This entire offseason has been all about hype and wishful thinking for the New York Jets. In a few short days, there will be no more thinking. The games will start counting and we will truly start seeing what this Jets team can do with Aaron Rodgers.
Their journey begins Monday night against the Buffalo Bills in a huge AFC East showdown right out of the gate. How will they fare Monday? Or at least how do experts think they will fare? Let’s find out what some folks are thinking for Week 1.
NFL.com
Ali Bhanpuri: Jets
Tom Blair: Jets
Brooke Cersosimo: Jets
Gennaro Filice: Jets
Dan Parr: Jets
CBS Sports
Pete Prisco: Bills 24, Jets 19 – “The Bills are still the team to beat in the AFC East, even if the Jets have received most of the preseason hype. Yes, Aaron Rodgers got them that, and he will play well, starting here. But the Jets have to learn how to win. Buffalo has won big games and playoff games. That matters. Josh Allen — remember him? — gets the best of Rodgers and the Jets.”
Will Brinson: Bills
Jared Dubin: Bills
Ryan Wilson: Bills
John Breech: Jets
Tyler Sullivan: Jets
Dave Richard: Bills
Jamey Eisenberg: Bills
Bleacher Report
Bleacher Report’s Week 1 picks
Gary Davenport: Bills
Brad Gagnon: Bills
Ian Hanford: Bills
Kristopher Knox: Bills
Maurice Moton: Jets
Wes O’Donnell: Bills
Brent Sobleski: Jets
ESPN
Matt Bowen: Bills
Mike Clay: Bills
Jeremy Fowler: Jets
Dan Graziano: Bills
Kimberly A. Martin: Bills
Eric Moody: Jets
Jason Reid: Bills
Lindsey Thiry: Bills
Sam Wickersham: Jets
MMQB
Albert Breer: Bills
Mitch Goldich: Bills
Claire Kuwana: Jets
Gilberto Manzano: Jets
Conor Orr: Bills
John Pluym: Bills
Matt Verderame: Jets
Pro Football Talk
Pro Football Talk’s Week 1 picks
Chris Simms: Jets 28-24
Mike Florio: Jets 33-30
Sporting News
Vinnie Iyer: Jets 23, Bills 20 – “The Bills are hoping to maintain their hold on the AFC East but they have a brash new challenger in the Jets, now led by Aaron Rodgers on the field to help support a budding dominant defense under coach Robert Saleh. The Bills are remixing offensively a little and making up for some lost pieces on the other side, too. The Jets will build on already being put together well around the QB and be “Hard Knocks” pumped to come through right away under the lights.”
Bill Bender: Bills 25, Jets 23 – “Aaron Rodgers’ debut with the Jets is here. Brett Favre won his New York debut in a 20-14 road victory at Miami. Rodgers has a tougher task. Buffalo lost 20-17 at New York last season, and Josh Allen was 34 of 61 (55.7%) with one TD and two interceptions against the Jets last season. Rodgers will be the focus, but the Bills are still the better team. Bold prediction: Buffalo stops a potential game-tying two-point conversion, and the post-game reaction centers on the Jets’ and how good they can be with Rodgers.”
The 33rd Team
Ryan Reynolds: Jets 23, Bills 20 – “The pressure is on Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets on Monday Night Football. With two high-caliber quarterbacks such as Rodgers and Josh Allen, a shootout is always on the table. However, when these division rivals met last season, both games were close, low-scoring affairs.
Both the Jets and Buffalo Bills’ defenses have high-end secondaries, and both fronts have at least a moderate edge against the opposing offensive line. There are more paths to a physical, defensive contest than a high-scoring one.”
Overall expert tally
Number of experts picking Bills: 21
Number of experts picking Jets: 19
