After going 2-14 last year the 2021 season can not get here fast enough for the New York Jets. Gang Green’s opponents next season had a combined record of 132-138-2 (.489) in 2020, tied for 19th in strength of schedule. The Jets have just one prime-time game, a week nine, Thursday night tilt with the Indianapolis Colts. In week five they travel to London the take on the Falcons, which is followed by an early week six bye.
The Jets have some interesting quarterback match-ups for rookie signal caller Zach Wilson. They open the season in Carolina and square off with former quarterback Sam Darnold. In week sixteen the Jets take on first overall pick Trevor Lawrence, the quarterback most fans hoped would be wearing Gotham Green in 2021.
The season is still several months away but it is not too early to look ahead at some of the 2021 opponents and what they each did during the off-season. No predictions here it is way too early for that, just a drive through the first schedule under Robert Saleh.
Week 1 At Carolina Panthers, 09/12, 1:00 PM, CBS
Key Numbers
- 2020 record: 5-11
- 2020 DVOA rank: 24th
- Quarterback QBR: Sam Darnold 40.1 (33rd)
- 2021 Pro Football Focus Power Rank: 25th
Key Off-season Additions
LB Haason Reddick, QB Sam Darnold, CB A.J. Bouye, IDL DaQuan Jones, LB Denzel Perryman, WR David Moore, CB Rashaan Melvin, DL Morgan Fox, OL Cam Erving, OL Pat Elflein, Taylor Moton (franchise)
Key Draft Picks
CB Jaycee Horn, WR Terrace Marshall Jr., OT Brady Christensen, TE Tommy Tremble, RB Chuba Hubbard
Key Off-season Subtractions
WR, Curtis Samuel, QB Teddy Bridgewater, CB Rasul Douglas, OL Russell Okung (unsigned), IDL Kawann Short
Week 2 New England Patriots, 09/19, 1:00 PM, CBS
Key Numbers
- 2020 record: 7-9
- 2020 DVOA rank: 26th
- Quarterback QBR: Cam Newton 47.0 (30th)
- 2021 Pro Football Focus Power Rank: 15th
Key Off-season Additions
EDGE Matt Judon, OL Trent Brown, TE Hunter Henry, TE Jonnu Smith, CB Jalen Mills, WR Kendrick Bourne, WR Nelson Agholor, IDL Davon Godchaux
Key Draft Picks
QB Mac Jones, DT Christian Barmore, EDGE Ronnie Perkins, RB Rhamondre Stevenson
Key Off-season Subtractions
WR Julian Edelman, OL Marcus Cannon, CB Jason McCourty, OL Joe Thuney, WR Damiere Byrd,
Week 3 At Denver Broncos, 09/26, 4:05 PM, CBS
Key Numbers
- 2020 record: 5-11
- 2020 DVOA rank: 13th
- Quarterback QBR: Drew Lock 48.8 (29th), Teddy Bridgewater 64.2 (17th)
- 2021 Pro Football Focus Power Rank: 21st
Key Off-season Additions
QB Teddy Bridgewater, CB Kyle Fuller, CB Ronald Darby, S Justin Simmons (Franchise) S Kareem Jackson (re-signed), WR Tim Patrick (re-signed)]
Key Draft Picks
CB Patrick Surtain II, RB Javonte Williams, IOL Quinn Meinerz, LB Baron Browning
Key Off-season Subtractions
CB A.J. Bouye, RB Phillip Lindsay
Week 4 Tennessee Titans, 10/03, 1:00 PM, CBS
Key Numbers
- 2020 Record: 11-5
- 2020 DVOA rank: 29th
- Quarterback QBR: Ryan Tannehill 78.3 (4th)
- 2021 Pro Football Focus Power Rank: 13th
Key Off-season Additions
EDGE Bud Dupree, CB Janoris Jenkins, CB Kevin Johnson, EDGE Denico Autry, WR Josh Reynolds
Key Draft Picks
CB Caleb Farley, OT Dillon Radunz, LB Monty Rice, CB Elijah Molden
Key Off-season Subtractions
EDGE Jadeveon Clowney, CB Malcolm Butler, WR Corey Davis, CB Adoree’ Jackson, TE Jonnu Smith, CB Desmond King
Week 5 At Atlanta Falcons (London), 10/10, 9:30 AM, CBS
Key Numbers
- 2020 record: 4-12
- 2020 DVOA rank: 14th
- Quarterback QBR: Matt Ryan 67.0 (16th)
- 2021 Pro Football Focus Power Rank: 17th
Key Off-season Additions
RB Mike Davis, S Erik Harris, WR Cordarrelle Patterson, S Duron Harmon, EDGE Dante Fowler Jr (re-signed)
Key Draft Picks
TE Kyle Pitts, S Richie Grant, OT Jalen Mayfield, CB Darren Hall
Key Off-season Subtractions
C Alex Mack, S/LB Keanu Neal, S Ricardo Allen,
Week 6 Bye week
Week 7 At New England Patriots, 10/24, 1:00 PM, CBS
Week 8 Cincinnati Bengals, 10/31, 1:00 PM, CBS
Key Numbers
- 2020 record: 4-11
- 2020 DVOA rank: 27th
- Quarterback QBR: Joe Burrow 56.2 (24th)
- 2021 Pro Football Focus Power Rank: 27th
Key Off-season Additions
LT Riley Reiff, CB Mike Hilton, CB Chidobe Awuzie, EDGE Trey Hendrickson, IDL Larry Ogunjobi
Key Draft Picks
WR Ja’Marr Chase, OL Jackson Carman, EDGE Joseph Ossai, EDGE Cameron Sample
Key Off-season Subtractions
WR A.J. Green, RT Bobby Hart, CB William Jackson, EDGE Carl Lawson, CB Mackensie Alexander
Week 9 At Indianapolis Colts, 11/04 (Thursday), 8:20 PM, ESPN
Key Numbers
- 2020 record: 11-5
- 2020 DVOA rank: 7th
- Quarterback QBR: Carson Wentz 49.6 (28th)
- 2021 Pro Football Focus Power Rank: 11th
Key Off-season Additions
QB Carson Wentz (trade), LG Chris Reed, RB Marlon Mack (re-signed), WR T.Y. Hilton (re-signed)
Key Draft Picks
EDGE Kwity Paye, EDGE Dayo Odeyingbo, TE Kylen Granson
Key Off-season Subtractions
QB Philip Rivers (retired), EDGE Denico Autry
Week 10 Buffalo Bills, 11/14, 1:00 PM, CBS
Key Numbers
- 2020 record: 13-3
- 2020 DVOA rank: 12th
- Quarterback QBR: Josh Allen 81.7 (3rd)
- 2021 Pro Football Focus Power Rank: 3rd
Key Off-season Additions
WR Emmanuel Sanders, RT Bobby Hart, LG Forrest Lamp
Key Draft Picks
EDGE Greg Rousseau, EDGE Carlos Basham, OT Spencer Brown
Key Off-season Subtractions
WR John Brown, IDL Quinton Jefferson, RG Brian Winters
Week 11 Miami Dolphins, 11/21, 1:00 PM, CBS
Key Numbers
- 2020 record: 10-6
- 2020 DVOA rank: 11th
- Quarterback QBR: Tua Tagovailoa 52.5 (26th)
- 2021 Pro Football Focus Power Rank: 14th
Key Off-season Additions
LB Benardrick McKinney (trade), CB Justin Coleman, CB Jason McCourty, IDL Adam Butler, WR Will Fuller, C Matt Skura
Key Draft PIcks
WR Jaylen Waddle, EDGE Jaelan Phillips, S Jevon Holland, OT Liam Eichenberg, TE Hunter Long
Key Off-season Subtractions
EDGE Kyle Van Noy, EDGE Shaq Lawson, LG Ereck Flowers, QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, C Ted Karras,
Week 12 At Houston Texans, 11/28, 1:00 PM, CBS
Key Numbers
- 2020 record: 4-12
- 2020 DVOA rank: 30th
- Quarterback QBR: Deshaun Watson 70.5 (12th)
- 2021 Pro Football Focus Power Rank: 31st
Key Off-season Additions
RB David Johnson (re-sign), EDGE Shaq Lawson, LB Christian Kirksey, RT Marcus Cannon (trade), IDL Maliek Collins, QB Tyrod Taylor, RB Mark Ingrahm, LB Jordan Jenkins, CB Terrence Mitchell, LB Neville Hewitt, CB Vernon Hargreaves (re-sign), CB Desmond King, RB Philip Lindsey
Key Draft Picks
QB Davis Mills, WR Nico Collins, TE Brevin Jordan
Key Off-season Subtractions
IDL J.J. Watt, C Nick Martin, LB Bendardrick McKinney (trade), LG Zach Fulton, WR Wil Fuller,
Week 13 Philadelphia Eagles, 12/05, 1:00 PM, CBS
Key Numbers
- 2020 record: 4-11-1
- 2020 DVOA rank: 15th
- Quarterback QBR: Jalen Hurts 41.0 (NR)
- 2021 Pro Football Focus Power Rank: 30th
Key Off-season Additions
EDGE Ryan Kerrigan, S Anthony Harris, C Jason Kelce (re-signed), LB Eric Wilson, QB Joe Flacco, RB Kerryon Johnson
Key Draft Picks
WR DeVonta Smith, C/G Landon Dickerson, DT Milton Williams, RB Kenneth Gainwell
Key Off-season Subtractions
QB Carson Wentz (trade), WR DeSean Jackson, S Jalen Mills, EDGE Vinny Curry,
Week 14 New Orleans Saints, 12/12, 1:00 PM, FOX
Key Numbers
- 2020 record: 12-4
- 2020 DVOA rank: 2nd
- Quarterback QBR: Jameis Winston 15.6 (NR)
- 2021 Pro Football Focus Power Rank: 7th
Key Off-season Additions
S Marcus Williams (re-sign), QB Jameis Winston (re-sign)
Key Draft PIcks
EDGE Payton Turner, LB Pete Werner, CB Paulson Adebo,
Key Off-season Subtractions
WR Emmanuel Sanders, CB Janoris Jenkins, TE Jared Cook, QB Drew Brees (retired), IDL Malcolm Brown (trade), IDL Sheldon Rankins, EDGE Trey Hendrickson,
Week 15 At Miami Dolphins (TBD), CBS
Week 16 Jacksonville Jaguars, 12/26. 1:00 PM, CBS
Key Numbers
- 2020 record: 1-15
- 2020 DVOA rank: 31st
- Quarterback QBR: Trevor Lawerance (rookie)
- 2021 Pro Football Focus Power Rank: 29th
Key Off-season Additions
WR Marvin Jones, IDL Malcolm Brown, IDL Roy Robertson-Harris, RB Carlos Hyde, LT Cam Robinson (franchise), CB Shaquill Griffin, S Rayshawn Jenkins, LG Andrew Norwell (re-signed)
Key Draft Picks
QB Trevor Lawrence, RB Travis Etienne, CB Tyson Campbell, OT Walker Little, S Andre Cisco
Key Off-season Subtractions
WR Keelan Cole, CB D.J. Hayden (Unsigned),
Week 17 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 01/02, 1:00 PM, FOX
Key Numbers
- 2020 record: 11-5
- 2020 DVOA rank: 5th
- Quarterback QBR: Tom Brady 72.5 (9th)
- 2021 Pro Football Focus Power Rank: 2nd
Key Off-season Additions
EDGE Shaquil Barrett (re-signed), TE Rob Gonkowski (re-signed), LB Lavonte David (re-signed), WR Chris Goodwin (franchise), RB Leonard Fournette (re-signed)
Key Draft Picks
EDGE Joe Tyron, QB Kyle Trask, OT Robert Hainsey, WR Jaelon Darden
Key Off-season Subtractions
RG Joe Haeg,
