Joe Douglas probably won’t like this, but the staff at Jets Wire is not expecting a successful 2020 campaign from Gang Green.
With the Jets’ Week 1 opener vs. the Bills almost here, the staff at Jets Wire put together some predictions for the entire season. The outlook is not pretty. None of the site’s writers expect to watch a playoff team this season, nor do any expect a winning record.
Disagree? We’d love to see your thoughts and predictions for the season on social media before the Jets take on the Bills in Week 1. In the meantime, here’s a look at why Jets Wire doesn’t think 2020 will be New York’s year.
Gary Phillips
Record Prediction: 5-11
To sum it up: the schedule is brutal, Sam Darnold still doesn’t have enough proven weapons, training camp was rushed, New York lost it’s top two defenders, and we still don’t know how the offensive line will hold up despite a total overhaul of the unit. It’s hard to be optimistic about Gang Green’s chances this year. Yes, there were some solid additions and some key cogs returning after missing time last season, but let’s not pretend this team did anything more than marginally improve this offseason. That’s not going to cut it in 2020, especially with every other team in the AFC East either upgrading or doing enough to remain competitive. At this point, it’s much easier to imagine the Jets finishing closer to the bottom of the division than the top of it.
Tyler Calvaruso
Record Prediction: 6-10
The Jets are faced with a tough early-season schedule, which is likely to put a damper on any hopes they have of contending for a playoff spot in 2020. Matchups against the Colts, Broncos, Cardinals, Chargers, Dolphins (twice), Raiders and Browns are all winnable, but it’s tough to see the pendulum swinging in New York’s favor considering the gaping holes on its roster at multiple positions and a seemingly never-ending string of injuries plaguing the team.
Tyler Greenawalt
Record Prediction: 7-9
The tough schedule notwithstanding, this Jets squad is only slightly better than its 2019 version. Sam Darnold should develop with a better offensive line and another year with Adam Gase, but his lack of weapons on offense is disconcerting. Le’Veon Bell, Jamison Crowder, Breshad Perriman and Denzel Mims won’t be enough to turn the Jets into a high-powered offense. The defense – which was a bright spot in 2019 – lost major contributors in Jamal Adams and C.J. Mosley and will need another miracle season from Gregg Williams to keep the Jets from demoralizing losses. It’s hard to see the Jets winning more than the seven games they somehow won last season.
Sam Neumann
Record Prediction: 8-8
The Jets have a significantly better roster than they did a year before. That’s not saying much and the team still lacks capable playmakers on offense, but between having a competent offensive line and some offensive continuity for Sam Darnold, the Jets offense should be better in 2020. An extra playoff spot certainly heightens the Jets’ chances at making a run, but between their schedule and being thin at key positions across the depth chart, it’s hard to see Gang Green sneaking in. The defense will be the backbone of this team again and keep the Jets competitive in games they shouldn’t be in.
Spencer Aber
Record Prediction: 4-12
The Jets are going from one of the easiest schedules in the league to one of the toughest. Combine that with a new offensive line, new wide receivers and a ramped-up training camp, and you have a recipe for disaster. The Jets defense will keep them in games, but only for so long. The offense, meanwhile, has to prove that it can pick up more than one first down on a drive — reviews out of training camp didn’t inspire. If Adam Gase can’t put Sam Darnold in better situations this year, and Darnold doesn’t play smarter, it’s going to be a long season. Even if those things do happen, there’s still a lot standing in the Jets’ way.