Here come the New York Jets.
Things are finally looking up for a franchise that has been downtrodden within the depths of mediocrity for what has seemed like decades.
Face-of-the-franchise and golden-boy quarterback Sam Darnold is entering his second year in the league under a new head coach in Adam Gase — who has made it his responsibility to develop the USC product into the next Joe Namath (or better).
In his last act as general manager, Mike Maccagnan brought in Darnold’s biggest weapon to date, signing All-Pro rusher Le’Veon Bell to anchor the Jets’ backfield.
The dual-threat talent is one of the most dynamic backs in the game, providing Darnold with an ultimate security blanket as he continues building a relationship with the likes of Robby Anderson, Quincy Enunwa and another new signing in Jamison Crowder.
While there are concerns about Bell’s ability to immediately make an impact with the Jets, considering he sat out all of last season amid contract disputes with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the 27-year-old said that “I’ll carry 50 times,” if Gase gave him the green light.
Darnold and Bell might snag a lot of the attention, but the defense under new coordinator Gregg Williams is looking like quite an imposing unit as well.
The signing of CJ Mosley provided an enormous boost to the linebacking corps while the drafting of defensive lineman Quinnen Williams gave the Jets one of the best all-around prospects in the class of 2019.
Adding those kinds of talents to a unit that already featured lineman Leonard Williams and flourishing team captain, safety Jamal Adams, and the Jets defense could be one of the more fun groups in the NFL.
Will it be enough to unseat the New England Patriots atop the AFC East?
Probably not.
But the Jets are moving in the right direction and are a few pieces away from becoming a scary threat in the AFC.
Jets 2019 schedule
WEEK 1 vs. BILLS
SUNDAY, 1PM ET, CBS
WEEK 2 vs. BROWNS
9/16, 8:15 PM, ESPN
WEEK 3 @ PATRIOTS
9/22, 1 PM, CBS
WEEK 4 BYE
WEEK 5 @ EAGLES
10/6, 1 PM, CBS
WEEK 6 vs. COWBOYS
10/13, 4:25PM, CBS
WEEK 7 vs. PATRIOTS
10/21, 8:15 PM, ESPN
WEEK 8 @ JAGUARS
10/27, 1 PM, CBS
WEEK 9 @ DOLPHINS
11/3, 1 PM, CBS
WEEK 10 vs. GIANTS
11/10, 1 PM, FOX
WEEK 11 @ REDSKINS
11/17, 1 PM, CBS
WEEK 12 vs. RAIDERS
11/24, 1 PM, CBS
WEEK 13 @ BENGALS
12/1, 1 PM, CBS
WEEK 14 vs. DOLPHINS
12/8, 1 PM, CBS
WEEK 15 @ RAVENS
12/12, 8:20 PM, FOX
WEEK 16 vs. STEELERS
12/22, 1 PM, CBS
WEEK 17 @ BILLS
12/29, 1 PM, CBS
2019 STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE: .473 winning percentage last season (28th in NFL)
METRO’S 2019 PREDICTION: 8-8 (2nd in AFC East)
