With the release of the 2019 NFL schedule comes a handful of intriguing storylines the Jets will be faced with this upcoming season.
From the beginning to the end of the slate, New York’s schedule is loaded with intrigue. These storylines will add some juice and make nearly every Jets game must-see TV regardless of the state of the team.
With that being said, here are six of the biggest storylines the Jets will face in 2019.
Adam Gase vs. Miami and Ryan Fitzpatrick
Since taking the Jets’ head coaching job, Adam Gase has been billed as a fiery competitor who coaches with a chip on his shoulder. With this kind of makeup, it’s safe to assume Gase will be out for revenge when he takes on his former team in 2019 in Week 9 and Week 14.
As if Gase’s hunger to defeat the Dolphins wasn’t enough, Ryan Fitzpatrick is now back in the division as Miami’s starting quarterback. It remains to be seen if the veteran will be usurped by a veteran by the time the first matchup between the two teams rolls around, but Fitzpatrick’s presence alone will add another element to this rivalry.
Week 2 blockbuster
New York’s Week 2 showdown with the Cleveland Browns is a storyline in of itself.
For starters, the Monday Night matchup will mark Odell Beckham Jr.’s return to MetLife Stadium. It will also be Jets defensive coordinator Gregg Williams’ first time coaching against his former squad. Then, the Sam Darnold vs. Baker Mayfield rematch comes into play. Last season, Mayfield replaced injured starter Tyrod Taylor mid-game and led Cleveland to a triumphant win over Darnold and the Jets.
All eyes will likely be on Beckham come kickoff, but plenty of intriguing storylines will be at play here. This game was a primetime selection for a reason.
Reunion Games
Five of New York’s newest acquisitions will reunite with their former teams in 2019. The juiciest reunion of them all will be when Le’Veon Bell and the Jets take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 16.
After sitting out all of 2018 due to a contract dispute, Bell suit up against the Steelers in a game that could wind up having playoff implications. Bell caught a lot of internal and external heat for his decision to sit out last season, so he’ll be locked in and ready to prove that Pittsburgh made the wrong decision in not giving in to his contractual demands.
Other reunion games include C.J. Mosley and Ty Montgomery against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 15, Jamison Crowder against the Washington Redskins in Week 11 and Kelechi Osemele against the Oakland Raiders in Week 12.
A rivalry renewed
For the first time since 2015, the Jets and the Giants will renew their regular season rivalry in Week 10.
The Jets had the upper hand four years ago, as Nick Folk nailed a walk-off field goal in overtime to give Gang Green a 23-20 victory. This time around, the Jets will be the official home team.
The Giants lead the all-time series 8-5, but both teams find themselves in different positions heading into 2019. The Jets are eyeing a return trip to the postseason, while the Giants are in rebuild mode. Regardless, the battle for New York will take center stage on November 10.
Travel-friendly
Last season, the Jets traveled nearly a total of 10,000 miles for their road games. That will not be the case in 2019, as New York is slated to remain relatively close to home for the duration of the season.
The Jets will not be leaving the eastern timezone this upcoming season. The longest trips New York will have to make are to Jacksonville, Miami and Cincinnati, all of which are travel-friendly.
Backloaded road schedule
After playing four of their first six games at home, the Jets will be on the road for the majority of their second-half schedule.
New York plays six of its final 10 games on the road, including a trip to frigid Buffalo to take on the Bills in Week 17. The Jets will also have the Jacksonville Jaguars and Miami Dolphins on the road in back to back weeks, which is no easy task.
How the Jets perform on the road down the stretch will likely be the determining factor in how 2019 plays out. If New York is in the thick of the AFC playoff race in the second half, coming away with hard-fought road wins will be essential to securing a postseason birth for the first time in nearly a decade.
