I really like the Jets to exceed expectations this season as not many will be giving them a shot to make the playoffs might I can see them possibly sliding in as a Wild Card. Looking at their off-season acquisitions and their draft picks, I think this team will be much improved. I also think with a new HC in Todd Boyles, this team will be re-energized as Rex Ryan wore out his welcome in New York a long time ago.
The Jets reunited Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie in the offseason and got Leonard Williams in the draft as their defense is instantly upgraded. Wilkerson appears to be staying in New York as well as he attends mini-camps and Williams along with Wilkerson on the line will wreak havoc. On offense, the Jets got WR Brandon Marshall from the Bears, RB Stevan Ridley from the Patriots, and RB Zac Stacy from the Rams. This is a deep backfield now along with Chris Ivory and one that should be able to move the chains on 3rd and short. Decker is still there at receiver also and the Jets have a deep receiver core. The main question to still be answered is the quarterback situation. Geno Smith HAS to take care of the ball or Ryan Fitzpatrick will take the starting job. I think Smith has potential to play more like a NLF quarterback, but if not them Fitzpatrick is a Harvard graduate that has a high IQ and that I can trust with the ball. Can Smith possibly play any worse? The answer is NO as there is only one way he can go and that is up.
I like Todd Boyles as the Head Coach here. I think he will give the team a new identity and one that will be defensive minded. I expect the Jets to have a Top 5 defense in the NFL this year and defensive underdogs in the NFL scream value to me the majority of times. Bowles was a secondary coach in Philly before going to Arizona as the defensive coordinator and was voted the Assistant Coach of the Year last season while in Arizona. He will now lead a Jets team that I expect to thrive off turnovers and be an offense that manages the clock, but also has a legit outside target in Brandon Marshall.
The Jets will open the season with a home game vs. Cleveland and an opening line of -3 is a good line that the linesmakers have posted, but I think the Jets opening home game will be huge and guided by the defense. Look for the Jets to force 3 or more turnovers and win this game by 6 or more points. The Jets had success vs. the Patriots last season and were able to move the ball with ease. I think this year they upset them at home, December 27th. Of the Jets 8 road games, I expect them to be at least a 3 point underdog in all of them expect for when playing @ Oakland. They will play @ Indy on Monday night, September 21st. The public will be on the Colts and their high octane offense, but I'm expecting close to a double digit point spread and have to think again that the Jets defense along with their power running game keep this one within reach. They have a stretch in November where they play 3 of 4 games at home vs. Jacksonville, Buffalo, and Miami which are all winnable games. Honestly, I think the Jets win 6 of their 8 home games this season and get at least two road wins.
Will an 8-8 record get them to the playoffs? More than likely not but if the Jets can steal an extra game, then a 9-7 record might be good in the AFC for the Wildcard. Vegas has the Jets season win total at 7.5 (Ov -150). I would not be surprised to see this total go up to 8, so now is a good time to jump on the Jets, who I think will be the most improved team in the NFL.
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