The New York Jets will face many challenges from AFC teams
If the New York Jets have Super Bowl aspirations, they’ll need to make it out of the AFC first.
That might be more daunting than it seems at first glance.
Many of the league’s best quarterbacks are in the AFC, as well as the winners of the last two Super Bowls and MVP awards. The Jets may not face most of them in the regular season, but any playoff matchup is likely to be a grinder.
That begs the question of which teams are the biggest threats to the Jets in the AFC. This list is not just about which teams are the most talented; it’s about which likely playoff teams the Jets have the least favorable matchups against.
5. Houston Texans
I was highly tempted to put the Bengals here and leave the Texans off the list. I could see the 2024 Texans underachieving.
For one thing, the Jets made C.J. Stroud look quite mortal in 2023, tilting the 2024 matchup in their favor. For another, as good as the Texans’ offense is, their defense still has significant holes beyond Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter. Derek Stingley Jr. took a second-year leap, but any team that has Jeff Okudah starting has a tremendous hole. Additionally, the Texans’ offensive line could take a hit in 2024 with Kenyon Green returning at guard and Tytus Howard moving back to tackle.
Still, if Stroud maintains or exceeds his 2023 standard, this Texans offense should be excellent. Adding Stefon Diggs to the Nico Collins-Tank Dell duo gives them threats at all levels of the field. Dalton Schultz is another good weapon. I’m not overly impressed with Joe Mixon, but he’s likely not any worse than Devin Singletary was in 2023.
I don’t buy the Texans as a Super Bowl contender, but they are nonetheless a potential threat to the Jets in the AFC.
4. Buffalo Bills
It’s foolish to underestimate any team that has Josh Allen. Allen excelled in his second matchup with the Jets in 2023 after struggling in the first tilt. His rushing ability could give the Jets fits (if he can utilize it rather than chucking up deep balls into double coverage).
While the Bills’ receiving corps is quite thin, the combination of Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Curtis Samuel, and Dalton Kincaid can make more noise than expected. James Cook is one of the most underrated backs in the NFL.
Defensively, the Bills may have lost some big names, but those were aging players well past their prime. They still have one of the best cornerback trios in the league, which could be a problem for the Jets. Greg Rousseau is still ascending as an edge rusher.
The most underrated part of the Bills is their offensive line. After a rough 2022 season, they rebounded to keep Allen upright more often than not. Allen with time is lethal.
I could see Buffalo regressing in 2024, but I could also see them being a bigger threat than many prognosticators realize.
3. Kansas City Chiefs
It’s hard to put the Chiefs anywhere but No. 1 given their playoff success in recent seasons. Still, Patrick Mahomes was exposed in the 2023 regular season and didn’t necessarily play elite football in the playoffs. Kansas City won by virtue of their defense far more than anyone around the NFL would like to admit.
The Jets also match up fairly well against Mahomes and gave him fits in their 2023 meeting. Not having Jordan Whitehead blowing coverages is a bonus (although getting proper calls from the referees would be a bigger one).
I’m not saying Kansas City won’t be in top form by the time the playoffs come around. I just think other teams could be worse matchups for the Jets.
2. Miami Dolphins
The Jets lost to the Dolphins by a combined 64-13 score in 2023. While it’s easy to blame the offense for a portion of that, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle pretty much had their way with the Jets’ cornerbacks. The duo combined for 25 catches, 358 yards, and 2 touchdowns against the Jets — and Hill missed the second matchup. While they had somewhat more success containing De’Von Achane and Raheem Mostert, the Jets’ defense could not get home against Tua Tagovailoa’s quick release.
Miami’s defense does have a big hole with the loss of Christian Wilkins. Still, the cornerback duo of Jalen Ramsey and Kendall Fuller could challenge the Jets’ receiving corps. Add in the pesky Jevon Holland, and this is not a matchup to overlook.
Notably, Tagovailoa and the Dolphins disappeared against winning teams in 2023, so perhaps a stronger Jets unit could expose them, too. Still, Miami’s speed at all levels is a problem for the Jets’ defense.
1. Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens are the exact type of team that could give the Jets fits. Between their power run scheme and their running quarterback, they can expose the Jets’ soft interior defensive line and run the ball down the Jets’ throats. Lamar Jackson had quite a bit of success throwing the ball against the Jets’ defense in the 2022 opener, as well, although much of that came against Jordan Whitehead and Lamarcus Joyner, both no longer with the team.
The Ravens also sport one of the best defenses in the NFL and will challenge the Jets at every level. Justin Madubuike, Roquan Smith, Marcus Williams, and Kyle Hamilton could give the Jets a hard time.
I don’t necessarily think Baltimore will win it all because I’m not a believer in Jackson in big moments. However, if the Jets face them in the playoffs, I think the outcome might not be great for New York.
