The 2024 regular-season schedule has been released for the New York Jets. So what does that mean? It means that of course, we’re going to make way too early predictions for each game, because nothing can go wrong by predicting the outcome of a football game seven months in advance. But that’s the fun in all this, especially for a team with such high expectations. Can the Jets live up to the expectation? Will they finish with a winning record for the first time since 2015? Let’s go game by game and make an early guess.
Week 1 at 49ers
Aaron Rodgers returns to the field against an old rival in the San Francisco 49ers as the Jets open on Monday Night Football for the second straight season. The 49ers likely won’t have linebacker Dre Greenlaw as he recovers from his own Achilles injury suffered in the Super Bowl. This one should be a tight battle but the early guess is the 49ers will sneak this one out at home.
Prediction: Loss (0-1)
Week 2 at Titans
After what should be a physical battle in the Bay Area, the Jets head to Nashville on a short week. The Titans had an aggressive offseason but the offense still comes down to the development of quarterback Will Levis. The Jets have the defense to swarm Levis and rattle him. Levis will have a chance to prove he’s the guy for the Titans, but Week 2 against Quinnen Williams and company won’t be that time.
Prediction: Win (1-1)
Week 3 vs. Patriots
MetLife Stadium will be electric on September 19 when the Jets play their 2024 home opener against the New England Patriots. New York ended their 15-game losing streak to the Patriots back in January. The Jets now have a chance to do something they haven’t done in 15 years: win two straight against the Patriots. New England will be coming off what should be a physical game against the Seahawks in Week 2. Will Drake Maye be the quarterback? Regardless, at this point, the offense shouldn’t scare the Jets as they get off to a 1-0 start in the division.
Prediction: Win (2-1)
Week 4 vs. Broncos
It’s Nathaniel Hackett Bowl II. It’s also Zach Wilson’s return to New York. Last year, the Jets went into Denver and came away with a 31-21 win. This will be the first time the Broncos visit MetLife since 2020 despite this being the fifth straight season the teams meet. Who will the quarterback even be? It may be Bo Nix but will he turn the Broncos around this quick? New York says no.
Prediction: Win (3-1)
Week 5 vs. Vikings (in London)
The Jets head overseas in Week 5 to face the Minnesota Vikings, the team they traded with in the first round of the 2024 draft. The Jets could be seeing an old friend in quarterback Sam Darnold, who signed with Minnesota this offseason. Minnesota could be an interesting team this season. The addition of running back Aaron Jones in the backfield will be intriguing to watch. Of course, the matchup to watch will be Sauce Gardner against Justin Jefferson. But this one may come down to the Jets’ offense having more fire. Minnesota will bring pressure thanks to their additions up front, even with the loss of Danielle Hunter, but the Jets come away with a win in London.
Prediction: Win (4-1)
Week 6 vs. Bills
Just like Week 1 last season, the Jets and Bills meet in New York on Monday Night Football in Week 6. Xavier Gipson walked off the Bills with his overtime punt-return touchdown to give the Jets a Week 1 win after losing Aaron Rodgers in the first quarter. The hope is Rodgers will be around the whole time this time around. If the Jets are going to claim their first AFC East title since 2002, they have to find a way to beat the Bills. Buffalo did lose pieces on offense but drafted Florida State wide receiver Keon Coleman in the second round. And Josh Allen is still Josh Allen. The Jets would love to pick off Allen three times and sack him five times again. Still, Allen finds a way in this one.
Prediction: Loss (4-2)
Week 7 at Steelers
Russell Wilson is now in town for the Steelers, which should make the offense much more effective after they went through Kenny Pickett but yet still somehow made the playoffs. Of course, last season in Denver, the Jets held Wilson to just 196 passing yards and sacked him four times. The Jets will also be angry following the loss to the Bills and need a bounce-back in a big way. Acrisure Stadium becomes the Jets’ smash room.
Prediction: Win (5-2)
Week 8 at Patriots
The Jets now have a win over the Patriots this season. The Jets have not swept the Patriots in a season since 2000. That drought ends in 2024. Jets go into Gillette Stadium and score their second win over New England this season.
Prediction: Win (6-2)
Week 9 vs. Texans
The Jets knocked Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud out of the game when these teams met in December and the Jets went on to dominate Houston, 30-6. This time, these two meet under the bright lights of Thursday Night Football on Halloween night. Stefon Diggs is now in Houston and should have a couple of tricks for Sauce Garnder, though Gardner will return the favor throughout the game. Diggs and Gardner have had some good matchups over the last two seasons while Diggs was in Buffalo.
But coming off the Steelers game, the Jets will have a tough time getting ready for a tough Texans team (who will be coming off hosting the Colts in Week 8). Stroud and company get the treats and their revenge from last season.
Prediction: Loss (6-3)
Week 10 at Cardinals
Arizona is an interesting team this season. They quietly had a good offense at times last season and upgraded the wide receiver position, including drafting Marvin Harrison Jr. at No. 4 overall. Harrison vs. Gardner? Get your popcorn ready. The Jets will have a few extra days to prepare for this one following the Thursday night game in Week 9. It’s been a good while since the Jets defeated the Cardinals in Arizona — 2004, to be exact. That drought ends at 20 years.
Prediction: Win (7-3)
Week 11 vs. Colts
The Colts nearly reached the postseason in 2023 with quarterback Gardner Minshew running the show most of the season following quarterback Anthony Richardson’s shoulder injury. Richardson makes the Colts’ offense more dynamic and they still have one of the better offensive lines in the game. This will be a good challenge for the defensive front of the Jets. The Colts have the roster to go into MetLife and steal one from the Jets.
Prediction: Loss (7-4)
Week 13 vs. Seahawks
Quarterback Geno Smith returns to New York as a member of the Seahawks. Seattle’s offense always has potential and D.K. Metcalf versus Sauce Gardner will be must-see TV. Their defensive line, however, will be fun to watch after the addition of Byron Murphy II in the draft. But the extra rest of the Jets, coming off their bye, could be key in this one.
Prediction: Win (8-4)
Week 14 at Dolphins
The Jets lucked out a little bit with their schedule as they make their two trips to Florida in back-to-back weeks in December, starting with a trip to Miami on December 8. Of course, it hasn’t always been a pleasant trip to Miami for the Jets — they haven’t won in Miami since 2015. Miami is always dangerous on offense and added Odell Beckham Jr as an extra piece. The Dolphins and Tua Tagovailoa find a way to score another home win over the Jets.
Prediction: Loss (8-5)
Week 15 at Jaguars
The second of New York’s back-to-back in Florida sees them visit Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 15. The Jags added Brian Thomas Jr. and Gabe Davis to try and fill the void left by the loss of Calvin Ridley, who signed with the Titans. The Jets salvage a split in Florida and indeed secure their first winning season since 2015.
Prediction: Win (9-5)
Week 16 vs. Rams
Ah, the Rams. Jets fans remember all too well (Taylor Swift pun not intended) what happened the last time these two teams met. The Jets beat the Rams, 23-20, on December 20, 2020. The win helped give the Jaguars the No. 1 pick in the 2021 draft while the Jets ended up No. 2. The rest is history.
This time around, the Jets have their quarterback in Aaron Rodgers and are set up for another December battle with the Rams but with potentially much more at stake. Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed against Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua is sure to be an awesome battle. But this game will come down to the trenches. Both teams will bring strong defensive lines — yes, the Rams will be stout even after the retirement of Aaron Donald. The Jets’ line will be tested in this one. Slight edge to the Rams with Sean McVay over Robert Saleh.
Prediction: Loss (9-6)
Week 17 at Bills
This is a huge game for the Jets. Week 17 at Buffalo. The Jets hope to still be in the division race at this point, but even just some momentum going into the final week and perhaps the playoffs is needed. However, by this point, injuries will likely be a factor and the Jets already have questions entering the season. How banged up will they be? The Bills get the sweep of the Jets and likely send the Jets to a road Wild Card Playoff game.
Prediction: Loss (9-7)
Week 18 vs. Dolphins
Playoff seeding could be at stake in this one. It would be even more wild if a spot in the playoffs was on the line. Dolphins at Jets in Week 18 is already a candidate to be moved into the final Sunday Night Football spot of the season. It’s the first home finale for the Jets since 2016 and they need this one bad. New York will hope for another classic spinout by the Dolphins late in the season, one that doomed them to a trip to Kansas City to begin the playoffs last season. The Jets get the split with the Dolphins and get to double-digit wins.
Prediction: Win (10-7)
Final tally
This first run-through of the schedule has the Jets going 10-7, which should put them in contention for a wild card berth in the playoffs. Injuries are and will be a concern throughout the season but getting Aaron Rodgers back should at least score them a few more wins than last season’s 7-10. But as always with the Jets, anything can and will happen.
