Written by: Brett Maier
I’m making my debut on the website today and I’m coming in with a nice stone-cold-stunner. Is this an irrational thought? Most likely. Am I a hopeful blind Jets fan? You’re damn straight. BUT! I think there is a glimmer of hope here in the Jets 2021 schedule where they can pull this off.
I’m going to go through each of the Pats and Jets schedules and show you how this miracle in the eyes of many can come to life. Breaking it down into 4 different sections. Games 1-4, games 5-8, games 9-12, and games 13-17. I will not be giving in depth analysis on each game because 1) it is May, who knows what goes on over the off-season EX: Saints haven’t named a starting QB. 2) injuries will totally sway some of these games. 3) I’m no X’s and O’s genius over here.
Now before I start here, I am going off the assumption that Cam Newton will be starting at QB for the Patriots and Zach Wilson for the Jets. There will be a moment where I believe Mac Jones gets a shot which you will see later on.
Patriots 2021 Schedule
Games 1-4: vs MIA, at NYJ, vs NO, vs TB. Record: 1-3.
The Pats get 3 home games in the first 4 weeks to start off their season. Sadly, for the fans, I don’t think they get a single win in any of them. Miami has played the Pats tough under Flores and I think that continues. New playbook with Tua and new weapons going into year 2 will surprise them in week 1. Cam makes the Pats offense more predictable for Flores to dial up a nice game plan. Next they go into New York where I think they pick up the victory. Belichick’s resume vs rookie coach and QBs is too good to deny here and I think they’ll pick up an easy win.
They pick up a nice easy win in New York but they come home to a rude awakening in Foxboro. They lose back-to-back games to the Saints and Bucs. The Saints are a wildcard as far as starting QB goes right now but I believe in Sean Payton and more importantly a talented Saints defense to stop the Pats rushing attack. And of course there’s the front runner for game of the year vs a former teammate. I’d probably bet the mortgage that Brady will make sure the Bucs win that game in Foxboro. That’s a game you clear the schedule for. If you’re significant other tries to make plans that weekend, just file the divorce papers already it isn’t going to work out.
Games 5-8: at HOU, vs DAL, vs NYJ, at LAC. Record: 3-1.
I think the Pats turn it around here. Belichick is now starting to get into mid-season form and they pick up three wins over this stretch. Houston is a lock for me due to their QB situation, just a mess at the moment. The Chargers with a new head coach leaves Belichick salivating once again. Even though I do enjoy Staley. I think those are two fairly simple wins in the column for New England.
However, I do think Dallas gets one by them. The Dallas offense is loaded and I don’t see how the Pats will be able to keep up with them. I don’t believe in their weapons and Cam enough to spot them 28 points.
Lastly, yes I do have them sweeping the Jets even though the article would say otherwise. Even with the season sweep I still believe they’ll edge them out. I just don’t think a rookie QB and HC combination will beat Belichick within the first 10 weeks of the season at least.
Games 9-12: at CAR, vs CLE, at ATL, vs TEN. Record: 2-2.
This is a significant stretch for the 2021 Pats. They complete a three-game win streak vs the Panthers, I don’t think they have any problems. But the two week stretch after this is the turning point in the season for them.
They lose back-to-back games to the Browns and the Falcons. Now the Browns, to me, might be the best team in the AFC this season. That’s another article to write about. For me that’s no question a Browns win. But the Falcons game looks like a surprising one and it is. I like Arthur Smith and the mismatch of Pitts to go along with Calvin Ridley. The combination of that with Cam Newton struggling to complete passes is when the Patriots make the switch at the QB position, after they take this loss to a below average Atlanta team.
They bounce back in Mac Jones’ first start at home vs the Titans. I’m not high on the Titans this season. Their defense looks like it is going to be Swiss-cheese and their offense lacks weapons outside of AJ Brown and Derrick Henry. The big news is Mac Jones debut.
Games 13-17: at BUF, at IND, vs BUF, vs JAX, at MIA. Record 2-3.
Into the final five games of the season I think four of the five games are pretty clear on the outcomes. Buffalo is a top three team in the AFC. I think they sweep the Pats. I think the Jaguars are going to be a dumpster fire with Urban Meyer and I’m not too hot on Trevor Lawrence with him. So I give the Pats a win. And the Colts are a solid team with a good coaching staff. The roster is very talented on both sides of the ball, I think they’re simply more talented than New England, so that’s a loss.
As far as week 18 goes vs the Dolphins. I think they split the season series 1-1 with each other. Mac ends the season on a high note winning two games in a row.
End of season record: 8-9.
I have the Patriots going 8-9. Going an even 3-3 in their division, 1-3 vs the NFC South, 3-1 vs the AFC South, and the others 1-2. They have a 3 game win streak mid-season followed by two tough losses which springs the QB switch. I think the Pats have made good off-season acquisitions with Judon and the TE’s along with Mac Jones. But the lack of outside weapons is still a big glare for them. If their defense lets up 28 plus points I don’t see how their offense keeps up with anyone.
Jets 2021 Schedule
Games 1-4: at CAR, vs NE, at DEN, vs TEN. Record: 2-2
I have the Jets splitting the first two games of the season beating the Panthers and Broncos and losing to the Patriots and Titans. As said before, I believe the Pats will sweep the Jets this season as they usually do. As far as Tennessee goes I think Derrick Henry will be a little too much to deal with for the Jets improved defensive line. Still early in the season so I’d expect Wilson to have some growing pains.
I do believe they take down Carolina on opening weekend. The Sam Darnold revenge game will not be happening. Carolina’s defense has some holes in it and although I like their weapons for Sam, that offensive line is about as average as it gets. New acquisitions Carl Lawson and Quennin Williams could have a great day. With Denver I have no confidence in Drew Lock. He couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a boat. The Jets win two road games.
Games 5-8: at ATL, at NE, vs CIN, at IND. Record: 2-2.
Once again I have them splitting four games. Again, they lose to the Patriots again as well as in Indianapolis. Indy is a solid team across the board regardless of what you think of Carson Wentz. DeForest Buckner could be a huge thorn in the Jets interior lines side to go along with the run game could make it a tough day for them.
With two losses comes two wins against the Falcons and the Bengals. These are both vulnerable defenses, with average to below average offensive lines, and great weapons on the outside. The Jets young defensive line can take advantage of the weaker O-lines and Wilson can have an opportunity here to show off his arm talent. If the Jets young secondary can make one or two plays they have a good chance in those games.
Games 9-12: vs BUF, vs MIA, at HOU, vs PHI. Record: 3-1.
Big point in the season for the boys in green. Wilson is starting to hit full stride with a weaker schedule coming up here. The younger players have improved over Saleh and they win three in a row against the Dolphins, Texans, and Eagles.
The Texans are chopped liver with no soul and the Eagles made a questionable coaching hire. I do enjoy Jalen Hurts but I’m worried about that whole team aura with the GM and coaching staff. The Miami game is a stretch here but I’m taking the hope of Wilson over the hope of Tua. I believe these teams split the season series and the Jets take the home game to propel a little winning streak. Lastly, with the Bills game I expect a decent fight from the boys but the Bills are the cream of the crop right now. We don’t want to get too unrealistic here.
Games 13-17: vs NO, at MIA, vs JAX, vs TB, at BUF. Record: 2-3.
The Jets go on a 4 game win streak baby. Miami, Houston, Philly, and lastly New Orleans. This is the big stunner in the schedule to me which takes them over the Pats hump. A home game in November with the city buzzing about the three game win streak smells like trouble to me. Saleh brings the passion and emotion and gets the boys believing. Pair that with a shaky Saints QB room and we get a good ole upset. I also think they take down the Jags in the battle of rookie QBs. I straight up think Urban Meyer is a fraud already. I don’t believe in what he’s doing and this season is going to be a mess for Jacksonville.
The other three games are big washes for me however. Tampa and Buffalo are highly ranked Super Bowl contenders with top 4 rosters in the NFL for me. “No chance” to quote Vince McMahon. As I said before, they and Miami split the division games, I respect Brian Flores and Miami’s roster.
End of season record: 9-8.
I found a way to manufacture nine wins into the Jets schedule. I deserve a purple heart award for figuring out how to pull that off. But in all honesty, they have a favorable last place schedule with Denver, Jacksonville, Cincinnati, Philly, and Atlanta all on their schedule. They can sneak a surprise win in there with New Orleans like I’m predicting or even Tennessee early in the season. I have them going a measly 1-5 vs the division opponents but it doesn’t matter. Give me a 9-8 baby!
Recap
I am fully aware this is a major stretch but I do see the window here. The Jets have a young and talented roster with a promising HC who motivates players to be better than they think they are. So even though it's only one win more this hasn’t happened since 2002. As a Jet fan I am waiting for the day to smile, it hasn’t happened yet during the months of September and January in about a decade so I’m probably just trying to speak this into existence. Counting wins in May is a Jets fan patent at this point. This is when we can have hopes and dreams so let me rock.
I hope you enjoyed my first article on the site. There will be more to come that isn’t as bold and blasphemous as this one so don’t hate me already.
Follow me on twitter https://twitter.com/brettharrisonm
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