Todd Bowles knows what is at stake for Jets in Week 1

As the New York Jets get ready for their season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals, head coach Todd Bowles knows exactly what is at stake in Week 1.

Finally, after a long offseason, football is back. The New York Jets are ready to continue the momentum they built upon last year in which under a new leadership regime, totaled a 10-6 final record.

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Expectations were low in 2015 but this time around, they’re very high in the grand scheme of things. The Jets have a very tough schedule that awaits them to see if they’re truly contenders or pretenders. It won’t be easy but it all starts with the kind of tone that is set when the Jets welcome in the Cincinnati Bengals to MetLife Stadium to start off the new season.

The Bengals are a playoff-contending team that will want to prove their upgrades on defense this offseason will be what gets them over the hump. It’s been a very long time since the Bengals actually won a playoff game but make no mistake about it, they play great football during the regular season.

It’s important for the Jets to prove that despite a brutal schedule in 2016, they play fundamental football in every aspect of the game. Their defense must be stout, their offense must continue being one that consistently keeps those chains moving, and for once, their special teams needs to prove they can achieve great field positioning.

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Head coach Todd Bowles knows exactly what it at stake in this Week 1 matchup.

If the Jets can beat the Bengals, it will show that it doesn’t matter what their schedule looks like, they can be a competitive team capable of defeating anyone.

Using that famous “any given Sunday” mantra, Bowles knows that even though the Bengals will have some new faces and coaches in 2016, they’re still a formidable team.

Courtesy of the Media Relations Department of the Jets, here is what Bowles recently said to reporters about what the Bengals bring to the table:

On what stands out about the Bengals…

Obviously well-coached. They’ve got a lot of talent. To the quarterback to the receivers to the tight ends. The running backs. The offensive line is huge. (The) defensive line is active. Experienced linebackers, a good secondary. They’ve got a good, overall team. They win every year for a reason.

On if the Bengals are different without offensive coordinator Hue Jackson…

They don’t look different. I doubt it. All of the guys have been in the system for awhile. I’m sure (Ken) Zampese will change some things, but they’ll keep some things the same. I’m sure they have some new wrinkles for us.

On challenges posed by talented Bengals offense…

Obviously, it’s a good challenge because they’ve got a good team. They have no weaknesses there. We’ve got to play structured fundamental football and everybody’s got to be where they need to be.

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Overall, Bowles knows to take things one game at a time and trust his players/coaches to execute. There is a lot at stake in Week 1 as all eyes will be on how the Jets handle one of the better teams in the NFL. Can they keep up with them? Will they have what it takes to defeat them? At the end of the day, the Jets control their destiny over the course of a long season ahead as it all starts now.