NY Jets Schedule 2022: Game-by-game predictions and analysis

Final analysis of the NY Jets schedule

A generous person might see the Jets' 2022 schedule as having six or maybe seven "winnable" games for them. It's still way too early to predict a record, although for entertainment's sake and out of boredom until the season starts, many like myself will try.

The schedule-makers did not put together an easy slate of games for the Jets to build up their confidence. If the Jets can somehow get to 3-6 or 4-5 by their bye in Week 10, they might have a chance to make some noise later in the season.

Unfortunately, Jets fans have learned the hard way that so much can happen between now and the regular season that can alter a team's overall outlook. See last year's Carl Lawson season-ending injury.

It's much easier to put up victories in the offseason than it is to have it translate to the win column, even though this year feels different. Jets nation has celebrated offseason triumphs in the past, only to face harsh reality when the games start counting.

On paper, if key players are healthy, the Jets look like a vastly improved football team, but in an ultra-competitive AFC, a team with eight or nine-win potential on paper could easily win two fewer games because of the stiff competition.

Provided that their key players stay relatively healthy, and that has certainly not been a given in recent years, I think the Jets can win eight games to go 8-9 this season. It certainly doesn't sound like a successful campaign to most, but for the Jets, it would be. 

There's no doubt that the Jets, who have added a lot of quality talent through the draft and free agency, need to progress in 2022. Joe Douglas, Robert Saleh, and the coaching regime still have some leeway and will likely all be back in 2023, but the pressure is on for the Jets to take a significant step forward.

The last thing the franchise needs is another cellar-dwelling season, where the focus in December is on draft positioning. Otherwise, Douglas and the Jets brain trust will be entering 2023 in lame-duck status.