Gang Green is slated against a bunch of familiar foes in 2012, including three non-divisional teams it faced in the playoffs in 2010 and 2011. Most of the teams the Jets will face in 2012 have youth and uncertainty plaguing their respective quarterback situations. This bodes well for an elite pass defense and what should be a rejuvenated front-seven.
Conference Opponents (Home)
Colts: Ryan said "it was personal" the last time the Jets faced the Colts, because he had such a hard time beating Peyton Manning throughout his career. Rex finally beat him in the 2010 payoffs, and he might have to do it again... it just may not be via a game against the Colts. Things could get personal with Andrew Luck, though.
Texans: Whenever I think of the Jets and Texans, I'm brought back to Mark Sanchez's perfect last-minute game-winning drive in 2010. It appeared to be a turning point in Sanchez's career, though he wasn't able to work the same kind of magic last season. Anyway, the Jets' run defense will have its hands full in this one.
Chargers: Ryan and the Jets have San Diego's number. New York ousted the Bolts in the 2009 playoffs and beat them again last year in the regular season. In both games, the Jets played from behind most of the time.
Conference Opponents (Away)
Jaguars: The Jets get the lowly Jaguars for the second year in a row. Last year, New York's defense grabbed four interceptions thanks to the not-so-stellar play of Luke McCown, and that game was more or less the introduction of rookie Blaine Gabbert to the NFL. Gabbert struggled in 2011 but will get a chance at redemption during his sophomore campaign.
Titans: Tennessee will have an open competition at quarterback this offseason, but it's probably Jake Locker's job to lose, especially since running back Chris Johnson will likely take much of the offense on his shoulders.
Steelers: New York faced the Steelers in the 2010 regular season and the 2010 postseason. It won the first and lost the latter. This will be a blue-collar battle between two teams that fell well short of their expectations last year.
NFC Opponents (Home)
49ers: The 49ers were a bit of a surprise last season, but they certainly won't sneak up on anybody this year. This has the makings of a ground-and-pound game that sees both offenses limiting their quarterbacks and putting it on the run game, as that's a general consensus of how both teams should approach 2012 anyway.
Cardinals: The Jets scored 56 points the last time they faced the Cardinals. That was when Brett Favre was donning the green and white. Yeah... who cares. Anyway, return man Patrick Peterson vs. Jets' special teams coach Mike Westhoff will be the matchup to watch in this one.
NFC Opponents (Away)
Rams: Steven Jackson is good, but the Rams in general aren't. The Jets should get by fine here, though New York has done plenty of playing down to its competition the past three seasons.
Seahawks: See the Rams game, except substitute a better defense and a lesser-but-still-good back in Marshawn Lynch... That's if Lynch returns to Seattle.
Follow Nick @NickStDenis
Follow AFC East Daily @AFCEastDaily
