Take this moment in with me before the New York Jets’ 2023 season kicks off. We are entering one of the most anticipated seasons in franchise history. Will the Jets live up to the hype? There’s only one way to find out. Here are my game-by-game predictions for the 2023 season.
Week 1 – Monday, September 11 – vs. Buffalo Bills
Jets 20, Bills 17
The Jets have quite the test in Week 1 against the reigning AFC East Division Champion Bills, but they’ll be ready. Even with the Aaron Rodgers hype, it’s easy to see this one turning into a defensive battle — a game the Jets should be fine playing in.
Week 2 – Sunday, September 17 – @ Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys 24, Jets 14
This will be a tough one for the Jets offense. The Cowboys are primed to have a very good defense this year, and that’ll show in this Week 2 matchup in Dallas.
Week 3 – Sunday, September 24 – vs. New England Patriots
Jets 28, Patriots 20
Finally! For the first time since 2015, the Jets will find a way to beat the Patriots. Aaron Rodgers and the offense will have their best game of the young season in this one.
Week 4 – Sunday, October 1 – vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs 31, Jets 21
While this game will feel winnable, Patrick Mahomes will be too much for the Jets talented defense to handle. The Jets will have a chance to make a statement in this one, but they’ll fall a little short.
Week 5 – Sunday, October 8 – @ Denver Broncos
Jets 24, Broncos 13
There’s a juicy storyline in this one after Broncos head coach Sean Payton made some comments in the offseason criticizing the job Nathaniel Hackett did as Denver head coach in 2022. Some call it bulletin board material. Jets should be all over the Broncos in this one on both sides of the ball.
Week 6 – Sunday, October 15 – vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles 35, Jets 16
The Eagles are the reigning NFC Champions for a reason, and they’ll show us why in this one. Tough matchup for the Jets, who will have a difficult time defending Jalen Hurts. The Jets are still looking for their first ever victory over the Eagles, but it won’t come this year.
Week 8 – Sunday, October 29 – @ New York Giants
Jets 26, Giants 20
Both the Jets and Giants have high expectations going into the season, so this late October game could turn out to be a huge one for New York bragging rights. Jets will pull-off the victory as guests in their home stadium.
Week 9 – Monday, November 6 – vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Jets 35, Chargers 31
The first shootout of the season for the Jets. Maybe it’s not their style, but their offense should be capable of having success in games like this from time to time.
Week 10 – Sunday, November 12 – @ Las Vegas Raiders
Raiders 21, Jets 17
This is a game that the Jets should win, but the Raiders do have talent on their roster that can’t be overlooked. They’re going to find a way to win a bunch of games this season, and unfortunately for the Jets, this will be one of them.
Week 11 – Sunday, November 19 – @ Buffalo Bills
Bills 31, Jets 13
The Jets may have gotten the best of the Bills in Week 1, but it’s going to be a different story in Week 11. It’s a totally different ballgame playing in Buffalo, and the Bills will show in this one why they’re still the best team in the AFC East.
Week 12 – Friday, November 24 – vs. Miami Dolphins
Dolphins 28, Jets 20
You always want to beat your divisional opponents, especially at home. But the Dolphins talented offense will get the best of the Jets in this one. The NFL’s first ever Black Friday game will unfortunately be a letdown loss for the Jets.
Week 13 – Sunday, December 3 – vs. Atlanta Falcons
Jets 41, Falcons 21
At 5-6 and riding a two-game losing streak, this game will just about be a must-win for the Jets. A strong offensive showing will lead the way for them over the Falcons.
Week 14 – Sunday, December 10 – vs. Houston Texans
Jets 27, Texans 10
From start to finish, the Jets will be all over a Texans team that’s in the midst of a rebuild. This is a game the Jets will have to take care of business in, and they’ll do just that.
Week 15 – Sunday, December 17 – @ Miami Dolphins
Jets 23, Dolphins 10
After a disappointing performance at home against the Dolphins a few weeks earlier, the Jets will bounce back and pick up a huge road victory over their division rival. The defense will put together one of their best showings of the season against Miami’s speedy offense.
Week 16 – Sunday, December 24 – @ Washington Commanders
Jets 28, Commanders 25
Perhaps a little bit of a close call, but the Jets will ultimately come away with their fourth-straight victory in this one. After falling to 5-6, this win will put them at 9-6 and in full control of a Wild Card spot, at least. As Aaron Rodgers would say, R-E-L-A-X.
Week 17 – Thursday, December 28 – @ Cleveland Browns
Browns 23, Jets 20
The Browns are being a little overlooked this year because the AFC is so stacked, but they’re going to cause fits for the Jets in this one. Tough to play a late December game in Cleveland with potential playoff implications on the line.
Week 18 – Sunday, January 7 – @ New England Patriots
Jets 22, Patriots 7
With a 9-7 record going into this one, the Jets will already have a playoff spot secured. They’ll pick up a strong win against the Patriots with the defense leading the way. It’ll be a season sweep for the Jets over New England.
Final Record: 10-7 – First Wild Card – Eliminated in the AFC Divisional Round
2023 has the makings to be a special season for the Jets. Not winning the division would be a letdown, but the Bills are still the best team in the AFC East until they’re dethroned. Once the Jets acquired Aaron Rodgers, the expectation immediately became Super Bowl. With the AFC being absolutely loaded with talent, it’s going to be a tough task for the Jets to make it to the Super Bowl. Sure it’d be disappointing if they don’t make a deep playoff run, but the 2023 season should be the year where the Jets finally end their long playoff drought.
To end on a positive note, the pieces are there for the Jets to make a deep playoff run, and the case can certainly be made that they’ll compete for the Super Bowl. How cool is that?
The Mike Report Blog 