USA Today has high hopes for the New York Jets
One publication has very high expectations for the New York Jets in 2024.
In their annual NFL season predictions, USA Today predicted that the Jets would beat the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl LIX and win their first championship in 56 years.
🔥Hot off the press. The USA Today 2024 record projections🔥 pic.twitter.com/GIGvfgSHaV
— uSTADIUM (@uSTADIUM) July 22, 2024
How did New York arrive at the Super Bowl, though? The Jets had a 12-5 record, and USA Today cited the team’s roster as a significant reason.
“Let’s try this again. On paper, the roster looks as good as any in the league. The defense, a top-five unit the past two seasons despite a general lack of offensive support, might be the NFL’s best … on paper. Buffalo, division champs since 2020, appears diminished by salary cap adjustments. Most importantly, Rodgers says he’s healthy after a torn Achilles ended his much-hyped 2023 debut season with the NYJ after four snaps.
“Given the supporting cast around him, including a bolstered offensive line and arrivals of WRs Mike Williams and rookie Malachi Corley, Rodgers shouldn’t need to vie for a record-tying fifth league MVP award for this team to break through for its first title since the 1968-69 season. And wouldn’t it be something if that happened against his former employer in Wisconsin? To get there, the Jets will have to surmount a schedule that includes six prime-time dates and a European detour in the first 11 weeks.”
After coming in first place in the AFC East, the Jets are predicted to beat the Browns in the wild-card round, the Bengals in the divisional round, and the Chiefs in the AFC Championship to reach the Super Bowl.
The publication’s outcome would be the absolute best-case scenario for the Jets in 2024. It would mean that Rodgers was an elite player, the Jets stayed healthy on offense, and the defense played to its expected level.
It is absolutely within the range of outcomes for the Jets to go 12-5, make a deep playoff run, and eventually win the Super Bowl. The first steps of that journey, though, will be seen at the start of training camp, as the foundation for what could be an elite-level team will be laid there.
