolphins defense will burn out from being on the field too long and eventually give up the big plays.
Week 12 @ Houston Texans- Win, 19-16 (7-4)
While the Texans might officially be in tank mode at this point of the season, they will give a competitive effort against the Jets. In years past, the Jets have usually found a way to lose to team that are tanking like they did to the Dolphins and Bengals two seasons ago. However, if the Jets are serious about remaining in the playoff conversation, they will need to take care of business against a team near the bottom of the league. The Jets eek out an ugly win here.
Week 13 vs. Philadelphia Eagles- Loss, 17-3 (7-5)
The Eagles are going through tough times of their own as they only have 3 wins on the season. They are unsure if Jalen Hurts is the answer at quarterback. However, they get an encouraging sign as Hurts throws for two touchdowns and no interceptions and the Eagles defense hold the Jets offense to a meager 3 points and forces turnovers. At this point in the season, the Jets are about due for a letdown and this is the game as they fall to 0-12 all time against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Week 14 vs. New Orleans Saints- Win, 24-13 (8-5)
After an embarrassing loss last week, the Jets finally get back on track with a statement win against the Saints. The Jets defense is able to limit Alvin Kamara to under 100 rushing yards and force Jameis Winston to throw his famous interceptions. This is a devasting blow for the Saints playoff hopes and a dominant win for the Jets.
Week 15 @ Miami Dolphins- Loss, 17-14 (8-6)
If this game has playoff implications, it very well might be flexed into primetime. The Jets travel to South Florida to take on the Dolphins for the second time this season. The Jets however, do not have the same success that they had back when these two teams met in Week 10. The Dolphins defense proves very disruptive to Zach Wilson and Tua is able to do just enough to give the Dolphins a hard-fought victory.
Week 16 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars- Win, 24-20 (9-6)
It is a winning season for the New York Jets. This is their first since 2015. This game will feature the top two picks in the NFL Draft in Trevor Lawrence (#1) and Zach Wilson (#2). The edge goes to the home team here, the Jets. Both quarterbacks showcase their talents but it is the Jets defense that will take home the prize and serve as a late Christmas present to Jets fans.
Week 17 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Loss, 35-17 (9-7)
The defending Super Bowl champions will travel to MetLife Stadium to take on the Jets in early January. Tom Brady is very much used to playing in winter weather from his many years in New England. A lot of Jets fans leave this game very angry at halftime and wanting to murder Brady once again as the Jets defense has no answers and the Bucs defense makes all the plays en route to an NFC South Division Title.
Week 18 @ Buffalo Bills- Win, 16-9 (10-7)
By this point the Bills have long locked up the AFC East Title. However, the question is whether or not the Jets will be in the playoffs? In all likelihood, the Jets will need to win this game to have any shot at all in which they will because the Bills are resting all of their starters after the first quarter. These are not the Same Old Jets in years past that have lost this type of game. The Jets offense still struggles against the Bills second team defense but will do just enough to win the game on a snowy, January afternoon in Buffalo. After watching the rest of the games unfold, the Jets will manage to sneak into the playoffs as a wild card
Jets Rookie QB Zach Wilson
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