Jets game-by-game predictions after reveal of 2026 NFL schedule

The New York Jets' 2026 schedule is officially out, and fans can now see what the roadmap of next season will look like for Gang Green.

Despite having a fourth-place schedule, it's not going to be an easy year for the Jets. Their strength of schedule indicates a more difficult-than-not list of opponents.

Regardless, it's a make-or-break year for Aaron Glenn, and he'll need the Jets to be at least competitive to keep his job heading into 2027. How will New York fare?

New York Jets 2026 game-by-game predictions

Week 1: @ Tennessee Titans

In the grudge match to end all grudge matches, the Jets head down to Nashville, facing off against former head coach Robert Saleh, defenders Jermaine Johnson and John Franklin-Myers, along with a litany of other former Jets.

The Titans are still a young and rebuilding team, though. Quarterback Cam Ward is still developing as an NFL passer. Glenn needs to win this game, and we suspect he will. Win

Week 2: vs. Green Bay Packers

In the first of three straight games against NFC North opponents, the Jets open at home against the Packers, a talented and battle-tested team that may be without All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons.

Green Bay is too talented and too well-coached to drop this game, though, despite the possibility of not having their best defensive player. And the Jets will surely be an underdog, despite playing at MetLife Stadium. Loss

Week 3: @ Detroit Lions

For the first time in his coaching career, Glenn will face off against the team he used to coordinate the defense for at Ford Field in Detroit.

The Lions are coming off a season where they pain-stakingly missed the playoffs, and will almost certainly have a chip on their shoulder throughout 2026. It will be tough for the Jets to keep pace with Detroit in their own building. Loss

Week 4: @ Chicago Bears

To end the NFC North gauntlet, the Jets travel to Chicago to take on the Bears at Soldier Field, in what will be another difficult matchup.

Caleb Williams is an ascending star, and he and Ben Johnson make a fool out of nearly every defense they face. New York is no different. Loss

Week 5: vs. Cleveland Browns

For the second consecutive season, the Jets will host the Browns at MetLife Stadium, where they typically are able to pull out a win. Cleveland's defense will surely be tough, and linebacker Quincy Williams may have an axe to grind with his old team.

Despite that, the Browns quarterback situation is murky at best, and if the Jets want any hope of being competitive in 2026, this is a must-win game to get their season back on track after three straight losses. Win

Week 6: @ New England Patriots

The Jets historically have a hard time playing in Foxborough, and we suspect this time around will be no different. New England is the defending AFC champions, and although some suspect they'll take a step back in 2026, they'll still be a tough play regardless.

The Patriots are likely to take care of business at Gillette Stadium, and the Jets will lose their seventh consecutive AFC East matchup. Loss

Week 7: vs. Miami Dolphins

Returning home to face the Dolphins, this may be the Jets' best chance to snap that aforementioned AFC East losing streak.

Miami is in a clear and obvious rebuilding year, as evidenced by their offseason moves of moving on from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and wide receiver Tyreek Hill. New York may not have the most talent, but they'll surely have enough to beat this version of the Dolphins. Win

Week 8: vs. Las Vegas Raiders

This game will have plenty of storylines heading into it. No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza is facing off against the team that wishes they had a shot at drafting him, Geno Smith is getting an opportunity to prove the Raiders were wrong to let him go -- the possibilities are endless.

But Las Vegas was the only team worse than the Jets in 2025, and for good reason; they just don't have that much talent. New York should be able to take care of business here at home, regardless of whose quarterbacking the Raiders by Week 8. Win

Week 9: @ Kansas City Chiefs

For the first time since 2020, the Jets will make their way to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium for a tilt with the Chiefs. That last matchup wasn't all that great, but this is a different Kansas City team, not at the peak of their powers.

Patrick Mahomes will likely be back by then, minimizing the chances of a Justin Fields revenge game. But similar to the Lions, Kansas City is playing with a chip on its shoulder after missing the postseason in 2025, and can't afford to drop a game like this. Loss

Week 10: vs. Buffalo Bills

Buffalo is always going to be a tough opponent for the Jets, especially if they have Josh Allen under center. The 2026 season will likely be no different.

Glenn could make a strong statement by picking up a win against a team New York hasn't beaten since 2023, but it remains unlikely given the talent deficiency between the two teams. Loss

Week 11: @ Los Angeles Chargers

In the first of only two Jets games to kick off in the 4 o'clock window in 2026, New York travels to Los Angeles to take on the Chargers.

Similar to the Chiefs and Bills, the Jets just aren't equipped to go toe-to-toe with an MVP-caliber quarterback such as Justin Herbert and overcome Jim Harbaugh's stingy defense. Loss

Week 12: @ Miami Dolphins

The Jets haven't swept the Dolphins in AFC East play in nearly 11 years, dating back to the 2015 season. This is the perfect opportunity to break that streak.

Geno Smith, returning to his home state of Florida, gets a win here for the Jets to keep their season afloat against a still rebuilding Dolphins team. Win

Week 13: BYE

Week 14: vs. Denver Broncos

For the ninth time in the last 10 years, the Jets will face the Broncos, this time at MetLife Stadium. Denver barely squeaked it out against New York in England last season, winning a sloppy 10-9 defensive slugfest.

But Glenn showed he may have a blueprint to slow down Bo Nix and the Broncos offense, and now, with a little more talent on both offense and defense, the Jets pull off the upset at home. Win

Week 15: @ Arizona Cardinals

There aren't many other less-talented teams on paper the Jets will face in 2026 than the Cardinals, who are entering a rebuild under new head coach and former offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur.

Whether it's Jacoby Brissett or Carson Beck, the Jets should be able to pick up a win in Arizona, despite their history of playing poorly at State Farm Stadium. Win

Week 16: vs. New England Patriots

The Jets taking down the Patriots at least once felt reasonable heading into the 2025 season, but that was before Drake Maye ascended into a star and helped lead New England to the Super Bowl.

It's always tough to beat the same opponent twice in the same season, but New England is likely to take care of business here in New York, despite the Jets playing at home. Loss

Week 17: vs. Minnesota Vikings

If this were last year's Vikings, and J.J. McCarthy was at the helm, the Jets may have had a better shot at winning this game. Heck, the Giants nearly pulled it off at a similar time of year in 2025.

Kyler Murray isn't a massive upgrade, but he should be enough of one to give Minnesota a bump in their offensive production. The Vikings are due for a bounce-back season. Loss

Week 18: @ Buffalo Bills

Ah, yes. The yearly season finale in Buffalo always seems to feel as dark and depressing as it looks outside this time of year in the New York-New Jersey area.

There's always a chance the Bills rest their starters, similar to when Mitchell Trubisky came in relief of Josh Allen last year, but if Buffalo is playing for something, you'd be hard-pressed to predict a Jets victory. Loss

Final Prediction: 7-10

The Jets have a chance to win some of the easier games on their schedule heading into 2026, but there are still a lot of playoff-caliber teams that they seem unlikely to compete with.

If New York goes 7-10, Aaron Glenn will certainly catch some heat from the fans, but if the team is competitive enough and not getting blown out on a weekly basis, he would likely be allowed to return for another season in 2027.

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