It’s finally here. The NFL season is officially underway and there’s only one game left in week one. The New York Jets hosting the Buffalo Bills.

The Jets have lost five of their last six against the Bills with the lone victory in that span coming last season when Zach Wilson and the defense led the team to a 20-17 win. Since coming into the league, Josh Allen is 6-3 in his career against the Jets with eight touchdowns and seven interceptions.

All of the history is thrown out the window tonight because the Jets now have a quarterback. Aaron Rodgers will make his debut for the Jets and turn the page on the franchise.

Here are my top 3 bold predictions for the game.

Three Bold Predictions for Monday Night Football

1- Four running backs get multiple touches tonight

The hype going into the game is the return of Breece Hall from the ACL injury he sustained last year and the signing of free agent Dalvin Cook.

The Jets have publicly said that Hall won’t be on any sort of snap count, and he is a full go. But I can’t imagine that with an abbreviated preseason and not seeing any live game action in over a year, they won’t limit his touches at least somewhat.

Cook is coming off an injury of his own, and like Hall, has seen no action this preseason on an abbreviated camp.

Meanwhile, Michael Carter and Izzy Abanikanda have played well and provide the Jets with their own abilities. Carter is a very good receiver and can get some work on third downs. Abanikanda is lightning in a bottle and is a threat to score from anywhere on the field.

The Jets will find a way to work all four guys into the rotation at some point.

2- At least four different players will record a sack for the Jets

The Jets defensive line comes at you in waves. They rotate eight or nine guys in that are ferocious pass rushers. There isn’t a weak link in the bunch.

Lead by Quinnen Williams, the Jets will try and take advantage of a weaker Bills offensive line and the fact that the Jets have one of the best secondaries in the game.

The Jets have the best sack rate in the NFL when Quinnen Williams is on the field. Bryce Huff and rookie first round pick Will McDonald aren’t even starters and are some of the best pass rushers on the team. Jermaine Johnson looks like he found a new gear so far this season.

With the Bills not having much of a traditional run game, they will look to use a short passing game as a way to control the ball, but with the Jets corners and waves of defensive lineman, I expect Josh Allen to be hit a lot.

3- Defense wins the day

A lot of hype surrounds the Jets and Bills offenses coming into this game. With Josh Allen an easy MVP candidate and the Jets addition of Aaron Rodgers, people will expect a lot of fireworks.

But defenses are always ahead of offenses early in the year and both of these team have really good defensive units. Combine the timing with the skill and the potential for the weather to be bad, and you wind up with a defensive game.

The Jets will have a really good offense this year, but it likely won’t show for a few weeks. Rodgers is still Rodgers and will find a way to at least keep the offense on the field and not constantly go three and out.

The Jets will lean on their topflight defense early this season and they will be just fine doing that.

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The Jets have a long season ahead of them, and one filled with more hype than any in the last decade. There isn’t a question if the pieces are there, it is a question of being able to put them together. Final prediction for tonight: Jets win 20-16

Three bold predictions for the Jets’ 2023 season

Take these to the bank.

Featured Image via Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports