New York Jets: An early look at 2019 opponents

The 2019 schedule is out for the New York Jets, and there are some interesting matchups coming their way in the franchise’s 60th AFL/NFL season.

There are a lot of question marks as the New York Jets embark on their 60th season between the AFL and NFL. Who will the coach be? Will Mike Maccagnan still be the general manager? Will Sam Darnold do what other good young quarterbacks have done recently and take a giant leap in year two?

There is one question that’s answered — we actually know through 2022 — and, for the most part, that’s who the Jets will be playing in 2019. We know 14 of the Jets opponents, because the remaining two will be based on the Jets record at the end of the season.

Home games: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, AFC West opponent

Away games: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles, Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens, AFC South opponent

It’s impossible to predict at this point what the results will be, but let’s look at their opponents based on what we know about them from this season. In an odd scheduling quirk, the Jets will be playing the Browns for the third straight season, and could actually play them for six straight, as they have home games set for the AFC North in 2020 and 2021.

At this point, the only two teams that are guaranteed to finish multiple games under .500 at the Bills and Giants. Heading into Week 16, the Redskins and Eagles are both 7-7. The Browns are 6-7-1, and the Bengals are 6-8.

The Ravens, Bills, and Browns will also be bringing second-year quarterbacks into their games, and the Dolphins might have a rookie at some point. The Jets will be a young team too, and that makes those games very interesting.

Depending on what happens with their coaching search, free agency, and the draft, this could finally be a season where the Jets trend up. It’s going to be a wild ride.