Well New York Jets fans, the team’s 2021 schedule is here! Gang Green will look to rebound following a 2-14 season, and it will come with a 17 game slate. New York’s schedule features one prime-time game all year, as well as a trip overseas to London, England. The Jets will also open up their season against their old friend, Sam Darnold. Now that the Jets schedule has been released, let’s rank the difficulty of each matchup…
New York Jets Schedule Breakdown
1. vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Week 17)
Sunday, Jan. 2nd
Was the number one spot really going to go to anyone else? The Buccaneers are the reigning Super Bowl champions and retained a majority of their free agents. This is a team that is among the deepest rosters in the league. Oh! And they have a man named Tom Brady leading them.
2. at Buffalo Bills (Week 18)
Sunday, Jan. 9th
The simple fact of the matter is the Bills made the better selection at quarterback in the 2018 NFL Draft. Josh Allen will enter 2021 as a top MVP candidate, and Stefon Diggs will look to solidify himself among the top five receivers in the league. If the Jets have any shot at stealing one in upstate New York, they’ll have to get past Tre’Davious White and Tremaine Edmunds. A task that many teams around the league have proved is not easy.
3. vs Buffalo Bills (Week 10)
Sunday, Nov. 14th
Again, the Bills are coming off a narrow AFC Championship loss. They won the AFC East in 2020 too. This is a team that is going to be at the top of the conference for years to come. Unfortunately, the Jets schedule always includes playing their division rival twice a year. Not to mention MetLife Stadium is not far, as Bills mafia travels well.
4. vs New Orleans Saints (Week 14)
Sunday, Dec. 12th
Even without Drew Brees, the Saints are a team led by veterans. Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas will be difficult to stop. Former Jets linebacker Demario Davis and the Saints defense are going to make this an uphill climb for a young, scrappy Jets team.
5. at New England Patriots (Week 7)
Sunday, Oct. 14th
Winning in Foxborough has always proven to be a task. In fact, the last time the Jets won at Gillette Stadium was in 2015 with Ryan Fitzpatrick under center. For New York to win, it would take Zach Wilson pulling off his own magic. Well, and the Jets defense being able to stop whoever it is the Patriots are starting at quarterback.
6. at Miami Dolphins (Week 15)
Saturday or Sunday, Dec. 18th or 19th
On paper, the New York Jets weakest position group is their cornerbacks. This game will test their inexperience, as the Dolphins receiving corps is made up of DeVante Parker, Will Fuller, Jaylen Waddle, and Preston Williams. Meanwhile, for Zach Wilson, he will be tested by the cornerback tandem of Xavien Howard and Byron Jones. As Miami looks to contend for the playoffs, they are going to want to win at home more than anything.
7. at Indianapolis Colts (Week 9)
Thursday, Nov. 4th
This off-season, one of the biggest moves was the Colts acquiring quarterback Carson Wentz. The real question now becomes will it be Pro Bowl Wentz or washed-up Wentz? Either way, this is a legitimate Colts team that is primed for a deep run for the playoffs if they have good quarterback play. And the Jets will get to face them in their lone prime-time game of 2021.
8. vs Miami Dolphins (Week 11)
Sunday, Nov. 21st
Back to Miami, except this time, the Jets are hosting the Dolphins. Like the Colts, Miami has a roster primed for the playoffs, depending on their quarterback play. Tua Tagovailoa now has all the weapons in the world and hopes to have a second-year jump. That is, unless head coach Robert Saleh and his revamped Jets defense has something to say about it.
9. vs Tennessee Titans (Week 4)
Sunday, Oct. 3rd
For the past decade, New York has consistently had one of the league’s better run defenses in their 3-4 scheme. Now, Saleh will employ a 4-3 defense. Superstar running back Derrick Henry can truck defenders with ease on his way to 200+ yards rushing any given week. This game will also see new Jets receiver Corey Davis go up against his old team for the first time.
10. vs New England Patriots (Week 2)
Sunday, Sept 19th
Listen, at the end of the day, whether it be Cam Newton or Mac Jones starting, this is Bill Belichick’s New England Patriots. They are never easy to take down. However, the Jets best chances always come at home. If the Jets want to beat the Patriots, they will have to win in the trenches. Luckily, the Jets bulked up along both sides of the line of scrimmage this off-season.
11. at Carolina Panthers (Week 1)
Sunday, Sept. 12th
Not only are the Jets schedule includes the Panthers, but they open the season against them! Carolina is a hard-playing team that was in more games than not in 2020. This being in large part thanks to the culture that the one-time “could have been” Jets head coach Matt Rhule has established. But the biggest storyline will be that this is the first time Sam Darnold plays against the Jets since their breakup. Plus, he has his new friends Christian McCaffrey, D.J. Moore, Terrace Marshal, and former Jets teammate Robby Anderson to face off against Gang Green.
12. at Denver Broncos (Week 3)
Sunday, Sept. 26th
Only time will tell if Drew Lock or Teddy Bridgewater will be starting this game. Nonetheless, they will have Courtland Sutton back joining Jerry Jeudy, Tim Patrick, and Noah Fant to throw to. At the same time, the Broncos have a revamped defense led by the return of Von Miller. The bottom line here is that playing in Denver is never easy, and the Broncos have a very underrated team.
13. at Atlanta Falcons (Week 5)
Sunday, Oct. 10th
Are there questions about the Falcons defense? Yes, absolutely. But their offense is reloaded and ready to shine. Matt Ryan has a dangerous trio in Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley, and Kyle Pitts to throw to, and once again, the Jets cornerback play will be tested. Also, this game will be played overseas in London, being the first game played outside the United States since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
14. vs Cincinnati Bengals (Week 8)
Sunday, Oct. 31st
What better way to celebrate Halloween than with a game between two young squads looking to rise up the NFL ranks. Like the Jets, Cincinnati emphasized putting weapons around their quarterback and protecting them in 2021. With both teams having questionable defenses on paper, this could be anyone’s game.
15. vs Jacksonville Jaguars (Week 16)
Sunday, Dec. 26th
Oh, the headlines this game will have! This will be the “what if” game on the Jets schedule, who will host 2020 first overall pick Trevor Lawrence instead of having him under center. Playing at home will be huge for Zach Wilson, who certainly will have a chance to prove that the Jets winning two games last season was a blessing in disguise. Nevertheless, both of these teams combined for three wins in 2020.
16. vs Philadelphia Eagles (Week 13)
Sunday, Dec. 5th
As the NFL added a 17th game to team’s schedules for the first time ever, the Eagles travel to MetLife to play the Jets. Maybe, just maybe, this will be the year the Jets finally beat the Eagles in the regular season. One of the most exciting aspects of this game will be the out-of-the-pocket playmaking ability of Jalen Hurts and Zach Wilson.
17. at Houston Texans (Week 16)
Sunday, Nov. 28th
Deshaun Watson playing or not will be a massive wild card this season. The status of the star quarterback could leave the Texans with Tyrod Taylor or rookie Davis Mills starting. The Texans are a rebuilding team that still has talent on the roster, though have the worst Super Bowl odds in 2021.
Main Photo: Embed from Getty Images
