Stealing a line from Clubber Lang in “Rocky III,” the prediction for the 2017 New York Jets is pain. Their offseason purge left them with one of the league’s worst rosters, including an offense incapable of competing in the high-scoring NFL. This is the start of a long rebuilding process. By constructing a team filled with young, unproven players, the brain trust has sacrificed 2017 for the good of the future, which could mean the top draft pick next year. The good news is that, unlike last year, it’ll be a hungry, unified team. The franchise is selling hope. Right now, you can buy it at a discount. — RICH CIMINI
Chance to win AFC East0.2
Projected
wins
4.1
Strength ofschedule rank
10
Chance to win Super Bowl0.1
Over/under: 4.1 wins?
Under. They should be able to steal a game or two in the watered-down AFC East and they can pick off the Cleveland Browns and/or Jacksonville Jaguars, but what other opponents can they beat? Hello, Sam Darnold (or Josh Allen). — RICH CIMINI
Unit-by-unit projections
Defense
Special Teams
323231
Game-by-game projections
The Jets are the only NFL team to not be favored in a single game this season, according to FPI.
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Sept. 10 @ Bills
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Sept. 17 @ Raiders
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Sept. 24 vs. Dolphins
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Oct. 1 vs. Jaguars
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Oct. 8 @ Browns
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Oct. 15 vs. Patriots
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Oct. 22 @ Dolphins
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Oct. 29 vs. Falcons
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Nov. 2 vs. Bills
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Nov. 12 @ Buccaneers
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Nov. 26 vs. Panthers
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Dec. 3 vs. Chiefs
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Dec. 10 @ Broncos
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Dec. 17 @ Saints
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Dec. 24 vs. Chargers
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Dec. 31 @ Patriots
“Who are their receivers? I just don’t know where the offensive firepower comes from. Brandon Marshall is not there. Eric Decker is not there. And then the guy they planned on hanging their hats on [Quincy Enunwa] gets hurt.” — As told to MIKE SANDO
Basically, the Jets unloaded almost every player over 30 without a guaranteed salary for 2017. The strength of the team is the defensive line, with Leonard Williams (92) and Muhammad Wilkerson (96). Rookie safeties Jamal Adams (33) and Marcus Maye (26) are promising, but the Jets still have questions at linebacker, cornerback, wide receiver, tight end and, of course, quarterback. The offense will run through Matt Forte (22) and Bilal Powell, a pair of steady running backs. — RICH CIMINI
New
Josh McCown, Bryce Petty, Christian Hackenberg
A team that absolutely needs to get a look at 2016 second-rounder Hackenberg to see what it has in him is instead starting the veteran McCown in Week 1. Petty doesn’t seem to be a part of the picture in the short term or long. We’ll see Hackenberg at some point, surely, but the fact that he couldn’t beat out McCown’s lackluster summer says a lot about where this team is at quarterback right now. Which is basically nowhere. — DAN GRAZIANO
Wide receiver ArDarius Stewart
Following the release of both Decker and Marshall, the Jets are going young at wide receiver this season. Stewart was selected in the third round of April’s draft, and although the team’s dreadful QB situation limits his upside, Stewart is a good bet to land a near-every-down gig at some point this year. — MIKE CLAY
Given the Jets’ roster — and QB situation — I looked for high-percentage plays that put the offense in a situation in which it can pick up chunk yardage. And that’s why I really like the shoot screen to Forte off play action and movement. With the Jets in a run set (wide receiver tight to the core of the formation) and the guard pulling away from the play action, Forte (H) can settle inside on the screen look. This means the quarterback (Q) can dump the ball off quickly to Forte with blockers out in front. Get him out in space. — MATT BOWEN
The Jets will break the franchise record for fewest points scored in a season. The 16-game mark is 220 points (13.8 per game) in 1992, when they were doomed by bad quarterback play. Twenty-five years later, their current quarterback situation (McCown, Petty and Hackenberg) isn’t much better, and the receiving corps is comprised of former late-round draft picks and college free agents. The Jets scored only 275 points last year, so, yes, 220 is frighteningly within reach. — RICH CIMINI