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The NFL has released the full schedule for the 2015 season, and the rebuilt New York Jets now know what their road to playoffs looks like. The Jets rank 18th overall in strength of schedule based on 2014 winning percentage, including the sixth easiest home schedule and the ninth hardest road slate. Let’s take a look at the full breakdown of the Jets’ 2015 schedule.
- Week 1: vs Cleveland Browns
- Week 2: @ Indianapolis Colts
- Week 3: vs Philadelphia Eagles
- Week 4: @ Miami Dolphins
- Week 5: Bye
- Week 6: vs Washington Redskins
- Week 7: @ New England Patriots
- Week 8: @ Oakland Raiders
- Week 9: vs Jacksonville Jaguars
- Week 10: vs Buffalo Bills
- Week 11: @ Houston Texans
- Week 12: vs Miami Dolphins
- Week 13: @ New York Giants
- Week 14: vs Tennessee Titans
- Week 15: @ Dallas Cowboys
- Week 16: vs New England Patriots
- Week 17: @ Buffalo Bills
Easy Wins:
Nothing is ever easy in the NFL, but the Jets should have a few straightforward wins against the Redskins, Raiders, Jaguars, and Titans, including playing the first three of those teams in a four week stretch from Week 6-9. If the Jets are going to make a real run at the playoffs, they need to get all four of those wins.
Tough Matchups:
The Jets play four games against playoff teams from last season, facing off with the Colts and Cowboys in addition to the two rivalry games with the Patriots. The Jets are going to have to perform better in clutch situations than they did last year to get something from those games, and the back to back against the Cowboys and Patriots at the end of the season could make or break the season.
Intriguing Matchups:
Other than the Patriot games, there are a few interesting matchups that jump out. Rex Ryan’s Week 10 return to New York will cause all kinds of media fireworks, and could be a big game in the AFC East. The Jets play a “road” game against the Dolphins in London, saving them a trip to sweltering Miami. The Week 1 clash with Cleveland Browns will see the team face former defensive coordinator Mike Pettine, and the result could actually matter later in the season. Finally, the Week 13 crosstown rivalry game against the Giants could have a big effect on both teams’ seasons.
Key Stretch:
Weeks 10-13 could be the decisive part of the Jets’ season. They play home against the Bills and Dolphins and at the Texans and Giants during the four game stretch, and the three AFC teams could be among the Jets’ competition for a Wild Card spot. The Jets will need to get something positive out of that stretch in order to put themselves in position to make a stretch run for the Wild Card spot.
Early Prediction:
With so much of the offseason still to come, it’s early to really get a feel for how the season could turn out for the Jets. Still, they have to feel pretty good about this schedule. I project them to go 9-7, meaning they’ll be in contention for a Wild Card spot in Todd Bowles’ first season at the helm.
Greg Sulik is a New York Jets writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter@GregSulik or add him to your network on Google
