New York Jets: Predicting every game of the 2018 season
The start of the 2018 NFL season is just around the corner. Here are predictions for every game of the New York Jets this year.
It’s never easy gazing into the crystal ball to try to predict the outcome of every game for the New York Jets during the 2018 season. But it sure is a lot of fun.
With the start of the new NFL campaign less than two weeks away now, it’s time for my annual foray into the land of prognostication. Heaven help us.
With that being said, here are my game-by-game predictions for this coming season:
Week 1 at Detroit, Sept. 10
This is a tough opener for Gang Green. On the road under the bright lights of Monday Night Football. This presumably will mark the dawn of the Sam Darnold era and the USC product will be more than up to the task. Darnold tosses touchdown passes to Robby Anderson and Jermaine Kearse, but it’s not quite enough as Matthew Stafford throws for over 300 yards and three scores to lift the Lions to a nail-biting 27-24 triumph. Record: 0-1
Week 2 vs. Miami, Sept. 16
MetLife Stadium will be rocking for New York’s home opener and Darnold’s debut in front of the Jets faithful. The Jets lead the all-time series, 54-50-1. The two teams split their two battles in 2017. Expect Gang Green to really get their ground game going.
Isaiah Crowell will post his initial 100-yard contest and rumble for a touchdown. Darnold tosses a touchdown pass to Bilal Powell and New York’s defense holds Kenyan Drake to 52 rushing yards and sacks Ryan Tannehill three times. All is well in Jets land as New York rolls to a 20-3 win. Record: 1-1
Week 3 at Cleveland, Sept. 20
This will be New York’s third game in 10 days and hopefully will match Darnold against fellow rookie signal-caller Baker Mayfield. Tyrod Taylor may have something to say about that. The Jets squeeked out a 17-14 victory last year but the Browns are much improved in 2018.
Jarvis Landry, Carlos Hyde, Nick Chubb and a (hopefully for them) full season of Josh Gordon should make Cleveland a team on the rise. Both squads seem evenly matched but a fourth quarter touchdown strike from Darnold to Quincy Enunwa gives New York a 21-17 victory. Record: 2-1
Week 4 at Jacksonville, Sept. 30
The Jets pulled out a dramatic 23-20 overtime win over the Jaguars last year at MetLife. They face a very difficult test this time around on the road against one of the premier defenses in the NFL. The Jags allowed the second fewest points per game (16.8 PPG) and yards from scrimmage (286.1) in 2017.
New York’s mediocre offensive line is like swiss cheese in this contest as the Jags receive a pair of sacks from Calais Campbell and one from Dante Fowler. This is a scary defense, no doubt. Leonard Fournette pounds Gang Green for 120 yards and a score to power Jacksonville, 27-16. Record: 2-2