With NFL kickoff creeping closer and closer, it comes time to project the outcomes for the 2016-17 New York Jets season.
A big talk of the offseason was the New York Jets’ schedule. A 16-game slate which can be their best friend or their worst enemy. A brutal spell cast on a missed opportunity last year, or a brilliant opportunity to prove just how formidable they are.Gang Green comes in as a team possessing numerous question marks. Being that those question marks can work for or against them, it is difficult to tell whether a front heavy slate will bury the Jets before they can even hit the ground running.
With that said, the week-by-week matchups should provide an accurate representation of how this team was built — it almost always seems to work out that way.
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Without question, Todd Bowles’ squad needs to be on its toes for the first snap of Week 1. There is simply no time and no room for hiccups. If New York cannot solve a large puzzle from the get-go, they will be in for a long ride.
What should be an intriguing slate will commence this Sunday, Sept. 11 from MetLife Stadium.
So, without further adieu, let’s run down ESNY’s game-by-game predictions for a team with tremendous promise yet loads of uncertainty.
Next: Weeks 1-3
Week 1 (1-0)
Cincinnati Bengals: 14 | New York Jets: 27
The dreaded first six games kick off on a high note. New York, in front of their home fans, stomp on the Cincinnati Bengals.
Ryan Fitzpatrick silences early question marks, going for 350 yards through the air against a relatively subpar Bengals pass defense. Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker combine for all three of Gang Green’s touchdowns.
The Jets’ defense comes up huge, holding Cincinnati to merely one score until the tail-end of the contest.
Week 2 (1-1)
New York Jets: 23 | Buffalo Bills: 24
The Jets hit their first road block of the season against a familiar foe. A quick turnaround, in Buffalo, primetime, Rex Ryan, and a group resting on its laurels. Not the most fantastic scenario.
In 2015 fashion, New York falls behind their former coach in the early going and attempts to surmount a late deficit. Taking a 23-21 lead with two minutes left, the Bills march down the field for a game-winning field goal.
Rex, now teamed up with his brother, Rob, gets the best of his former team yet again.
Week 3 (1-2)
New York Jets: 14 | Kansas City Chiefs: 24
In a tough road matchup in KC, the Jets get knocked around. They get little going offensively and the constant three-and-outs overwork the stellar defensive unit.
The Chiefs, destined to be one of the better teams in the AFC, walk away winners as Fitz turns the ball over thrice.
Next: Weeks 4-6
Week 4 (2-2)
Seattle Seahawks: 7 | New York Jets: 13
Two superb defenses square off at MetLife, effectively producing a low-scoring, gritty, grudge match. With that said, the Jets prove why they have the best defense in football.
New York’s only touchdown comes on a Darrelle Revis pick-six, and the Seahawks do not score after putting up seven points on their opening possession.
Week 5 (2-3)
New York Jets: 17 | Pittsburgh Steelers: 30
The Jets come up empty-handed against one of the best — if not the best — the game has to offer. Revis has a rare clunker against the best wide receiver in the NFL — Antonio Brown.
Gang Green drops to 0-3 on the road as Ben Roethlisberger tears apart the secondary, putting up 400-plus yards.
Week 6 (2-4)
New York Jets: 10 | Arizona Cardinals: 20
An “impossible” stretch comes to an end. New York finishes the tedious six-game swing at a worrisome 2-4 split, including a 0-4 record away from MetLife Stadium.
It is not a matter of the defense not showing up and the Jets do not turn the ball over once, but the offense is simply stonewalled by an eager and purposeful Cardinals defense.
Next: Weeks 7-9
Week 7 (3-4)
Baltimore Ravens: 13 | New York Jets: 34
Gang Green returns home with determination, stomping on the Ravens with authority. Ryan Fitzpatrick has a bounceback game, connecting with Brandon Marshall for two scores.
The Jets get out to a 24-0 halftime lead, providing no concern heading into the second half of play.
Week 8 (4-4)
New York Jets: 28 | Cleveland Browns: 9
Todd Bowles’ team picks up its first road win of the season in a convincing way, toppling a team they are expected to topple heading in.
The offense pieces together another outstanding week as New York levels back up at .500, righting the ship from a previous rough patch.
Week 9 (5-4)
New York Jets: 20 | Miami Dolphins: 13
The two meetings the Jets have against the Dolphins will be paramount, as they will have the opportunity to take advantage of a lesser team in the AFC East.
Providing a few heart attacks along the way, they edge Miami in their first encounter. Fitz connects with Matt Forte in the red zone with just under a minute remaining, propelling the Jets to a third straight win.
Next: Weeks 10-12
Week 10 (6-4)
Los Angeles Rams: 16 | New York Jets: 26
New York handily tops Los Angeles, heading into their bye week on a four-game winning streak. Bilal Powell accumulates 160 rushing yards, punching the ball into the end zone twice.
The Jets prevail in a game which they are heavily favored, marching their way to a 6-4 clip.
Week 11 (Bye)
Week 12 (7-4)
New England Patriots: 17 | New York Jets: 20
In a much-anticipated, long-awaited first clash between the Jets and their arch rivals, the Patriots, the fans get exactly what they deserve. The two teams go neck and neck until the final minutes at MetLife Stadium. Tom Brady brings the Pats back and punches one in with a minute left, tying the game at 17.
However, following a kick off, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Brandon Marshall connect on an electrifying, 55-yard hookup, setting New York up at New England’s 25-yard line.
The Jets merely take a knee, positioning Nick Folk for a game-winning 44-yarder. After Todd Bowles uses his final timeout, Folk connects.
Next: Weeks 13-15
Week 13 (7-5)
Indianapolis Colts: 31 | New York Jets: 21
Heading into Week 13 with a perfect 5-0 record at home, the Jets finally squander a game on the MetLife turf.
Andrew Luck tears it up, recording 450 yards through the air. New York tries to make one last push in the fourth quarter, but it is a matter of too little, too late.
In a game which, with a win, would have put them in contention for the AFC East, Gang Green refocuses on a wild card.
Week 14 (8-5)
New York Jets: 44 | San Francisco 49ers: 7
Following a rough loss, the Jets head to the west coast and pull off their biggest laugher of the year. Ryan Fitzpatrick has his only 400-yard game of the season, with the Marshall-Decker combo producing four of the team’s five touchdowns.
The defense destructs a non-existent San Fran offensive attack as New York takes back the fifth spot in the AFC playoff picture.
Week 15 (9-5)
Miami Dolphins: 24 | New York Jets: 30
Miami puts up another fight, but New York staves them off at home to improve to 6-1 in front of the Gang Green faithful.
Quincy Enunwa hauls in a go-ahead TD from Fitz with three minutes left and the defense pulls off one last stand to place the Jets one win away from a playoff berth.
Next: Weeks 16 & 17
Week 16 (9-6)
New York Jets: 23 | New England Patriots: 27
As per recent model, the Jets split their two meetings with the Pats, dropping the lone matchup in Foxborough. While the game is a constant grind until the final minutes, New York falls short and fails to solidify their playoff berth in Week 16, extending the tension an extra seven days.
Rob Gronkowski takes center stage, dominating the Jets with three touchdown receptions. With the win, New England clinches the AFC East once again, picking up their 11th win of the campaign.
Week 17 (10-6)
Buffalo Bills: 17 | New York Jets: 29
One year later, same scenario. Rex Ryan and the 6-9 Buffalo Bills serve as the only obstacle standing in the way of the Jets’ first playoff appearance since 2010-2011. The only difference: New York gets to play in front of their home fans.
This year, it is Todd Bowles and Gang Green who get the last laugh. Ryan Fitzpatrick puts his horrific 2015-16 Week 17 fourth quarter in the rearview mirror, firing two touchdown darts to Brandon Marshall while not turning the ball over once in the regular season’s final test.
The 33-year-old journeyman clinches a playoff spot for the first time in his career as the Jets waltz their way into the postseason.
Final Outcome
Final 2016-17 Results
Regular Season: 10-6*
Home: 7-1 | Away: 3-5
*5th seed – AFC Playoffs*
Playoffs: 2-1
Wild Card Round — NYJ: 24 IND: 20
Divisional Round — NYJ: 20 NE: 16
AFC Championship — NYJ: 17 PIT: 27
Almost an exact replication of the 2011 playoff run. New York reaches the postseason after a promising regular season effort, wins two nailbiters against the Colts and Patriots in the Wild Card and Divisional rounds, respectively, but fall to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship Game.
Despite falling short of an appearance in Super Bowl LI, the Jets ultimately have an extremely successful season in Todd Bowles’ second year at the helm.