The New York Jets enter the 2024 NFL season with plenty of pressure. Last season, we saw the team crumble under that pressure once the team lost quarterback Aaron Rodgers during their Week 1 matchup. Yet with a healthy Rodgers heading into a new year, can the team finally put together a playoff-bound season?
New York Jets Game-By-Game Schedule Predictions 2024
Week 1: NY Jets @ San Francisco 49ers
The Jets don’t start their season on an easy note. The team once again opens the year in a prime time matchup. This time, they go to the west coast and take on the 49ers. While San Francisco already has injuries and drama aplenty, this game will come down to coaching. That’s where the 49ers will have the edge, and Robert Saleh will lose to his former team.
Result: Loss (0-1)
Week 2: NY Jets @ Tennessee Titans
The Titans enter the 2024 season with a new head coach and a revamped offense. However, we’ve seen their quarterback, Will Levis, struggle in big moments during his rookie season. The Jets defense will pressure Levis early and often, and that matchup will be the difference-maker in the game.
Result: Win (1-1)
Week 3: NY Jets vs New England Patriots
This is the perfect trap game. The Jets take on the Patriots on a short week for their first Thursday Night Football matchup of the year. Fortunately for the Jets, long gone are the days of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. Instead, they will face a rookie head coach and potentially, a rookie quarterback.
Despite the likelihood of the Jets getting caught by surprise here, it’s hard to see the New York defense getting caught by surprise against this version of the Patriots.
Result: Win (2-1)
Week 4: NY Jets vs Denver Broncos
Since taking over as the head coach of the Broncos, Sean Payton has seemingly had a weird axe to grind against the Jets. So far, that axe has yet to hit its mark against New York. And with a rookie quarterback (or Zach Wilson) heading the quarterback position for Denver, it’s unlikely that the Jets will be caught lacking again.
Result: Win (3-1)
Week 5: NY Jets @ Minnesota Vikings
On most occasions, I would consider the Jets schedule to have an adverse effect on the team. However, with Rodgers at quarterback and an elite defense, the team is likely to hold their own through this rough patch of the year – in terms of travel and rest.
New York travels to Europe for this game, where they will face their former quarterback Sam Darnold. This game will present a bigger challenge than most fans may expect, but the Jets could squeeze this one out in an exhausted effort.
Result: Win (4-1)
Week 6: NY Jets vs Buffalo Bills
The NY Jets take play their second AFC East game in Week 6. This game has all the makings of a classic letdown performance from New York. The Bills are no slouches, and after their strong start the Jets will be caught sleeping in the comfort of their own home under the bright lights.
Result: Loss (4-2)
Week 7: NY Jets @ Pittsburgh Steelers
This game features the second of back-to-back prime time matchups for the Jets. For whatever reason, the Steelers have been a team that’s given the Jets fits throughout history. Yet surprisingly, the jets have a winning record against Steelers current head coach, Mike Tomlin.
Like their last two matchups, this game will be close – and will likely come down to the last possession. The Jets will play admirably, but ultimately fall short and drop two in a row in prime time.
Result: Loss (4-3)
Week 8: NY Jets @ New England Patriots
For the first time in over 20 years, the Jets will sweep the Patriots. After dropping back-to-back games, Rodgers and company will come out with a vengeance, and put a walloping on an inexperienced Patriots team.
Result: Win (5-3)
Week 9: NY Jets vs Houston Texans
There’s no telling how badly Rodgers will want to make this a revenge game after the comments made by Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud this offseason. Unfortunately for the Jets, they face the Texans on a short week, playing their second Thursday Night Football game of the season. Because of that, and the talent of the Houston roster, the Jets will fall short in a hard fought matchup.
Result: Loss (5-4)
Week 10: NY Jets @ Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals are in the second year of what is likely a rebuilding roster. The defense should be improved from last year, but there are serious questions along the team’s line. While Kyler Murray will likely make some incredible plays, it’ll also likely be because the team is playing from behind. The Jets go out west and secure a win in the desert.
Result: Win (6-4)
Week 11: NY Jets vs Indianapolis Colts
The Colts present a tougher matchup than some may believe. They have a solid, yet unspectacular defense. Meanwhile, their offense has enough firepower to cause fits for opposing teams. The biggest question mark for Indianapolis, however, is their quarterback.
Fans saw brief excellence from Anthony Richardson last season before an injury took away his rookie season. Question marks still linger about his game, and the Jets defense will likely cause major problems for the second-year player in New York.
Result: Win (7-4)
Week 13: NY Jets vs Seattle Seahawks
It’s kind of incredible that the Jets may end up facing three of their former quarterbacks in one season. To be honest, if this game was in Seattle, there’s a good chance the Seahawks win the game. However, the conservative play style of Geno Smith will be the detriment to their team, falling short to the Jets in this matchup.
Result: Win (8-4)
Week 14: NY Jets @ Miami Dolphins
For the first time in a long time, the Jets feel like they are true contenders as they enter their third AFC East matchup. And while the weather will be beautiful in Miami, the result will likely leave Jets fans wanting more. Saleh won’t have answers to stop Miami’s offense in their first matchup.
Result: Loss (8-5)
Week 15: NY Jets @ Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jets come into Jacksonville facing a team that will likely be contending for their own divisional title. This game will end up being much closer than fans want, but ultimately the Jets will squeeze out an ugly win against the Jaguars.
Result: Win (9-5)
Week 16: NY Jets vs Los Angeles Rams
To be honest, this game will come down to the health of Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Cooper Kupp. If healthy, the difference in coaching will give a vital edge to Los Angeles in this matchup. And although it’ll be rare to see both players completely healthy at this point in the season, I’m predicting they will be the demise of the Jets in Week 16.
Result: Loss (9-6)
Week 17: NY Jets @ Buffalo Bills
While the Jets swept the Patriots earlier in the year, they’ll face their own sweeping against the Bills in Week 17. In a bitter cold matchup on the cusp of the new year, the Jets will go into 2025 with a loss, but will maintain a winning record heading into their final matchup.
Result: Loss (9-7)
Week 18: NY Jets vs Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins gave the Jets fits in their earlier matchup, but I’m expecting Saleh and the New York defense to dial in a matchup that will decide the fate of their season. This game will be a must-win for New York, and with a potentially shot at the playoffs on the line, they take home the victory in front of their home crowd.
Result: Win (10-7)
Standing at a 10-7 record to end the season, the Jets will be a bubble playoff team by Week 18. Depending on the result of other games, the Jets may find themselves in the playoffs, or New York could find themselves sitting at home.
While these predictions aren’t meant to be a sure thing, they are a best guess as to how the season could play out for New York this year.
