The 2026 NFL season is about to kick off and the New York Jets are back in action.
They start off the season on the road against the Tennessee Titans playing against their former Head Coach, Robert Saleh.
It’s a big season for New York and Head Coach Aaron Glenn to show that the franchise is turning things around.
After a 3-14 season last year, Glenn has to be on the hot seat and needs to show massive improvement this season. The Jets will be led by Quarterback Geno Smith who makes his return to the franchise after many years. Smith is coming off a bad season looking to prove he still has good play left to give.
The offense is new and improved coming into the season outside Smith. They of course still have franchise cornerstones in Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson. Now, New York also has a full season of A.D. Mitchell drafted rookie Tight End Kenyon Sadiq who pairs with second year Mason Taylor. They also added to the receiver room drafting Omar Cooper Jr. and signing Tim Patrick.
This Jets offense on paper should be much better than last year but that is the keyword on paper. They still have to go out on the field and prove it. On the defensive side of the ball they are led by Middle Linebacker Demario Davis who also makes his return to the Jets after some years.
Davis is still one of the better linebackers in the league but is now 37 years old and has to prove he still has the legs to play high level football. They also added Minkah Fitzpatrick to the secondary, another high-level veteran who will have to prove he can still play at that level. Of course, New York also has second overall pick David Bailey at Edge Rusher, and all eyes will be on him.
Another defensive rookie’s eyes will be on Cornerback D’Angelo Ponds who will try to make an impact on a Jets secondary that had zero interceptions last year.
The Jets should be able to score points this season as long as Smith can still play competent football. Expect turnovers to come along with that play though. They have the weapons, they have the offensive line, New York just needs Smith to play solid football. If he can do that, New York’s offense should be decent at least.
Defensively, the front seven of this unit should do a fine job against the run, and they do have the assets to get more pressure on quarterbacks. The concern is the secondary still, they are improved but it’s expected to be the weak point of this team. Hopefully for the Jets sake though they can finally cause some turnovers this season.
New York has a fairly tough schedule this year, they play the AFC West, and NFC North. Two competitive divisions. The Jets do have some winnable games though that they can pull off.
I think this team’s ceiling this year is seven wins which would be a massive improvement and a step in the right direction. I also think they have a floor of four wins which would be disappointing and would probably mean Glenn is out of a job.
Here is my full season prediction for the Jets:
@ Titans: Win
Packers Loss
@ Lions: Loss
@ Bears: Loss
Browns: Win
@ Patriots: Loss
Dolphins: Win
Raiders: Win
@ Chiefs: Loss
Bills: Loss
@ Chargers: Loss
@ Dolphins: Loss
Broncos: Loss
@ Cardinals: Loss
Patriots: Loss
Vikings: Loss
@ Bills: Loss
My expectation for the Jets is that they end up being more disappointing than exciting. My belief is that Smith won’t play his best football and their defense won’t do a good job this season. That’s why I have New York only hitting their floor of four wins.
