{"id":797731,"date":"2026-05-15T08:04:17","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T08:04:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/797731\/"},"modified":"2026-05-15T08:04:17","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T08:04:17","slug":"new-york-jets-2026-schedule-its-robert-salehs-titans-in-the-opener","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/797731\/","title":{"rendered":"New York Jets 2026 schedule: It\u2019s Robert Saleh\u2019s Titans in the opener"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Athletic has live coverage of the 2026 NFL schedule release<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The New York Jets\u2019 2026 season is, in some ways, all about their head coach. Aaron Glenn\u2019s debut season couldn\u2019t have gone much worse \u2014 the 0-7 start, the 0-5 finish, historic levels of ineptitude at both quarterback and on defense. Glenn took matters into his own hands this offseason by firing much of his staff and taking over defensive play-calling.<\/p>\n

That served to create an even bigger target on the back of a coach who needs to prove himself in a major way in 2026. That\u2019s not to say the Jets need to win a lot of games, but they need to show progress \u2014 his players and Glenn as a head coach \u2014 if he\u2019s going to survive until 2027, and an offseason in which the Jets will be flush with cap space and three first-round picks.<\/p>\n

Fittingly, Glenn will open the season against the coach he replaced, and it will be Glenn\u2019s first chance to prove he has the Jets on the right track.<\/p>\nWk.MatchupDateTimeNetwork<\/tr>\n\n1<\/td>\n@<\/td>\n\nSunday, Sept. 13<\/td>\n1:00\u00a0p.m.<\/td>\nCBS<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n2<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\nSunday, Sept. 20<\/td>\n1:00\u00a0p.m.<\/td>\nFox<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n3<\/td>\n@<\/td>\n\nSunday, Sept. 27<\/td>\n1:00\u00a0p.m.<\/td>\nFox<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n4<\/td>\n@<\/td>\n\nSunday, Oct. 4<\/td>\n1:00\u00a0p.m.<\/td>\nFox<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n5<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\nSunday, Oct. 11<\/td>\n1:00\u00a0p.m.<\/td>\nCBS<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n6<\/td>\n@<\/td>\n\nSunday, Oct. 18<\/td>\n1:00\u00a0p.m.<\/td>\nCBS<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n7<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\nSunday, Oct. 25<\/td>\n1:00\u00a0p.m.<\/td>\nCBS<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n8<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\nSunday, Nov. 1<\/td>\n1:00\u00a0p.m.<\/td>\nFox<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n9<\/td>\n@<\/td>\n\nSunday, Nov. 8<\/td>\n1:00\u00a0p.m.<\/td>\nCBS<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n10<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\nSunday, Nov. 15<\/td>\n1:00\u00a0p.m.<\/td>\nCBS<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n11<\/td>\n@<\/td>\n\nSunday, Nov. 22<\/td>\n4:05\u00a0p.m.<\/td>\nFox<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n12<\/td>\n@<\/td>\n\nSunday, Nov. 29<\/td>\n1:00\u00a0p.m.<\/td>\nCBS<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n13<\/td>\n\nBYE<\/td>\n\n\n <\/tr>\n\n14<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\nSunday, Dec. 13<\/td>\n1:00\u00a0p.m.<\/td>\nCBS<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n15<\/td>\n@<\/td>\n\nSunday, Dec. 20<\/td>\n4:05\u00a0p.m.<\/td>\nFox<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n16<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\nSunday, Dec. 27<\/td>\n1:00\u00a0p.m.<\/td>\nCBS<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n17<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\nSunday, Jan. 3<\/td>\n1:00\u00a0p.m.<\/td>\nCBS<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n18<\/td>\n@<\/td>\n\n\n

TBA<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\t\tWeek 1 keys to victory<\/p>\n

In theory, the Jets should have some sort of game-planning edge on Robert Saleh considering most of his personnel is no longer on the Jets roster, and they\u2019ll be running a new scheme with Aaron Glenn calling plays. Meanwhile, the Jets players that are still on the roster from two seasons ago have a good baseline of knowledge about Saleh\u2019s scheme and tendencies. And yet, you can bank on Saleh throwing the kitchen sink at the Jets and Geno Smith \u2014 one of his strengths as a play-caller is rattling turnover-prone quarterbacks \u2014 as part of his revenge on the organization that fired him. He might not say it, but rest assured Saleh is highly motivated to prove himself against the Jets and Glenn, who took some not-so-subtle shots at Saleh last training camp. It should be an entertaining game between two teams in the middle of rebuilds.<\/p>\n

Must-watch game: vs. Las Vegas Raiders, Week 8<\/p>\n

It was tempting to pick the game against the Lions here since that will mark Glenn\u2019s return to Detroit, but odds are the Jets will have a hard time against one of the NFL\u2019s best offenses and a defense that should be better in 2026. The Raiders and Jets are the same caliber of team with a few intriguing storylines to track in this one. First, it\u2019s entirely possible that No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza will be starting over Kirk Cousins by the time this game comes around, and the Jets will get a look at a player they could\u2019ve gotten their hands on had Nick Folk not hit a 56-yard game-winning field goal against the Falcons last year. Rookies D\u2019Angelo Ponds and Omar Cooper, both Indiana alums, should know a little something about Mendoza\u2019s tendencies. Second, Geno Smith will be seeking some level of redemption against the Raiders after how terribly his lone season in Las Vegas played out. The Jets won\u2019t be favored in many games but they should be in this one \u2014 and this Jets team can\u2019t really afford to lose to bad teams at home.<\/p>\n

Toughest stretch: Weeks 1-4<\/p>\n

The real challenge is from Weeks 2-4 when the Jets get the NFC North gauntlet including the Green Bay Packers at home in Week 2, Detroit Lions on the road in Week 3 and Chicago Bears on the road in Week 4. All three teams had winning records in 2025, and all three have the talent to be Super Bowl contenders in 2026. I\u2019m including the Titans as part of the equation, though, because the challenge of those three games makes that first game even more important if it winds up being the difference between 1-3 and 0-4. Another bad beat from this schedule: The Jets won\u2019t have a bye until Week 13, and it won\u2019t come until after a four-game stretch during which they\u2019re on the road three times (at Chiefs in Week 9, at Chargers in Week 11 and at Dolphins in Week 12).<\/p>\n

Game that has gotten tougher: vs. Minnesota Vikings, Week 17<\/p>\n

A lot has happened since the last time the Jets faced the Vikings in London in October 2024 \u2014 that was the last game of Saleh\u2019s tenure. The Jets might have won that game had Aaron Rodgers not turned it over a couple too many times. Sam Darnold was very early in his renaissance that game and hadn\u2019t fully broken out. Since then, Minnesota tried their hand at giving J.J. McCarthy, which went poorly. The Vikings fired their general manager and added a new quarterback in Kyler Murray, so head coach Kevin O\u2019Connell is under pressure to get the Vikings back to the playoffs and advance once they get there. Murray has a chance to elevate Minnesota if he can stay healthy.<\/p>\n

One game the Jets can\u2019t afford to lose: vs. Miami Dolphins, Week 7<\/p>\n

The Jets have three of their most winnable games in the first half of the season, with the Titans in Week 1, Browns in Week 5, Dolphins in Week 7 and Raiders in Week 8. I picked the Dolphins out of this group for a couple reasons, including the obvious one: They are a division opponent and the Jets have been terrible in the division for many years running \u2014 particularly against the Dolphins. This game isn\u2019t in Miami, their house of horrors, but this is not a Dolphins team built (or trying) to win this season. If the Jets were ever going to take advantage of their division rival, this is the year to do it. Losing to them at home won\u2019t portend a lot of success the rest of the way. The goal for this season is competence \u2014 and this would be a sign of incompetence.<\/p>\n

Best offense the Jets will face: Detroit Lions, Week 3<\/p>\n

The runner-up was the Bills, a top offense that added D.J. Moore. But the Lions should be much improved after a disappointing 2025 season with John Morton calling plays. It\u2019s fair to question what Drew Petzing will bring to the table, but he at least should bring more creativity and the Lions will be healthier with an explosive group of weapons (running back Jahmyr Gibbs, receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, plus tight end Sam LaPorta). Isiah Pacheco is a downgrade from David Montgomery, but Gibbs will be a bell-cow and the Lions added some reinforcements on the offensive line in free agent center Cade Mays and rookie right tackle Blake Miller. Jared Goff (4,564 yards, 34 touchdowns, eight interceptions) continues to produce consistently too.<\/p>\n

Best defense the Jets will face: Denver Broncos, Week 14<\/p>\n

In a scheduling quirk, the Jets will be facing the Broncos again this season \u2014 marking the ninth time in 10 seasons they\u2019ve faced off with Denver. Last year\u2019s Broncos game came in London, with the offense faltering badly. Denver\u2019s defense was the best or second-best unit in the NFL last season, and there is no reason to think it won\u2019t be again with pretty much every key figure on the unit returning, including defensive coordinator Vance Joseph.<\/p>\n

Predicted record: 6-11<\/p>\n

The Jets have a low bar to clear after how poorly last season went \u2014 2026 needs to simply not be a disaster. Sure, Glenn can\u2019t afford to win three or four games if he wants to survive into 2027, but this season is less about the win total and more about the context of the season. How competitive are they? Does Glenn have any embarrassing coaching moments like he had last year? Does the team stick together if they\u2019re losing? Do the Jets beat the teams they\u2019re supposed to beat and remain competitive against the ones they aren\u2019t? There are plenty of winnable games on this schedule \u2014 Titans, Browns, Dolphins (twice), Raiders, Cardinals \u2014 and the Jets simply can\u2019t afford to be embarrassed in any of them like they were a year ago. The defense should be much improved (low bar) and the quarterback play should improve significantly (again, low bar). If the coaching makes a leap with Glenn and Frank Reich calling plays, it\u2019s reasonable to expect the Jets to at least double their win total and go into 2027 feeling better about their future.<\/p>\n

Predicted AFC East finish: Third<\/p>\n

1. Bills, 2. Patriots, 3. Jets, 4. Dolphins<\/p>\n

It feels like the Patriots are going to take a step back after last year\u2019s magical run to the Super Bowl. It\u2019s been a very strange offseason for New England and the vibes are off. Buffalo will contend for division titles as long as Allen is the quarterback (even if Joe Brady is a question mark at head coach). The Dolphins have the worst roster in the NFL and it\u2019s not particularly close \u2014 it would be difficult to envision them winning more than a couple games.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Athletic has live coverage of the 2026 NFL schedule release. The New York Jets\u2019 2026 season is,…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":797732,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5122],"tags":[5229,405,403,5287,5226,5225,5228,5227,67,586,132,5230,68,2969],"class_list":{"0":"post-797731","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-new-york","8":"tag-america","9":"tag-new-york","10":"tag-new-york-city","11":"tag-new-york-jets","12":"tag-newyork","13":"tag-newyorkcity","14":"tag-ny","15":"tag-nyc","16":"tag-united-states","17":"tag-united-states-of-america","18":"tag-unitedstates","19":"tag-unitedstatesofamerica","20":"tag-us","21":"tag-usa"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/116577558090352790","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/797731","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=797731"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/797731\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/797732"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=797731"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=797731"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=797731"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}