NY Jets game-by-game predictions after 2024 NFL schedule release
After months of knowing who the Jets will play, we now know the when and where of all 17 opponents following the 2024 NFL schedule release.
With organized team activities (OTAs) and mandatory minicamp on deck and training camp two months away, why not take our first look at how the Jets -- with four-time NFL MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers back under center fully healthy -- will do against each team this season.
Here are our game-by-game predictions for the Jets' 2024 season:
Week 1: NY Jets at San Francisco 49ers, 8:15 p.m.
On "Monday Night Football", Rodgers makes his much anticipated return home to the Bay Area where he grew up and played at the University of California. But Rodgers and the Jets come up short to the reigning NFC champion 49ers.
Prediction: 49ers 30, Jets 23
Week 2: NY Jets at Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m.
Rodgers and the offense struggle against a surprisingly tout Titans' defense, but still come out on top, winning their first game of the season.
Prediction: Jets 13, Titans 10
Week 3: NY Jets vs. New England Patriots, 8:15 p.m.
The Jets play the Pats for the first time in the post-Bill Belichick era. In their home opener on Thursday night, the Jets flex their muscle on the way to a dominant victory.
Prediction: Jets 21, Patriots 7
Week 4: NY Jets vs. Denver Broncos, 1 p.m.
The Jets welcome former QB Zach Wilson back to the Meadowlands. While the former No. 2 overall pick in 2021 won't start, he still might hear the boos reign down.
Prediction: Jets 28, Broncos 17
Week 5: NY Jets at Minnesota Vikings, 9:30 a.m. (London)
There are storylines aplenty in this one.
Rodgers vs. old divisional rival. Best-on-best wide receiver vs. cornerback matchup in Vikings' Justin Jefferson vs. Jets' Sauce Gardner. Perhaps Sam Darnold getting the start against the team that drafted him.
In the end, Rodgers earns his 18th career win against the Vikings.
Prediction: Jets 24, Vikings 13
Week 6: NY Jets vs. Buffalo Bills, 8:15 p.m.
It's the first real head-to-head Rodgers vs. Josh Allen matchup since the former joined the AFC East.
In what's the highest-scoring affair for the Jets in the early season, they fall just short in this offensive shootout in East Rutherford.
Prediction: Bills 31, Jets 28
Week 7: NY Jets at Pittsburgh Steelers, 8:20 p.m.
Facing new Steelers QB Russell Wilson, Rodgers leads the Jets on a late, game-winning drive in a defensive battle in the Steel City.
Prediction: Jets 17, Steelers 14
Week 8: NY Jets at New England Patriots, 1 p.m.
With No. 3 overall pick QB Drake Maye still learning behind veteran signal caller Jacoby Brissett, the Jets come away with a win.
Prediction: Jets 20, Patriots 10
Week 9: NY Jets vs. Houston Texans, 8:15 p.m.
The Jets are able to defeat the Texans -- with a fully healthy C.J. Stroud unlike last year -- for a second consecutive season behind a raucous crowd at MetLife Stadium.
Prediction: Jets 27, Texans 21
Week 10: NY Jets at Arizona Cardinals, 4:25 p.m.
The Cardinals -- who are on the verge of a wildcard spot after going 4-13 for two straight seasons -- give Rodgers and company a run for their money, but ultimately, the Jets earn the victory.
Prediction: Jets 31, Cardinals 24
Week 11: NY Jets vs. Indianapolis Colts, 8:20 p.m.
Coming off a nail-biting victory, the Jets fall flat on both sides of the ball, with the Colts -- who emerge as one of the top threats in the AFC this season --earning their third consecutive win over Gang Green and first at MetLife Stadium since 2016.
Prediction: Colts 27, Jets 10
Week 12: BYE WEEK
Week 13: NY Jets vs. Seattle Seahawks, 1 p.m.
The Jets have multiple advantages heading into this matchup: the cold temperatures, playing at home, and the Seahawks already out of playoff contention.
It's not as easy as it should be, but a win is a win, setting up for a must-watch final stretch of the season.
Prediction: Jets 21, Seahawks 13
Week 14: NY Jets at Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m.
The Jets come up short in a tough back-and-forth battle in South Beach.
Prediction: Dolphins 31, Jets 27
Week 15: NY Jets at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m.
A difficult two weeks in the state of Florida for the Jets, who fall in Jacksonville following a loss in Miami.
Prediction: Jaguars 27, Jets 20
Week 16: NY Jets vs. Los Angeles Rams, 4:25 p.m.
It's a battle of former NFC North QBs in Rodgers versus Matthew Stafford. As its been a majority of their entire careers, the former Packers QB takes down Stafford for the 14th time in 18 meetings between the two veteran gunslingers.
Prediction: Jets 24, Rams 23
Week 17: NY Jets at Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m.
It may all come down to this: Rodgers vs. Allen for the AFC East title. Even though both teams are securely in the postseason, seeding plays a massive role in who earns either the top spot in the division and who's a wild card team.
It's a close, low-scoring affair with terrible conditions in Buffalo, the Bills claim their fifth consecutive AFC East crown and No. 2 seed in the AFC, with the Jets falling just short.
Despite the disappointment, Rodgers leads the Jets to not only their first double-digit win season since 2015, but also ends a 13-year playoff drought -- the current longest streak of the four professional sports in the United States (NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL) and the team will play meaningful games in late January for the first time since 2010.
Prediction: Bills 24, Jets 17
Week 18: NY Jets vs. Miami Dolphins, TBD
After the first meeting was a shootout with 58 combined points, this one is a much-lower scoring affair in the regular-season finale as the Jets get back in the win column, thanks to a game-winning field goal from kicker Greg Zuerlein.
It's on to the playoffs now.
Prediction: Jets 20, Dolphins 17
NY Jets record prediction: 11-6, make playoffs as No. 5 seed
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Jets record prediction: Complete game-by-game picks for 2024 season
