Game-by-Game Predictions for the New York Jets' 2013 Schedule

Trying to predict the NFL on a game-by-game basis usually turns out to be a futile effort.  There's a reason why bookies don't go out of business.

So trying to predict the results of the New York Jets' entire schedule 30 weeks in advance of opening day 2013 makes about as much sense as playing Clyde Gates at linebacker next season.  

But it's still a fun little experiment in which to partake.

The Jets' 2012 schedule looked weak right from the start.  Although you never know what's going too happen year-to-year, teams like the Jaguars, Titans, Cardinals, Bills and Rams weren't going to become NFL powerhouses overnight.

Upon first glance at the Jets' 2013 schedule, one thing stands out in comparison to this year: it seems much harder.

The Jets play road games against the Falcons, Ravens, Bengals and of course the Patriots.  Throw in home games against tough teams like the Saints, Steelers and Buccaneers, and the Jets aren't going to have too many layups in 2013.

So even though we don't know who the team's general manager will be, who will be calling the plays on offense, and even who will be playing quarterback next year; here's are the game-by-game predictions as to how the Jets will fare in 2013, starting with their AFC East matchups.

New England Patriots

As long as Tom Brady is standing upright in a Patriots uniform, Jets fans should have little confidence in beating the Pats.

The Jets have lost six of  their past seven regular season games to the Patriots, and the Pats have scored 29 points or more in all six of those wins.

The Jets have been able to pull off upsets against the Patriots before, but not with any regularity.  

The best thing for Jets fans to do against the Patriots is expect the worst and hopefully the team can surprise with an upset.

The results: 0-2

Buffalo Bills

Just as the Patriots have the Jets number, the opposite holds true in the Jets-Bills rivalry.

The Bills have been the doormats of the AFC East for the better part of a decade, and don't look to make any kind of leap forward in 2013.

The Jets have had the Bills number during that time, winning eight of their past 10 matchups.  In fact, the Jets have actually been more dominant over the Bills than the Patriots have been over the Jets.

The Bills will be going into 2013 starting over once again.

They will be on their sixth coach this decade, and will likely be starting over with a new quarterback.

Whether the Bills start over with a rookie or some veteran retread, neither is likely to find success against the Jets defense. 

At this point, there's no logical reason to think the Jets would lose to the Bills other than the "any given Sunday" principle.

The results: 2-0

Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins capped off another losing season in 2012 by finishing 7-9.  It was the sixth losing season for the Dolphins in the past seven years.  

By comparison, the Jets have had just six losing seasons over the past 17 years.

However, despite the Dolphins' recent struggles, they have always been a tough out for the Jets.

The Jets haven't swept the Dolphins since 2007, and are just 3-6 against them in their past nine games.

Even though the Dolphins endured another losing season, they seem to have found an adequate quarterback in Ryan Tannehill and a good coach in Joe Philbin.

Tannehill played just one game against the Jets as a rookie and struggled mightily in a 23-20 loss.  In the game, he finished 16-36 with no touchdowns and one interception.

Even if the Dolphins do take a step forward in 2013, they don't figure to be any kind of powerhouse.  

Neither the Jets nor Dolphins should be good enough to supplant the Patriots in the AFC East next year, but both should at least be better than the Bills.  

Give each team a win on their home field and call it a split in 2013.

The results: 1-1

Oakland Raiders

The two AFL original franchises will meet up for the 11th time since 2003, an incredibly high number for teams located across the country from each other.

The real oddity though, is that 10 of the Jets' past 12 games against the Raiders have taken place on the road.

In 2013 however, they will face off at MetLife Stadium.

The Jets have won four of their past six games against the Raiders, including their past three at home.  In fact, the Raiders haven't beaten the Jets on the road since the Jets' 1-15 season under Rich Kotite in 1996.

The Raiders are another team that could be starting over with a new quarterback next season. If they go with a rookie, it won't bode well for them against the Jets.

The Raiders are one of the proud franchises of the NFL, but have fallen on hard times recently.  

There's no reason to think they'll break out of that funk anytime soon.

The result: Jets win

New Orleans Saints

The Jets will face the New Orleans Saints for just the 12th time in their history in 2013, and it is likely going to come one year too late.

In 2012, Drew Brees simply wasn't himself, the Saints defense was brutal, and the team suffered through a lost season in the wake of Bountygate.

With Sean Payton back as the team's head coach in 2013, you'd have to expect a bounce-back season from the Saints next year.

That will be a scary thought for Jets fans.

If the Jets can hold on to one thing though, at least they don't have to travel down to the Superdome for the matchup.

The Jets best hopes for a win here will be that they catch the Saints in a foul-weather game at MetLife Stadium.  If not, there's nothing to believe Brees won't carve up the Jets defense the way he does most other teams.

The Jets are just 1-5 against the Saints since 1986, and if the Saints play the 2013 season with a chip on their shoulder, this one will be tough for the Jets no matter where they play.

The result: Jets loss

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Just as the Jets don't face off against the Saints too often, the Jets will have a rare matchup against the Buccaneers in 2013.

The Jets are 9-1 in their franchise history against the Bucs, with their only loss coming in Ken O'Brien's fifth career start all the way back in 1984.

In Josh Freeman's only career game against the Jets, he was utterly brutal.

As most rookies do, Freeman struggled against Rex Ryan's defense and completed just 14-of-33 passes with no touchdowns and three interceptions in a 26-3 loss.

The Bucs are difficult team to project though.

Freeman is certainly capable of big games, and Doug Martin is a weapon any team should be scared of.

Greg Schiano had an uneven year in his first season as an NFL head coach, and whether or not he is able to take a step forward in 2013 remains to be seen.

This game is a tough one to call, but give a nod to the Jets because it's at home.

The result: Jets win

Pittsburgh Steelers

For the fourth straight season, the Jets will be taking on the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In fact, it will be the eighth time this decade that the two teams have met, and that's good news for the Steelers.

The Jets are just 4-18 in their history against the Steelers, and when the tables are tilted that far in favor of one team, it's hard for Jets fans to be confident.

If there is any consolation for Jets fans though, the Jets have beaten the Steelers the past two times they have played at home.

Like the Saints, the Steelers are a perennial playoff team who were forced to watch the postseason from home this year.

The Steelers have missed the playoffs in consecutive seasons just once over the past 20 years, so expect a bounce-back season from Big Ben and the boys.

Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers always present a tough matchup for the Jets anytime they play, and 2013 will be no different.

The result: Jets loss

Cleveland Browns

For Jets fans who want to fire the coach and blow up the roster after one losing season, please take a look at the Cleveland Browns.

They are on their sixth coach of the decade and have had nine different No. 1 quarterbacks since 2003.

For all their rebuilding and starting over, the Browns have won five games or less in eight of the past 10 seasons, and have had just three winning seasons since 1990.

Those are the type of franchises who eschew continuity in the face of rebuilding.

The Jets and Browns have split four decisions this decade, with the Jets winning the last matchup 26-20 in 2010.

The Jets however, have struggled against the Browns at home where this game will take place.  In fact, the last time the Jets beat the Browns at home was in 1990 when a Pat Leahy field goal provided the difference in a 24-21 win.

Just to put things in perspective, Leahy is now 61 years old.

The Browns will be starting over again in 2013, and even though they showed improvement in 2012, don't figure to be anything special in 2012.

The Jets shouldn't have trouble beating them in a home tilt in 2013.

The result: Jets win

Atlanta Falcons

There are just some games on the schedule that you look at as a Jets fan and say, "no way."

In 2012, their trip to Seattle to take on the Seahawks was one such game, and in 2013 that game is a road trip to take on the Falcons.

Under Mike Smith and with Matt Ryan at quarterback, the Falcons have racked up a 56-24  regular-season record over the past five years.

They have also been especially good at home.

The Jets have faced the Falcons just four times over the past 20 years and just once in the Rex Ryan era.

That game was an ugly 10-7 loss in Week 15 of the 2009 season.

Unless the Jets catch the Falcons on an off-day or if injuries play a major role, the Jets most likely aren't going into Atlanta and to beat the Falcons.

The result: Jets loss

Carolina Panthers

Years ago, going to Carolina to play the Panthers was one of the most daunting assignments a team could face on their schedule.

Not any more.

Facing Cam Newton is a tough order for any team, but he took a clear step back in 2012 and doubts have crept up about his ability as a true leader in the NFL.

The Panthers have had just one winning season over the past seven years, and still have never had back-to-back winning seasons in their history.

The Jets have faced the Panthers just five times in their history, and won their only tilt against them during the Rex Ryan era.

It's never easy to win on the road in the NFL, but this is one game where the Jets could make some noise on the road.

The result: Jets win

Cincinnati Bengals

Aside from the Bills, the Cincinnati Bengals might just be the Jets' favorite opponents.

The Jets have lost just one game to the Bengals since 1990, going 9-1 over that stretch.  

In addition, the Jets trounced the Bengals to get into the playoffs in 2009, and then beat them again in Cincinnati the next week in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.

The Jets are on a four-game winning streak against the Bengals, in which they have outscored them 113-38.

Going into Cincinnati for a game in 2013 will be no picnic though.

Despite another disappointing playoff loss in 2012, the Bengals had one of the best young defenses in the NFL and don't expect that to change in 2013.

If the Jets could pull off the win in Cincinnati, it could be their biggest road upset win of the year (figuring they lose to the Patriots and Falcons).

This game could go either way, but a win here would be pivotal if the Jets find themselves in the race for a playoff spot.

The result: Jets win

Baltimore Ravens

For the first time in franchise history, the Jets will be taking on the Baltimore Ravens without having to worry about Ray Lewis.

The Jets have faced the Ravens eight times since 1997 (one year after Lewis came into the league), and have beaten them just once.

Their only win came in their initial matchup when Neil O'Donnell led the Jets to a 19-16 win over Vinny Testaverde and the Ravens in Bill Parcells' first year as the Jets coach.

Since then, the Jets have had no success against the Ravens whatsoever.

Their most recent meeting came in 2011 when the Ravens returned three turnovers for touchdowns in a 34-17 win.

There really is nothing to make Jets fans think they will waltz into Baltimore and beat the Ravens on their own turf next year.

The result: Jets loss

Tennessee Titans

For the fifth time since 2006 and second straight year, the Jets will be traveling to Tennessee to take on the Titans.

The Jets are 5-2 overall against the Titans since the franchise moved to Tennessee, and look to add to that total next season.

The Jets and Titans are both coming off 6-10 seasons, and both coaches are on the hot seat to produce in 2013.

Unlike the Jets, the Titans are committed to their quarterback next year as Jake Locker returns for his second season as the team's starter.

Locker had some moments in 2012, but hasn't done anything to convince anybody that he is a long-term solution at quarterback.

In all likelihood, these will be two average teams in 2013 fighting it out in a game that can go either way.  The difference though, is that the Jets were a top-10 defense in the NFL and the Titans had one of the worst units in the league.

The Titans got one big touchdown run from Chris Johnson and one drive from Locker, and were able to beat the Jets thanks to five Mark Sanchez turnovers.

Unless that happens again in 2013, expect the Jets defense to be the difference here.

The result: Jets win

The Final Verdict

If the Jets can fix their offense and special teams to the point of mediocrity and simply repeat the performance of their defense from 2012, they will take a step forward in 2013.

Based on the game-by-game rundown in this slideshow, the Jets will finish 2013 with a 9-7 record, which would have to be seen as a big accomplishment.

To do that though, they would have to pull off a couple of tough wins along the way.  This slideshow has them beating the Bengals on the road and the Buccaneers at home, two games that could go either way for sure.

This also assumes that they go 3-3 in the AFC East, which could be a tough task as well.

This slideshow is predicated on the idea that the Jets will have made the necessary improvements to their roster needed.

With a roster that is in so much doubt, it's tough to project just what the Jets will be in 2013.

But if they have a good draft, bring in a few key free agents, have a competent offensive coordinator, and find a capable band-aid at quarterback, there's no reason to think the Jets can't take a step forward in 2013.

If they don't, it certainly won't be because they are playing a killer schedule.