Green Smoke

By John Bradley

This time last year, we were putting the final plans in place for the London Game. This year, we’re preparing to head over to the USA for Games 1 and 2.

Are we disappointed the Jets aren’t in London this year? Of course we are. We have Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Wembley on these shores, but in my humble opinion, they still lack the full experience we get at MetLife. Although Gang Green UK have held some amazing pre-game activities, including a US-style tailgate, the tailgate experience… ribs, beers, hotdogs… I’m salivating just thinking about it. And anyone who has had the pleasure of Chopped Champion Frank West’s cooking certainly won’t leave hungry or disappointed.

And to think, we’re doing it all in Tennessee in Week 1 too, the home of country music, good old rock ’n’ roll and Nashville hot chicken.

Anyway, on to the new season, and here’s my outlook.

This season sees some familiar faces return to the Jets in Geno Smith and Demario Davis, both looking to put a few wrongs right. We also have some exciting new additions in Minkah Fitzpatrick and T’Vondre Sweat, along with our draft picks: David Bailey, Kenyon Sadiq, Omar Cooper Jr., D’Angelo Ponds, and who could forget pick No. 103 in this year’s draft, Darrell Jackson, announced by our International Fan of the Year, Anth Cook? Finally, we have our last three draft picks: Cade Klubnik, Anez Cooper and VJ Payne.

So, what are the expectations for the new season? A playoff berth? A winning record? A Geno redemption story? Garrett Wilson establishing himself as an elite receiver? Breece Hall posting another 1,000-yard season? Or maybe… the Jets finally getting an interception? Haha.

September

My hope for the forthcoming season is that we finally end the playoff drought that’s been hanging over us since 2010.

The road to the playoffs begins in Nashville against former coach Robert Saleh and former Jet Jermaine Johnson. A number of the Gang Green UK family are making the trip over for that one before being joined by even more of the UK fanbase in New York for the home opener against the Packers. After that, we have two games on the road, starting against Aaron Glenn’s former team, the Lions, who will be disappointed with how their season ended last year. Then it’s on to Chicago, in what could be the Jets’ final visit to Soldier Field. Another interesting fact is that Chicago were the opponents when some of the GGUK faithful travelled to MetLife on the group tour for what became known as the Mike White Game. It also featured some awful dancing in the end zone!

Here’s how I see the month going. The Titans will be no easy task, and we all remember Calvin Ridley destroying the Jets’ defence in London while he was with the Falcons. I’m hoping for redemption and a win to start the season. I see that win coming from a good O-line performance, allowing the run game to open up.

Then come the Packers. They were a playoff team last year, but with it being the home opener, I’m backing another victory to move to 2-0. This win will be tough, but without Micah Parsons and Josh Jacobs, they could struggle offensively. This is where the Jets could expose them with their offensive weapons, Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson.

The road trip of the NFC North begins in Detroit, a place where Glenn made a name for himself on the defensive side of the ball, and this is where I can see the Jets winning the game, with additional help on that side of the ball this offseason through free agency and the draft.

Our first defeat of the season comes in Chicago. This defeat comes courtesy of good play from Caleb Williams, who we know can pass effectively and is dangerous on the run too. So, although I feel this is an area we have improved, I just feel offensively they will be too much for the Jets to handle.

October

October brings the Browns to MetLife, followed by the evil empire known as the Patriots. Then it’s the Dolphins. We all remember the 2015 game at Wembley, the Jets’ first overseas game and the first NFL divisional matchup played outside the United States. It ended with a Hall of Famer Darrelle Revis interception and a 27-14 Jets victory, although the scoreline didn’t fully reflect how dominant the performance really was.

Okay, here’s how I see this month going. First up is the Browns, who I feel are in a rebuilding stage after the loss of Myles Garrett, and I can see the Jets’ offence running up the score with the weapons we have. A run game that has a good 1-2 punch and receivers that can hurt them too. With the loss of Myles Garrett, they will lack that edge, and I can see that giving the Jets the win.

The Patriots are never a good experience for most of us Jets fans, with only one win in October since 2000. So, how do I see this one going? Firstly, it’s in Foxborough, never an easy place to win. I feel the addition of A.J. Brown could help Drake Maye get the win over the Jets.

The Dolphins are in a rebuild stage after losing Tua, Tyreek and Jaylen Waddle this offseason, and I feel the Jets are much better offensively than the Dolphins. That’s where I see the win coming from, with the receiving corps.

November

November brings the Raiders, Chiefs, Bills and Chargers before ending the month with a trip to Miami. I think this month will tell us everything about whether this team is genuinely playoff-bound, with huge tests against the Chiefs and Bills.

So, here are my thoughts on how this month will go.

The Raiders have Klint Kubiak as their head coach and shiny new toy Mendoza, so my keys to winning this game will be pressuring Mendoza, who has taken the job from Kirk Cousins at this point, and the Jets’ offensive line allowing the Jets to run the ball and giving Geno time to find his receivers. Another key will be stopping Brock Bowers, but I’m giving the win to the Jets.

Onto the Chiefs. Arrowhead is known for its noise, and they also have many players from when they last won the Super Bowl, with the addition of reigning Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker. I think if they are in for a long day, the keys to the Jets winning are stopping Mahomes from extending plays and the Jets being able to run the ball to keep the crowd quiet. But ultimately, I see us falling to a defeat here.

The Bills, who are under new leadership in the coaching department but still have Josh Allen at the helm, will probably be favourites for the AFC East. Keys to this matchup will be Geno Smith avoiding turnovers. Will that be easier said than done? Pressuring Josh Allen with the pass rush will be key to the Jets winning too, and add in Garrett finding space in the Bills’ secondary. But I’m thinking if we keep this close in the 4th, we nick it and come away with a win, possibly with a field goal.

The Chargers will be a tough ask. Cross-country road trip. How many miles, I hear you ask? 2,800, roughly. Against a playoff team last season, I feel if Justin Herbert controls this game, we will find it tough to win, and possibly turnovers happen due to Geno trying to chase the game, as of sorts. Ultimately, they will also control the trenches with a strong pass rush.

Dolphins at home, but in a delightful 80°F in November, will be a tough climate for Gang Green to enter. But we have to be confident with our defensive additions and our offence finally looking capable, especially when we look at the vastly different setup of the Dolphins. Malik Willis offers potential excitement, but looking at his history and the Jets’ new edge rush, we should make this a very difficult day. At this game, we will also be celebrating with our good friend Frankie Tailgates as he renews his vows with his wife Sandra, with none other than Earl the Twirl Christy officiating.

December

December starts with the Broncos, who it feels like we play every year at the moment. The Jets will be looking for revenge after last year’s narrow defeat at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. We all know Sean Payton likes to pull corners in to cut up the safeties, so have the Jets learned from last season’s matchup and improved on that with the addition of Fitzpatrick? Onto the keys to the Jets winning this one. Getting to Bo Nix with Will McDonald and David Bailey leading the pass rush will be key, as well as allowing Breece to run the ball down their throats. So, I’m giving the Jets the win here.

The following week we face the Cardinals, who have ex-Jet Mike LaFleur in their ranks. I feel this one should be one Jets players should be looking to win, with Garrett scoring a few touchdowns and the Jets defence forcing some turnovers with interceptions.

Patriots at Jets in December always reminds me of that overtime win with Eric Decker scoring a game-winning touchdown and leaping into the joyous Jets fans, and I’m hoping this one could go the same way, with the hometown and lifelong Jets fan Ruckert scoring the winning touchdown.

January

The final two games of the regular season see us take on the Vikings, who beat us in London in 2024, before finishing against the Bills.

I see home-field advantage giving us the edge over the Vikes, and we know how unpredictable the weather can be in January. Snow game anyone? So, with that in mind, I see the run game being a major influence. Will this be the game Breece breaks the Jets’ season rushing record?

Bills in Buffalo. Can the Jets play the spoiler here by upsetting the odds? The key to winning the game will be Geno playing turnover-free football, with the Jets’ D pressuring the Buffalo QB and forcing turnovers to give the Jets the win.

So there you have it, my prediction for the 2026 season. I know 13-4 might be seen as a little optimistic by some, but what’s the point in being a Jets fan if we can’t dream? We’ve waited long enough for that playoff appearance, so I’m going into this season believing we can finally get there. Maybe I’ll look back at this at the end of the season and have a laugh, but for now, I’m sticking with 13-4.

J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets!