New York Jets 2020 Schedule: What They Must Do To Make Playoffs

The NFL schedule has been made public and the mission for Adam Gase and the New York Jets is quite clear. They must get at least a split of their first two games against Buffalo and San Francisco. If they do not, it will be an uphill climb to make the playoffs.

Unlike last season, the schedule isn’t quite as front-loaded (see full Jets’ schedule below). The Jets got off to a 1-7 start against that difficult 2019 schedule, and were not helped by the fact that promising young quarterback Sam Darnold missed three consecutive games with mononucleosis as the Jets stumbled out of the gate at 0-4. The first two games this year are against 2019 playoff teams, Buffalo on the road and Super Bowl loser San Frncisco in the home opener on Sept. 20. But the next four contests are against teams that did not qualify for the 2019 post-season—Indianapolis and the Los Angeles Chargers on the road, with home games against Denver and Arizona sandwiched in between. 

That’s why if the Jets, Gase and Darnold can at least get out of those first two games at 1-1, or better yet, 2-0, the chances of breaking a drought of nine seasons without a playoff berth would look a lot brighter. 

It will not be easy for Darnold and Co., however. The 49ers finished the 2019 regular season atop the NFL in overall pass defense and the Bills were fourth. The Jets could have as many as four new starters on their offensive line, and also will have a revamped outside receiver corps. Darnold’s favorite deep target, Robby Anderson, now is a Carolina Panther and thhe Jets thus will be counting on former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Breshad Perriman and second-round draft pick Denzel Mims (Baylor) to stretch the field the way Anderson used to. 

On the other sideline, Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen, who will be entering his third NFL season, will be adjusting to the addition of former Minnesota Vikings star wide receiver Stefon Diggs, and will be dealing with raised expectations now that many pundits consider the Bills the AFC favorites in the absence of Tom Brady. As for the 49ers’ Jimmy Garoppolo, his inability to build on San Francisco’s second-half lead in the Super Bowl raised questions about whether he is a future franchise QB or merely a glorified game manager.  

The bottom line is, these are tough but not unwinnable games for the Jets and Gase, who need at least a split. After that, they visit the Colts, who now have veteran Philip Rivers; host Denver and young QB Drew Lock on a Thursday night. Expect veteran defensive coordinator Gregg Williams to have some wrinkles the second-year player won’t be ready for on a short week. 

Then, on Oct. 11, the Jets will have three extra days to prepare for second-year QB Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals, who play at Carolina on Oct. 4. Finally, New York concludes this stretch with a game at the Chargers the following Sunday. Los Angeles could be starting rookie Justin Herbert at quarterback by this juncture. 

The schedule then stiffens a bit, with home games against Buffalo and New England sandwiched around a visit to defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City. But unlike last year, there is no reason for the Jets to be out of contention by the halfway point. 

That is, if they can navigate those first two weeks. The full schedule:

• Sept. 13: at Buffalo, 1 p.m., CBS
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• Sept. 20: San Francisco, 1 p.m, FOX
• Sept. 27: at Indianapolis, 4:05 p.m, CBS
• Oct. 1: Denver (Thursday), 8:20 p.m., NFL Network
• Oct. 11: Arizona, 1 p.m., FOX
• Oct. 18: at LA Chargers, 4:05 p.m, CBS
• Oct. 25: Buffalo, 1 p.m, CBS
• Nov. 1: at Kansas City, 1 p.m., CBS
• Nov. 9: New England (Monday), 8:15 p.m., ESPN
• Nov. 15: at Miami, 4:05 p.m., CBS
• Week 11, BYE
• Nov. 29: Miami, 1 p.m., CBS
• Dec. 6: Las Vegas, 1 p.m., CBS
• Dec. 13: at Seattle, 4:05 p.m, CBS
• Dec. 19 or 20 (TBD): at LA Rams, TBD
• Dec. 26 or 27 (TBD): Cleveland, TBD

Jan. 3: at New England, 1 p.m., CBS