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A week-by-week look at the Jets' 2019 schedule, and some way-too-early predictions that are sure to change a lot:
Week 1 (Sept. 8) - vs. Bills, 1 p.m.
Sam Darnold's first season opener was an enormous success, and it was on the road against a better opponent and his coaching staff wasn't as good as it is now. So there's no reason the dawn of the Adam Gase Era won't get off to a rousing start. Expect a huge game by Le'Veon Bell, too.
Prediction: WIN
Week 2 (Sept. 16) - Monday Night Football vs Browns, 8:15 p.m.
The narrative of Odell Beckham Jr. returning to the Meadowlands and showing New York what it's missing is juicy. But any time I've seen Beckham really hyped for a game - as he surely will be for this one - it didn't go well for him. I still have questions about how Baker Mayfield and Freddy Kitchens are going to keep Beckham and Jarvis Landry happy together. We'll see. But I think the Jets will surprise them here.
Prediction: WIN
Week 3 (Sept. 22) - at Patriots, 1 p.m.
Stop me when you've heard this before: The Jets will be on a roll, playing well, feeling like they've finally put it all together, and they're ready to challenge the Patriots for their AFC East throne. And then …? Yeah, you know how this story ends.
Prediction: LOSS
Week 4 - Bye
A bye week in September? Ridiculous. I mean, is anyone going to be even a little tired by then?
Week 5 (Oct. 6) - at Eagles, 1 p.m.
Getting the NFC East this year isn't the best thing because there are two legitimate Super Bowl contenders there (no, not the Giants). The Eagles obviously are one, assuming that Carson Wentz is healthy and playing like the Wentz of old.
Prediction: LOSS
Week 6 (Oct. 13) - vs. Cowboys, 4:25 p.m.
And this is usually where it all goes off the rails, right? A promising start undone by a string of losses, with the Patriots looming. There'll be a lot of fears at this point about the Jets going from 2-0 to 2-5 in the blink of an eye. But I believe things will be different for the Jets this year and this is where they make their stand - with a truly quality win against a dangerous Cowboys team that is still very beatable.
Prediction: WIN
Week 7 (Oct. 21) - Monday Night Football vs. Patriots, 8:15 p.m.
And again, you know the drill. The Jets start to feel good about themselves, they're ready to show the Patriots things are different. And maybe someday they will be. But not today.
Prediction: LOSS
Week 8 (Oct. 27) - at Jaguars, 1 p.m.
On the road in Jacksonville would've been a terrible trip two years ago. Last year it didn't look so bad. This year? Presumably they'll be a better team with Nick Foles at quarterback. And it won't help that the Jets are on a short week.
Prediction: LOSS
Week 9 (Nov. 3) - at Dolphins, 1 p.m.
Adam Gase was a good bet to beat his old team in his first shot at revenge anyway, but it'll be even easier with the Dolphins seemingly Tanking for Tua. Right now it's hard to tell who'll be quarterbacking for them or what they're going to look like. Chances are it won't be good.
Prediction: WIN
Week 10 (Nov. 10) - vs. Giants, 1 p.m.
There will be a lot of motivation in the Jets' organization to "Take over the town" with this game, and that should carry them quite a ways. But the truth is the Jets are just the better team right now. They have better players up and down the roster and are a little farther along in their rebuilding project. The Jets are primed to get the bragging rights here.
Prediction: WIN
Week 11 (Nov. 17) - at Redskins, 1 p.m.
The Jets catch a break getting one of their road games in the NFC East in Washington. It's hard to predict who the Redskins' quarterback will be at this point, but odds are it won't be good. Case Keenum looks like their current projected starter. This is a road game the Jets have to win.
Prediction: WIN
Week 12 (Nov. 24) - vs. Raiders, 1 p.m.
Another hard-to-predict game because who will be quarterbacking the Raiders? Derek Carr? Dwayne Haskins? Kyler Murray? They are a team in flux and trying to rebuild from scratch with a lot of young players and a basically crazy receiver in Antonio Brown. If nothing else, they'll be tired from flying across the country.
Prediction: WIN
Week 13 (Dec. 1) - at Bengals, 1 p.m.
The Bengals have been the picture of mediocrity, but they may get new live under Zac Taylor, their 15-year-old head coach (OK, he's 35). Their offense should be a little more dangerous, if nothing else. And after four straight wins, the Jets figure to be due for a bit of a letdown.
Prediction: LOSS
Week 14 (Dec. 8) - vs. Dolphins, 1 p.m.
How bad are the Dolphins going to be? Certainly bad enough to lose to their old coach twice. And by this point in the season, any veterans left on their roster will probably have given up.
Prediction: WIN
Week 15 (Dec. 12) - Thursday night football at Ravens, 8:20 p.m.
This will be C.J. Mosley's "revenge" game, although since he's the one who left (and for a king's ransom) there's no real revenge here. What there is, is a Ravens team that is always tough, particularly this late in the season, and the Jets will have to prepare for them on a short week.
Prediction: LOSS
Week 16 (Dec. 22) - vs. Steelers, 1 p.m.
Now THIS is a revenge game. You think Bell wants a piece of the Steelers? He absolutely does, and by this point in the season it's a good bet they will be missing him. They almost survived being without Bell last season and now they're without Brown too? They're hoping for addition by subtraction, but that's a lot to hope for.
Prediction: WIN
Week 17 (Dec. 29) - at Bills, 1 p.m.
Hmmm … This feels familiar. The Jets in the playoff hunt under a new head coach, heading to Buffalo for their season finale, needing a win against a mediocre Bills team to reach the playoffs. Oh right, it's 2015 all over again. Only this time Ryan Fitzpatrick isn't around to throw three interceptions. Games like this are why they drafted Darnold.
Prediction: WIN
WAY-TOO-EARLY PREDICTED FINAL RECORD: 10-6