The Jets schedule for the 2024 season has been released, and for diehard football fans, the countdown to kickoff is underway.
While there is no real, meaningful football to play until September, there is plenty of time for delusions of grandeur. From now until Week One, there will be fans making the argument that this is the year their favorite team starts to turn things around and this is a different year.
One group of fans that might have a legitimate argument when it comes to that statement though is the New York Jets. Let’s take a preview of the Jets season through the eyes of the book.
Championship odds
Starting with the big picture, the Jets currently sit at +2000 to win the Super Bowl. These are the 11th shortest odds in the league and second shortest in the AFC East behind the Buffalo Bills who are listed at +1200. As for potentially being the top dog in the AFC, New York is tied with the Miami Dolphins with the sixth-longest odds at +1100.
While these are extremely long odds for the Jets and might seem out of reach given the strength of the AFC as a whole, there are plenty of other opportunities to capitalize or better bets that are within reach for New York.
One of the best values I see in regards to the Jets is +200 to win the division. Last season, Gang Green went 7-10 overall with a 2-4 division record behind abysmal quarterback play from Zach Wilson, Tim Boyle, and crew. With the addition of a (hopefully) healthy Aaron Rodgers combined with the regression of the Buffalo Bills after losing star wide receiver Stefon Diggs, New York has a feasible path to win the division.
Divisional matchups
Looking at the Jets divisional matchups, two out of their first three games in the division are against a rebuilding New England Patriots team with no defined starting QB. After finally breaking their 15-game losing streak in Week 18 last year, New York must sweep the Patriots this year if they consider themselves serious contenders.
If the Jets can sweep one of the Bills or the Dolphins and split with the other, that would give them a 5-1 record, guaranteeing at least a tie-breaker for the division. While this is easier said than done, the addition of Aaron Rodgers is the most impactful addition any AFC East team has made to their roster. Considering the Bills were able to win the division with a 4-2 record last season, the Jets have room for error when it comes to competing for the AFC East.
While New York will have its eyes on the division, their odds of making the playoffs currently sit at -135. The Jets are tied for the eleventh toughest strength of schedule, a middle-of-the-pack strength of schedule compared to the rest of the league after having the sixth toughest schedule in the league last season. Assuming the Jets will be at full strength, this is a significant break for New York in their hunt for the playoffs.
All of these factors and selections rest on the Achilles tendon of Rodgers, who will need to be the franchise quarterback New York has dreamed of since he went down against Buffalo last season. If the Jets can maintain their health, it could be a historic and exciting season at the Meadowlands.
Odds courtesy of DraftKings
