The New York Jets face the Miami Dolphins in the home opener on Sunday, but how has the franchise done in their home openers?
On Sunday, the New York Jets play their home opener for the second straight season against the Miami Dolphins.
Todd Bowles and the New York Jets will have a chance to start 2-0 on Sunday when the Dolphins invade MetLife Stadium. How rare is a 2-0 start for Gang Green? Todd Bowles started 2-0 in his rookie campaign as head coach back in 2015, but that is the only Jets team to win their first two games to start the season since Rex Ryan’s group won their first two games in 2011.
Starting 2-0 doesn't mean success
Looking back in team history, the Jets will be attempting to start 2-0 for just the 10th time since the merger. The previous nine times that they won their first two games they finished with a winning record four times (2015, 2009, 2004 and 2000) and qualified for the postseason just twice (2009, 2004). None of those 2-0 starts led to a division title, and only two of them saw the Jets win a postseason game.
Facing the Fish in Home Openers
Playing Miami in home openers is not a rarity for the Jets. This will be the ninth time in team history and the eighth time since the merger that Miami will be the first home game on the schedule for Gang Green. The Jets are 3-4 since the merger and 4-4 overall in home openers against the Fish.
Facing the Dolphins in home openers in consecutive seasons
This will be the second straight season that the Jets host the Dolphins to start their home schedule.
This will be the eighth time that the Jets will host a team in consecutive home openers. They went 1-3 against the Patriots in four consecutive home openers from 2006-09. New England split with the Jets in 1999-2000, 1986-87 and 1974-75. The Colts defeated the Jets in consecutive home openers in 1995-96. The Broncos split with the Jets to start the 1993-94 and 1961-62 seasons at home.
MetLife Stadium - Home sweet home
Since starting play at MetLife Stadium (2010 season), the Jets have done extremely well in home openers. They have won six of their last seven and are 6-2 overall with both losses coming by one point (lost 23-22 in Bengals in 2016 and 10-9 to the Ravens in 2010).
Home Openers Since the Merger
This will be the 49th New York Jets home opener since the merger in 1970. The Jets are 19-29 over that span. Going back to the 2009 season, the Jets have won seven of their last nine home openers.
Franchise history
This will be the 59th home opener in franchise history. Overall the Jets are 27-31 in such games.
Todd Bowles against rest of coaches in home openers
Todd Bowles will be coaching in his fourth home opener since taking over as Jets head coach in the 2015 season. He will be looking for his third win in four games. In 2015, he started his head coaching career with a 31-10 victory over the Cleveland Browns.
Rex Ryan, who won five of his six home openers, is the only other Jets head coach to win three of his first four home openers. Joe Walton (3-4) and Weeb Ewbank (7-4) are the only other Jets head coaches to win three home openers.
Sam Darnold making his first home start
Darnold will be the third Jets quarterback to make his first home start as a rookie. In 2013, Geno Smith defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 18-17. Mark Sanchez also won his first home start, defeating Tom Brady and the New England Patriots 16-9 in his rookie season of 2009.
Jets pile on 48 points in Week 1
Sam Darnold and the Jets got off to a great start this season, tying a franchise record with 48 points in their Week 1 win at Detroit. That tied the franchise record for most points in Week 1 that they previously set in 2012 against the Buffalo Bills at home.
Overall the Jets have scored 40 or more points four previous times in home openers. Along with their 48-28 victory over the Bills in 2012, they also defeated the Oilers 45-3 in 1988, the Patriots 43-24 in 1987 and the Houston Oilers 52-13 in 1966.
Week 1 domination hasn't meant much
Although many fans are looking forward to seeing Sam Darnold and the Jets take the field at home this week, keep in mind that starting the season with a great Week 1 performance doesn’t exactly ensure success for the season.
After starting the 2012 season with a 48-28 win over the Bills, the Jets won just five of their last 15 games to finish the season 6-10. In 1997, after their 41-3 Week 1 drubbing at Seattle, the Jets lost to the Bills 28-22 in their home opener. They also missed the postseason that year, finishing 9-7 in Bill Parcells first season as head coach.
