Schedule tough but manageable for Gang Green

WE HAVE now had a few days to digest the Jets’ 2020 schedule and find the pitfalls and soft spots (are there any?) that await Gang Green.

Here are some thoughts and observations on the Jets’ schedule:

1. We knew the Jets’ schedule was going to be hard. The reveal on Thursday night was not about who the Jets would play, but when. So, when you looked at facing the NFC West and also getting a road game at the Chiefs, that was enough to make this a rough slate.

I think the way the schedule falls is actually to the Jets’ benefit. Their toughest games are spread out. The 49ers, Chiefs and Seahawks are the best teams the Jets play. They get the 49ers early (Week 2), the Chiefs at midseason (Week 8) and the Seahawks late (Week 14).

Last year’s schedule was much easier overall, but the first two months of that schedule was brutal, and you knew there was a good chance the Jets could start off slow and the season would be over by Halloween. That is what happened.

This year’s schedule has a rough start with a trip to Buffalo and then getting the 49ers at home, but I’m not sure about the Colts, Broncos, Cardinals or Chargers. The Jets should have a chance to gain their footing and some confidence in that stretch.

2. It seems like by every measure this is a brutal schedule. If you use the 2019 win percentage, the Jets have the second-toughest schedule. That could be flawed because teams change from year to year. Warren Sharp of Sharp Football Analysis looked at strength of schedule based on projected win totals from Vegas. The Jets still have the third-toughest schedule in those ratings.

3. The Jets will travel plenty of miles this season facing the NFC and AFC West, but they only get back-toback road games once in the season. That comes in December with games at the Seahawks and Rams. The Jets are expected to stay in California between those games, minimizing the toll those trips will take on them.

4. Back-to-back games against the Dolphins (with a bye week wedged between) in November is going to be interesting. Think about this scenario: Ryan Fitzpatrick starts the year as the Miami starting quarterback and faces the Jets in the first game in Miami on Nov. 16. Do the Dolphins make the switch to Tua Tagovailoa during the bye week that immediately follows? Then, the Jets could face Fitzpatrick in one game and Tagovailoa two weeks later.

5. Opening against the Bills and finishing against the Patriots is familiar for the Jets. They have opened against Buffalo in two of the past three years, losing both games — in Orchard Park in 2017 and last year in East Rutherford.

The Jets have been stomped during their last few season-ending games in Foxborough. They lost 38-3 in 2018, Todd Bowles’ final game as coach, and 26-6 in 2017 with Bryce Petty at quarterback. Will it be different this year with Tom Brady gone? Could the Jets actually be playing for something?

6. The Jets face two teams that will be coming off short rest. The Chargers play on “Monday Night Football” at the Saints the week before they play the Jets. The Patriots play the Bills on Monday night before the Week 17 finale with the Jets. The Jets face only one team coming off of a bye — the Dolphins — and it is the same week the Jets have their bye.

The Bills will have extra rest before the game at MetLife in October. They play the Chiefs on Thursday night the week before. The Rams play on Thursday night as well before facing the Jets in December. Two teams from the West will face backto-back trips East unless they stay somewhere for the week. The Cardinals play in Carolina before playing at the Jets. The Raiders play at the Falcons the week before coming to MetLife.