So with the Jets 2011 schedule being released yesterday we now get our first chance to take a look at next season. For the most part I would say that this is a favorable schedule for the Jets and I do look for them to have their best record since their 12-4 season in 1998. I will take a look at each game and give you my early prediction for the Jets record.

Week 1: Dallas Cowboys @ Home, Sunday 9/11 8:20 PM      

      In the newest edition of the Ryan Bowl (Rob was named Cowboys Defensive coordinator this offseason), I think the Jets will have the upper hand. The Cowboys underperformed drastically last year and their season came to an end with Tony Romo's season ending injury. A matchup that could potentially cost the Jets this game is the Cowboys WRs vs. the Jets CBs. This matchup becomes even more important if the Jets aren't able to resign Antonio Cromartie. I do not want to see the game come down to Dez Bryant being covered Kyle Wilson. However Rob Ryan intends to implement his pressure defense system with the Cowboys this year and with the short offseason I think the Jets offense will be too much. Look for Sanchez to lead the Jets to an emotional win in a Sunday Night game on the 10 year anniversary of 9/11.

Pick: Jets Win! 1-0(0-0)

Week 2: Jacksonville Jaguars @ Home, Sunday 9/18 1:00 pm    

     In recent years the Jaguars have dominated this matchup and I believe that the sting of defeat from a 24-22 loss in Sanchez's rookie year is still present in his eyes. In this game I like the Jets to come out and control every facet of the game. With the momentum from a solid win against the Cowboys, I look for the Jets D to shutdown Maurice Jones Drew and the Jaguars offense and for Mark Sanchez to come out and put up big numbers against the Jaguars D.

Pick: Jets Win! 2-0(0-0)

Week 3: Oakland Raiders @ Oakland, Sunday 9/25 4:05 pm    

     If you feel like the Jets play at Oakland every year then you would be correct. This will be the Jets 10th trip to Oakland in the past 10 seasons. Wins never seem to come easy for the Jets in Oakland and neither will this one. I like Sanchez to struggle against the underrated Raiders Defense (this prediction may change if the Raiders can't resign Nndami Asomugha). However, despite Darren McFaddens best efforts, I like the Jets defense and kicking game to help the Jets sneak out of Oakland with a win.

Pick: Jets Win! 3-0(0-0)

Week 4: Baltimore Ravens @ Baltimore, Sunday 10/2 8:20 pm

     Rex Ryan makes his first return to Baltimore in a prime time game on Sunday Night. In last year's season opener the Jets offense looked lost against the Ravens Defense. Later, it came out that Ryan was so worried about his former defense that he confused the Sanchise, which is why it looked he was a college quarterback playing against pros. Ryan won't make that same mistake again and I look for the Jets to have their coach's back in this one. I also think Dustin Keller will have a huge game this week. He got embarrassed by Ray Lewis while trying to catch a ball going across the middle and then on the next play, while obviously still delirious he ran out of bounds a yard short costing the Jets a chance to win the game.

Pick: Jets Win! 4-0(0-0)

Week 5: New England Patriots @ Patriots, Sunday 10/9 4:15 pm

    The Jets return for the first time to the scene of their "biggest win since Super Bowl 3". I think that this will be an extremely close and hard hitting game and fans certainly won't have to worry about the Jets overlooking their next opponent after the big win in Baltimore. However, I think the Patriots will come out way too fired up looking for revenge after the embarrassment they suffered in the playoffs last year. I think the Jets will have a lead late in the game, but as with many teams before them they will fall victim to the mistake of leaving too much time on the clock for Tom Brady to work with. As much as it pains me to say it, I like the Patriots to win in a close one.

Pick: Patriots Win 4-1(0-1)

Week 6: Miami Dolphins @ Home, Monday 10/17 8:30 pm

     Playing a struggling Dolphins team is always a potential trap game for the Jets. However I like the Jets to take care of business and beat the Dolphins at home for the first time at home since the Chad Pennington era. I don't think this game will be close and the Jets who will be looking to not only get over the loss the Patriots but also to distance themselves from the Sal Alosi scandal will come out and dominate on all three facets of the game.

Pick: Jets Win 5-1(1-1)

Week 7: San Diego Chargers @ Home, Sunday 10/23 1:00 pm      

        This game has the potential to go one of either two ways. In LdT's first game against his former team the Jets are going to rely heavily on the former all star and he will pay them back greatly, responding with a great game. The other potential outcome is that the Jets will rely on LdT and he will not pay them back, putting too much pressure on himself and perform horribly. I think that LdT is way too proud of a player for the 2nd scenario to happen and I think he will have one of his finest games of the season. 

Pick: Jets Win! 6-1(1-1) 

Week 8: Bye

      The Jets head into their bye week with a better record then I can ever remember.

Week 9: Buffalo Bills @ Buffalo, Sunday 11/06 1:00 pm

      Recent history tells me that Jet fans have a lot to worry about for this seemingly easy matchup. The Jets have not won a game under Rex Ryan in which they have had an extra amount of time to prepare for the game. However I just can't bring myself to pick the Jets to lose this one. I think Sanchez will come out and have one of the most dynamic halves of his young career. I say half because I think that the Jets will be so far ahead that the backups will be getting some playing time in this one. I like the Jets to win the first post-bye week game under Ryan.

Pick: Jets Win! 7-1(2-1)

Week 10: New England Patriots @ Home, Sunday 11/13 8:20 pm    

       The Jets "CAN'T WAIT" to play in their 4th primetime game and get the rematch they have been waiting for since their week 5 devastating loss to the Patriots. I think that is going to be a close game through 3 quarters; the Patriots may even lead for a lot of the game. However channeling his 2010 4th quarter magic, Sanchez comes out in the 4th and puts the Patriots away. I like the Jets to get their revenge, winning by double digits in a game that the final score will make the game seem a lot more lopsided than it actually was.

Pick: Jets Win! 8-1(3-1)

Week 11: Denver Broncos @ Denver, Thursday 11/17 8:20 pm

    This is the quintessential trap game for the Jets. Riding high after their Big win against the Patriots, the Jets must travel across country and play an inferior opponent four nights later. I think the Jets will come out playing slow and the Tebow led Broncos will jump out to a big lead and the Jets will fail to come back. It is possible that down big late in the game Rex will send a message by benching the Sanchise and making him watch the Jets lose from the bench.

Pick: Broncos Win 8-2(3-1)

Week 12: Buffalo Bills @ Home, Sunday 11/27 1:00 pm

     The Jets play the Bills for the second time this season coming off an extended time off. The Jets will return home with an easy win over the ever struggling Bills. By this point of the season look for whatever quarterback the Bills take in the draft to be leading the team. 

Pick: Jets Win! 9-2(4-1)

Week 13: Washington Redskins @ Washington, Sunday 12/4 1:00 pm    

      This is the first game in a 4 week stretch that will see the Jets play 3 NFC East teams. I look for the Jets to start this stretch run off on a strong foot. The Jets defense will play extremely well and may potentially shutout the Redskins in an attempt to strengthen their argument for best defense in the NFL.

Pick: Jets Win! 10-2(4-1)

Week 14: Kansas City Chiefs @ Home, Sunday 12/11 1:00 pm

     Former fan favorite Thomas Jones makes his return to the Meadowlands as a backup for the Chiefs. This is a game that could prove to be very difficult for the Jets. The Chiefs are an extremely well balanced team. The "Patriots Midwest" are a good team in every facet of the game. The Weakest part of their game is their passing attack, but even that isn't very bad at all. This is a very important game because there is a good chance that the Jets might play the Chiefs again in the playoffs. I could see this game going the other way, but I think the Jets will pull this one out with a truly total team effort.

Pick: Jets Win! 11-2(4-1)

Week 15: Philadelphia Eagles @ Eagles, Sunday 12/18 4:15 pm

      This game is going to be decided by one man and one man alone, Mike Vick. If the Jets are able to shut him down or at least keep him in check than they win this game by double digits. Unfortunately I don't think they are going to be able to do that. The Jets struggle with mobile quarterbacks and nobody is more mobile than Vick. I think the Jets will get caught looking ahead to their Battle for the New Meadowlands in week 16, and consequently will get dismantled by the Vick led Eagles.

Pick: Eagles Win 11-3(4-1)

Week 16: New York Giants @ Home, Saturday 12/24 1:00 pm

     This Christmas either Jets fans or Giants fans are going to get an early Christmas present with the first ever Battle for the New Meadowlands taking place on Christmas Eve. The Giants have a recent history of fading away at the end of the season. Giants fans will be happy to hear that I don't think this will happen. I think the Giants will make a return to the postseason in 2011. There has been a battle for New York going on in the media the past two years with the Jets stating how they are taking over New York and with the Giants making remarks here and there trying to put the Jets back in their "place". Despite the Giants best effort, I think the Jets will establish themselves as the true top dog in New York. I'm looking for the Jets to ruin Christmas for all my Giant fan friends.

Pick: Jets Win! 12-3(4-1)

Week 17: Miami Dolphins @ Miami, Sunday 1/1/2012 1:00 pm

      This game could go one of two ways and it depends on what the Jets playoff scenario looks like. If the Jets have already clinched the division and/or home field advantage then it is possible that the Jets will rest their starters and the Dolphins will beat the Jets backups in a meaningless game. However something tells me that despite a 12-3 record going into the final week of the season that the Patriots will be right there with the Jets for division and conference supremacy. So because of that look for the Jets to keep their foot on the gas and keep the ball rolling with a victory down in Miami.

Pick: Jets Win! 13-3(5-1)

      I think that the Jets will finish the 2011 season with a 13-3 record, the best record the team has ever had. Check back in future weeks to see my predictions for the rest of the AFC East and the teams the Jets will face in the playoffs.