GETTING PICKY
Our experts make game-by-game predictions for Giants & Jets
Meet the new mock draft. Guessing at the first round of the NFL draft is too easy. Now, we’re guessing at the 16-game records of the teams whose picks we couldn’t correctly guess in all those mock drafts.
Let’s take a wild stab at how the Giants will do in the first year of the Ben McAdoo Era:
WEEK 1 AT COWBOYS: In his two years as Giants offensive coordinator, McAdoo never experienced a season-opening victory or a win in Dallas. This isn’t the easiest of debuts, but that Dallas offensive line is a perfect early-season test for the Giants’ revamped D-line. But Big Blue fails first test and drops a third straight in Jerry’s house. PREDICTION: COWBOYS 24, GIANTS 17 (0-1)
WEEK 2 VS. SAINTS: Sean Payton is still with the Saints, who aren’t exactly built to win in MetLife. New Orleans made some underrated offseason improvements, but it’s still going to live and die by its passing game, and neither Brandin Cooks nor Willie Snead will consistently win one-onone against Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and new corner Janoris Jenkins. PREDICTION: GIANTS 27, SAINTS 10 (1-1)
WEEK 3 VS. WASHINGTON: Can the Kirk Cousins Magic Carpet Ride continue for another year? You expect some regression from Washington, especially since the team didn’t make any drastic free agent moves, and it doesn’t have a plum draft pick, either. But Cousins still has terrific weaponry, especially tight end Jordan Reed. PREDICTION: WASHINGTON 30, GIANTS 16 (1-2)
WEEK 4 AT VIKINGS ON MONDAY NIGHT: This game touches off a challenging stretch that sees the Giants play three of four games on the road. And Minnesota isn’t the easiest opponent. On paper, they hardly look like Adrian Peterson and a bunch of nobodies, but don’t be shocked if young defenders such as linebacker Anthony Barr and corner Xavier Rhodes take leaps forward in 2016. This is a trap game for McAdoo. PREDICTION: VIKINGS 25, GIANTS 21 (1-3))
WEEK 5 AT PACKERS ON SUNDAY NIGHT: Expect plenty of hype heading into this one as McAdoo, ex-Packers QB coach, faces off against mentor Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers. The concern for Green Bay is this: The Pack still hasn’t cleaned up its offensive line, which is good news for the Giants. Also: Eli Manning has won three straight vs. Pack. PREDICTION: GIANTS 35, PACKERS 21 (2-3)
WEEK 6 VS. RAVENS: This may be the least exciting game on the schedule, matching Manning against boring Joe Flacco. This is a winnable game, but right before a trip to London, it’s also the kind of game you could see the Giants suffering a letdown. PREDICTION: RAVENS 21, GIANTS 18 (2-4)
WEEK 7 AT RAMS IN LONDON AT 9: 30 A.M.: The last time the Giants visited the Rams, it was in St. Louis, and they won. Oh, and Odell Beckham Jr. got into his first fight. Another Beckham fight is the last thing the league wants in its first game at Twickenham Stadium. L.A. has an even longer trip, and will be the team starting the rookie QB (my guess is Carson Wentz). PREDICTION: GIANTS 38, RAMS 21 (3-4)
WEEK 8: BYE WEEK 9 VS. EAGLES: McAdoo comes off the bye to face another offensive-minded first-year NFC East coach in Doug Pederson. The difference is McAdoo has a steady reliable quarterback. Pederson has . . . Sam Bradford. Philly is hardly a complete club. PREDICTION: GIANTS 24, EAGLES 16 (4-4)
WEEK 10 VS. BENGALS ON MONDAY NIGHT: At 124, the Bengals have the best 2015 record of any Giants opponent, and they have the offensive and defensive balance to present serious problems. Tight end Tyler Eifert can take advantage of those suspect Giants linebackers . . . and isn’t Jenkins due a coverage brain cramp at least once a year? Don’t be surprised if A.J. Green gets deep for at least one backbreaking play. PREDICTION: BENGALS 21, GIANTS 13 (4-5) WEEK 11 VS. BEARS: If Kevin White and Alshon Jeffery are healthy, there’s some sleeper offensive talent in Chicago. The Bears have plenty of holes — especially on defense, where they have to rely on an aging, suddenly injury-prone safety named Antrel Rolle — and Beckham and Manning should take advantage. In a close game, you give the veteran head coach John Fox the edge. PREDICTION: BEARS 38, GIANTS 35 (OT) (4-6)
WEEK 12 AT BROWNS: Nobody knows what the Browns are doing — and that includes the Browns. But Cleveland does have Robert Griffin III, who once terrorized and befuddled the Giants more than any other QB. If RG3 still has something left, he’ll keep Cleveland in this game. But that’s a huge if. PREDICTION: GIANTS 31, BROWNS 17 (5-6)
WEEK 13 AT STEELERS: It’s Manning vs. Big Ben Roethlisberger in another shootout. The Giants ‘D’ may be improved, but can it stop Antonio Brown? Don’t count on it. Then again, the Steeler defense won’t have answers for Beckham, either. Don’t be shocked if this is the most entertaining game of the year. PREDICTION: STEELERS 36, GIANTS 31 (5-7)
WEEK 14 VS. COWBOYS ON SUNDAY NIGHT: You don’t actually think the Cowboys will contain Beckham for two straight games, do you? Not with that pass rush-less defense, and not in MetLife Stadium. Watch the Giants get off to a fast start in their return home, and a defensive line that has chemistry by now just might put some pressure on Tony Romo. PREDICTION: GIANTS 21, COWBOYS, 14 (6-7)
WEEK 15 VS. LIONS: One week before Christmas, here’s a gift for McAdoo, the seventh victory of his career. Detroit doesn’t have a clearcut running back this season, no Calvin Johnson, and no game-breakers on D, so the Lions will be playing out the string. PREDICTION: GIANTS 45, LIONS 10 (7-7)
WEEK 16 AT EAGLES ON THURSDAY NIGHT: The Linc is never fun for these Giants, who haven’t won in Philly since 2013. But hey, by this time in December, they could be facing Chase Daniel, after the Eagles brain trust finally realizes that Sam Bradford is, well, Sam Bradford. PREDICTION: GIANTS 24, EAGLES 14 (8-7)
WEEK 17 AT WASHINGTON: That’s right: The Giants could have a winning record in McAdoo’s first year. They’ll have to win in FedEx Field, where Cousins has been near-unstoppable. They’ll arrive with momentum — but still without an answer for Reed. PREDICTION: WASH. 17, GIANTS 14 (8-8)
I’ll venture into the unforgiving world of NFL prognostication in mid-April fully knowing the risks. I will undoubtedly be lampooned for errors, mocked endlessly on social media and be forced to relive these 2016 Jets predictions gone horribly wrong. Strangers will “like” my tweet today only to cruelly re-tweet it in January as a reminder of my cluelessness.
I’m not a professional gambler, so the failure rate will probably be high. Of course, it’s a nearly impossible task to predict wins and losses before the draft for a team that doesn’t even know its Week 1 starting quarterback is yet.
Nevertheless, I’ll soldier on and make my fearless predictions for the 2016 Jets season:
WEEK 1 VS BENGALS: I gotta be honest. The first six games on the schedule look like grim death. It could be a bloodbath by mid-October, but if ever there were a chance to steal one of these earlyseason games, this is it. The Jets will have ample time to prepare for a Cincy team coming off a 12win season. Offensive coordinator Hue Jackson is gone … and I’ve never been a believer in Andy Dalton (especially after he came up small for my fantasy team following a trade at the deadline). PREDICTION: JETS 24, BENGALS 20 (1-0)
WEEK 2 AT BILLS ON THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Gang Green will have a short week to prepare for its first AFC East foe. Both teams will be a part of history, too. It’ll be the first game to be streamed live on Twitter. (Todd Bowles and Rex Ryan may or may not have shadow Twitter accounts.) The Jets return to Buffalo for the first time since their crushing Week 17 loss that kept them out of the playoffs. PREDICTION: BILLS 23, JETS 17 (1-1)
WEEK 3 AT CHIEFS: The last time the Jets were in Kansas City, Mike Vick and Matt Simms were under center. They’ll need much better quarterback play to have a chance to topple a boring — but sound — Andy Reid team. No Justin Houston will certainly help matters, but
Arrowhead Stadium is a hellish place to play. PREDICTION: CHIEFS 24, JETS 20 (1-2)
WEEK 4 VS SEAHAWKS: These are definitely not your older brother’s ’Hawks, but they were icy hot down the stretch last season. They’re a different team without their 12th Man in Seattle, but Russell Wilson is so damn pesky. This will be a white knuckler. PREDICTION: JETS 19, SEAHAWKS 16 OT (2-2)
WEEK 5 AT PITTSBURGH: On one hand, the Steelers defense is akin to Swiss cheese. On the other hand, their offense is frightening even without play-making receiver Martavis Bryant, who has been suspended for the season for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. New tight end Ladarius Green will be a force in this high-octane offense. The Jets secondary might be overwhelmed by Big Ben & Co. PREDICTION: STEELERS 30, JETS 23 (2-3) WEEK 6 AT CARDINALS ON MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Bruce Arians has been a trusted friend and mentor to Bowles for the better part of his adult life. The teacher takes this one in prime time. PREDICTION: CARDINALS 27, JETS 20 (2-4) WEEK 7 VS RAVENS: The Jets get back to their winning ways by pummeling Joe Flacco into submission. PREDICTION: JETS 28, RAVENS 13 (3-4)
WEEK 8 AT BROWNS: Nothing quite like entering the midway point of the season with a contest against one of the league’s cupcakes. Who will be Hue Jackson’s starting quarterback? Robert Griffin III? Carson Wentz? It won’t really matter. The Jets are going to roll. PREDICTION: JETS 30, BROWNS 13 (4-4)
WEEK 9 AT MIAMI: The Jets have won four consecutive road or neutral-site games against the Dolphins. In fact, the epic Santonio Holmes meltdown during the 2011 season finale was the last loss in south Florida. But my gut tells me that Miami’s new offense, with rookie head coach Adam Gase, will be more challenging than the dink-anddunk slop that it ran under the previous regime. PREDICTION: DOLPHINS 20, JETS 17 (4-5) WEEK 10 VS RAMS. The Jets will get their first look at top overall pick Jared Goff (yes, that’s who I believe L.A. will take after giving up a boatload of picks to grab the top spot). Chances that Goff figures out the Jets’ defense: Slim. Ask Marcus Mariota how challenging it was to go up against Bowles’ defense last season. PREDICTION: JETS 24, RAMS 10 (5-5) WEEK 11 BYE. WEEK 12 VS PATRIOTS ON SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me three times, well, I don’t know who should be ashamed. Nevertheless, this prime-time matchup will be loaded with story lines. Every year, I think the Patriots Empire will crumble. Every year, I’m left to explain why it didn’t. Brady & Belichick typically get the last laugh. Besides, did I mention that I don’t know who the Jets quarterback will be? PREDICTION: PATRIOTS 24, JETS 21 OT (5-6)
WEEK 13 VS COLTS ON MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Andrew Luck was pummeled in an early-season loss to the Jets last year. Gang Green’s defensive line vs. the Colts offensive line isn’t a fair fight … but could Mo Wilkerson be taking up permanent residence in Indy? PREDICTION: JETS 30, COLTS 17 (6-6)
WEEK 14 AT 49ERS. Chip Kelly’s offense scares nobody. By this point in the season, San Francisco’s defense will be running on fumes after logging so many snaps. This could be a laugher. PREDICTION: JETS 33, 49ERS 13 (7-6)
WEEK 15 VS DOLPHINS ON SATURDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL. Bowles & Co. exact revenge against their division foes. PREDICTION: JETS 20, DOLPHINS 17 (8-6) WEEK 16 AT PATRIOTS. Brady will be Gang Green’s Grinch on Christmas Eve. PREDICTION: PATRIOTS 20, JETS 16 (8-7)
WEEK 17: VS BILLS. The Jets will ring in the New Year with a win, but be left out of the playoffs for a sixth consecutive season. PREDICTION: JETS 17, BILLS 13 (9-7)