New York Jets: 6 Games That Adam Gase Needs to Win in 2019

New York Jets head coach, Adam Gase.
Feb 27, 2019; Indianapolis, IN, USA; New York Jets head coach Adam Gase speaks to media during the 2019 NFL Combine at Indianapolis Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Jets have put together their best team on paper in the past ten years and are making a potential run for the playoffs this season. With the new additions of Le’Veon Bell, C.J. Mosely, Ryan Kalil and other the Jets are set up for success. There is one element to the Jets that create cause for concern. The head coach. Adam Gase is on his second stint as a head coach in the NFL after being fired from the Miami Dolphins. Adam Gase had very little success in Miami as his offense was consistently one of the worst in the league. Even though the slate has been wiped clean in New York the Jets should not hesitate to ax Gase if he does not produce results in year one. If Adam Gase wants to stick around in New York, he will have to win early on. I have compiled a list of 6 teams that Adam Gase must beat this season if he wants a second year in the big apple. If Adam Gase were to beat at least 4 of the 6 teams then we can finally say the Jets are contenders for the first time in over ten years.

Cleveland Browns

I know it might be too early to say this, but this will be the game that defines the New York Jets season. The Cleveland Browns are in the same boat as the New York Jets, they have built a championship-caliber roster and are taking advantage of their quarterback’s rookie contract. Over the past ten years, the New York Jets have faced off against the Browns a total of 6 times winning 5 of the 6. The games between the Browns and Jets have always been close even in 2010 when the Jets were 11-5 and the Browns were 5-11. If Adam Gase can pull off the win on Monday night week 2 then they will have set the foundation for a successful season.

New England Patriots at Foxboro

The Jets will have a tough week 3 matchup against the Patriots in Foxboro. The Jets, Patriots rivalry is one of the most historic rivalries in sports, but it is also one of the worst. The New York Jets are never able to compete with the Patriots winning only 4 times out of 20 games in the past ten years. If Adam Gase wants to go to the playoffs or have any success in New York he must beat the Patriots, especially in Foxboro. If the Jets make the playoffs there is a decent chance, they will play the Pats in Foxboro and it would be a huge source of momentum if they can reflect on their win earlier in the year.

Philadelphia Eagles

The beginning of the Jets schedule has them playing a lot of playoffs teams and that is the perfect test to see if the Jets can hang with the big boys. The Eagles are coming off another magical season from Nick Foles and Co but now they have their franchise QB, Carson Wentz, back healthy. The Eagles own the New York Jets, winning every single game against them in franchise history. If the New York Jets can beat the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field, it’ll give them a huge boost of confidence.

Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys have one of the best rosters in the league and are fresh off a 10-6 2018 season. The Cowboys defense is one of the best all-around defenses in the league with guys like Byron Jones, Demarcus Lawrence, Jaylon Smith, and many others. The offense has its stars too like Ezekiel Elliot and Amari Cooper. The New York Jets will have to be great on both sides of the ball and this game will be a test to see how they play against teams they aren’t familiar playing.

Baltimore Ravens

The New York Jets will play the Baltimore Ravens towards the tail end of the year and assuming they’re in the playoff race that game would be huge. The Ravens figure to be fighting for a playoff spot this season and will be in the second year of the Lamar Jackson project. The New York Jets will enter a short week as they play the Ravens on Thursday night football. The Jets will have their endurance tested that week as they will be playing in Baltimore during December. Adam Gase will have to rally the troops to lead them into battle under bad conditions. This game could be a momentum starter for the Jets at the end of the season.

Pittsburgh Steelers

For the 6th game, the Jets will play another playoff-caliber team in the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers spent this offseason trimming the fat off their team, and they figure to be even better of a squad heading into this season without the drama from past years. This will probably be the second hardest game the Jets play all season because the Steelers are a powerhouse in the NFL. This will be the ultimate test for the Jets defense as Pittsburgh’s offense is one of the most explosive in the league.

The Jets should be expected to beat these teams as these are most likely teams that’ll be making the playoffs. If the Jets are unable to win at least 4 of these 6 games, then the Jets should reconsider having Adam Gase as their head coach.