The New York Jets finished 2025 tied for the worst record in the NFL. The team and fans alike will hope that there is marked improvement in the win-loss column going in to 2026.
The Jets followed a catastrophic 2025 by being one of the most active teams throughout the offseason and the draft. The Jets acquired 16 NFL veterans through free agency or trade and eight rookies through the draft. This roster overhaul shows the evidence of a regime that needs to win now.
Aaron Glenn and company will be under scrutiny as soon as the season starts. The Jets will enter 2026 playing the last place teams and the AFC West in conference. New York will also face the NFC North and the Cardinals out of conference. With the 12th strongest schedule, will the Jets’ new roster be able to compete in 2026?
Week 1 @ Titans: W
The Jets open the season facing their former coach in his new home in Tennessee. Robert Saleh will look for revenge against the team that fired him two years prior. The matchup itself, though, looks to be less exciting than the storylines that go with it.
The Jets’ season opener will see them face off against another one of the teams that went 3-14 in 2025. New York and Tennessee have both re-tooled, but the latter is building around a young quarterback. The Jets’ veteran presence should be able to get them over the line against a young Titans team that could be exciting.
Week 2 vs. Packers: L
The Jets will follow week one with their home opener against the Green Bay Packers. While this Jets team should be more competitive than last year, they will have their hands full. A Matt LeFleur-led offense and a defense headlined by Micah Parsons will test out the new additions to the Jets’ roster.
The Jets should be motivated in front of their home fans, but the Packers will likely be too much for them. Green Bay has Super Bowl aspirations, making the playoffs in the past three seasons. New York may have a better roster than last season; however, an upset is an unlikely outcome to this early-season matchup.
Week 3 @ Lions: L
The Detroit Lions act as the midway point for the Jets in a three-week span of NFC North opponents. Aaron Glenn will face the team that led to him getting the head coaching spot in New York. Both teams will be looking to make an early statement, as they both fell below expectations in 2025. This rare matchup should be exciting on and off the field.
Gang Green lost a heartbreaker the last time they played the Lions in 2022, losing 20-17. The Jets have had more roster changes than the Lions since they last met, but the result should be similar. With the added motivation of playing for their coach, the Jets should keep the game close but ultimately fall short against Detroit.
Week 4 @ Bears: L
The Jets finish their gauntlet in the Midwest by facing off against the Chicago Bears. New York will hope that they are taking the steps the Bears took in 2025, coming into this matchup. Chicago was the recipient of Aaron Glenn’s counterpart in Detroit, Ben Johnson. Bears fans have been more satisfied than Jets fans with their respective hire. Johnson was able to lead the Bears to the playoffs in 2025, marking their first appearance in five years.
New York finds itself in another game with media storylines early on in the season. Unfortunately, a win in Chicago will be hard to find regardless of how motivated Aaron Glenn and his team are. Chicago is a young team coming into a potential contending window, where the Jets still have much to figure out in 2026.
Week 5 vs. Browns: W
Aaron Glenn and company will be looking to end a three-game skid when they come back home to face Cleveland in week five. The Browns were only two games better than the Jets in 2025 and still have questions at QB. This matchup will be a dogfight between the two teams with the worst records since 2010.
The Jets handled Cleveland in 2025 and will look to repeat in week five in what looks to be an even battle. New York and Cleveland will be looking for early-season answers, and the Jets have more stability and experience on their side than Cleveland looks to have.
Week 6 @ Patriots: L
New York’s division games will start with a trip up to a New England team coming off a Super Bowl appearance. The Patriots won both matchups between the teams in 2025, 27-14 and 42-10. If the Jets want to compete in 2026, this will be a chance to take that step against a division rival.
While the Jets may perform better, a win is unlikely. New England won the 2025 matchups by an average of 22.5 points. The Jets look to have made positive changes, but they will fall short against a year-three Drake Maye and the Patriots, who just traded for AJ Brown.
Week 7 vs. Dolphins: W
The Dolphins were the other AFC East team to experience a major shakeup this offseason. The Dolphins moved on after years of Tua Tagovailoa and Mike McDaniel to Malik Willis and Jeff Hafley. These teams, looking to get out of the AFC East cellar, will match up for the first time in 2026 in week seven.
Miami’s Defense should be better than it was last year, but the offense may be less dynamic. Jeff Hafley has a more defense-focused mindset than his predecessor, which could benefit the Jets. Aaron Glenn’s squad is more likely to win in a low-scoring affair as opposed to a shootout. This new look Dolphins team may be exactly what the Jets need to get a win in a tough division.
Week 8 vs. Raiders: W
The Raiders were the team that “beat out” the Jets for the number one pick, which ended up being Fernando Mendoza. When Las Vegas comes to the Meadowlands in week eight, Jets fans will be able to see the QB so many wanted. This game will also serve as a revenge opportunity for Geno Smith, who was traded after a single season in Vegas.
Experience should trump youth in this matchup between the two worst teams of 2025. Both teams have rosters that are in the midst of a full rebuild. While Fernando Mendoza dominated in his final college season, the NFL should prove tougher. Las Vegas wrote off Geno for Mendoza, and Smith will likely not be writing back come week eight.
Week 9 @ Chiefs: L
New York will look to build a win streak when they travel to Kansas City in week nine. The Chiefs missed the playoffs in 2025 for the first time in 11 years, while the Jets haven’t made it in 16. Kansas City compounded missing the playoffs with a Patrick Mahomes week 15 ACL tear. The Jets will be looking to capitalize on a team that has stumbled from its championship pedestal.
Andy Reid’s team, while not as dominant as in the past, should still make quick work of New York at home. The Jets will struggle on both sides of the ball as long as Patrick Mahomes is healthy. Kansas City still has more than enough pedigree to handle the Jets and will most likely come out on top in this midseason matchup.
Week 10 vs. Bills: L
The Jets will face back-to-back perennial contenders when they host Buffalo in week 10. Jets-Bills is a division matchup that always seems to get heated on the field. The Jets have lost five straight and the past 8/10 when facing the Bills, despite the competitive spirit that is evident in the players. They will look to stop the streak when the two teams meet in November.
While the Jets may want a win, one is unlikely to come. Josh Allen has only thrown one pick against the Jets since his turnover-riddled performance in the last Bills loss in 2023. Allen has seemed to figure out the Jets, and this roster won’t be enough to stop the losing streak in 2026.
Week 11 @ Chargers: L
New York will head west in week 11 to face off against Justin Herbert and the Chargers. The Chargers made the playoffs in 2025 before ultimately losing to the Patriots in the Wildcard. The Jets will continue a tough stretch against teams that have seen success when they make it to SoFi Stadium.
The Chargers, at this point, are a better organization than the Jets, top to bottom. The Jets will struggle against the Chargers as they will against many playoff teams during this rebuild. If New York can compete, many fans will see that as a win, but it will likely not be seen in their record.
Week 12 @ Dolphins: L
The Jets will continue a losing streak when they visit the Dolphins in Week 12. While Gang Green may win the reverse matchup, a win in Miami is unlikely. The last time New York won in Miami was 2014, and this roster is unlikely to be the one to break that streak.
Week 13 BYE
New York will get a bye at the right time after losing four straight. Week 13 is late to get the first rest of the season, but it may serve as exactly what the Jets need to finish the season strong. They will get to rest and recover while establishing a game plan for the rest of the season, whatever it may bring.
Week 14 vs. Broncos: W
The Broncos are a team coming off an AFC Championship appearance, which they may have won if Bo Nix had been healthy. The Jets have no right to win against a team like that. With that being said, the last two matchups between these teams have been decided by a total of three points.
For some reason, New York seems to match up well with Sean Payton’s squad. The Jets will be hungry for a win and coming off their bye. Look for this 2026 Jets team to get a signature win, taking down Denver in week 14.
Week 15 @ Cardinals: W
Momentum comes in waves. The Jets will look to ride the wave of a big win when they go to Arizona in week 15. The Cardinals were among the slew of 3-14 teams in 2025 despite an exciting offense. That offense could be more exciting in 2026 with the addition of Jeremiyah Love. The Jets will need to contain Arizona’s weapons if they are to get back-to-back W’s.
The QB for the Cardinals will be the main issue for Arizona in this matchup. Whether it is Jacoby Brissett or Carson Beck, the Jets will be able to take advantage of mistakes. This should lead to a Jets win against another team with a bridge and a fourth-round rookie QB.
Week 16 vs. Patriots: L
Unfortunately, not much should change in this matchup from the first. The Patriots simply have a better roster and better coaching at this point in time. It would be a massive surprise if the Jets were able to pull off a win against New England this year.
Week 17 vs. Vikings: W
The Vikings should be the only team with more regrets than the Jets regarding the departure of Sam Darnold. After a 14-3 2024 season, the Vikings fell to 9-8 in 2025. J.J. McCarthy was not able to continue the tradition of Kevin O’Connell getting the most out of quarterbacks during his first year at the helm. Minnesota responded to last season by acquiring Kyler Murray in hopes that a QB competition would end with an answer at QB.
Minnesota is a team that lacks an identity. Whether it’s who will be playing QB or if Justin Jefferson will stay long-term, the Vikings will be looking to figure out who they are in 2026. The Jets should be able to capitalize on this late in the season, snagging a win from their NFC North opponent.
Week 18 @ Bills: L
Another division loss to the Bills should be on the books in week 18. The Jets will likely be playing for nothing but bonuses and pride. The Bills, on the other hand, could be vying for crucial playoff seeding come the last week of the season. With that being the likely scenario, the Jets will end their season on a loss.
Final Record 7-10
The Jets will take a step up from last year’s rock bottom. With a revamped roster and a coach who is fighting for his job, New York should be able to handle the weaker teams on their schedule and may be able to upset a team or two in 2026. While the playoff drought will continue, Jets fans should be able to see some flashes of what this team could be.
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