Jets will pay the Bills a visit in Week 1

NEW YORK — The Jets will spend plenty of time on airplanes this season after logging a franchise-low 6,688 air miles last season.

The Jets will have the second toughest strength of schedule in 2020 behind only the Patriots based on opponents’ winning percentage last season. Adam Gase’s club had the fiftheasiest schedule last year based on opponents’ final winning percentage.

The Jets will host two prime-time games (Thursday night against the Broncos in Week 4 and Monday night against the Patriots in Week 9). They will play seven games against teams that made the playoffs last year (and eight against teams with winning records), including both Super Bowl LIV participants. On the bright side, Gang Green is finally be free of Tom Brady. The expanded playoff format also gives hope that the Jets could break their nine-year playoff drought.

Most intriguing game: Week 1 at the Bills

This will be an early litmus test for the new-look Jets, who will have to go through Buffalo now in the Tom Brady-less AFC East. Sean McDermott, coming off a 10-win campaign and playoff berth, has the most complete roster in the division. A win against the division favorites could springboard Sam Darnold & Co.

The Jets return to Orchard Park for the first time since they won a de facto preseason game in Week 17. McDermott won’t be playing his second- and thirdteamers this time.

Adam Gase will have payback on his mind after his team squandered a twotouchdown, fourth-quarter lead in last year’s season opener to the Bills. Toughest stretch: Weeks 14-17

The schedule makers certainly didn’t make it easy for Gase’s club down the stretch. The Jets play three of the final four games on the road against three teams with winning records last season. The final quarter of the season appears to be the most daunting right now, but things have a way of changing year to year.

The Jets will face the Seahawks and Rams in Weeks 14 and 15, respectively, prompting the obvious move: Gang Green will stay out on the West Coast rather than make back-to-back cross-country trips. The team asked the NFL to schedule consecutive games out west in that fashion to cut down on their grueling travel schedule given that they are playing three teams on the West Coast this season.

Douglas was with the Eagles in 2017 when Philly did the exact same thing between road games against the Seahawks and Rams. The Eagles practiced at the Angels baseball stadium in Anaheim during the week after flying down from Seattle. The Eagles lost starting quarterback (and MVP candidate) Carson Wentz against the Rams, but wound up winning the Super Bowl that season.

Gang Green will host the Browns in Week 16 before traveling to Foxborough for

the finale. The Jets have lost eight in a row against Bill Belichick entering this season.

Easiest stretch: Weeks 9-12

The Jets will host the Patriots on Monday Night

Football in Week 9 before facing the Dolphins twice in a three-week span. They’ll have a bye between the Miami games. This will give Gase’s club a chance to recharge for what looks like a daunting final month of the season.