Getty
After a letdown 2024 campaign, can the Jets bounce back in 2025?
After failing to live up to the hype last year, this offseason sees the New York Jets receive tempered expectations. With a new head coach-quarterback combination at the helm, change is the theme of the summer in Florham Park, NJ.
The betting market, like the media and many fans, is lower on the Jets entering 2025. Their projected win total is vastly different coming into this season than the year prior. Largely set at five-and-a-half, either side of that line reflects a non-playoff club.
That isn’t stopping one betting analyst from identifying some potential value. In a recent edition of “Tyler’s Best Bets,” ESPN’s Tyler Fulghum made his call for New York’s total.
Fulghum Picks Over or Under on Jets’ 2025 Win Total
Fulghum, who is “big on the Jets relative to expectation,” is strongly in favor of the “over” line. Considering all it takes is just a one-win improvement, it’s no surprise that the market agrees.
“This is a team when I look at ESPN Bet, I see five-and-a-half wins,” Fulghum said. “I go, ‘Wait a second: I need them just finish [6-11] with their offensive line – which should be really good in front of Justin Fields – their run game and their defense, led by Aaron Glenn and the talent they have on that side of the ball?’ I’m not saying they’re going to be a playoff team, but I think they’re going to be a tough team to play each and every week of the season because they’re going to be physical, they’re going to run the football at you and they’re going to play great defense. I think we can get six wins, and the market thinks that because it’s heavily-juiced.”
Fulghum isn’t the only one thinking better days could be on the horizon. Jacob Robinson of The Athletic believes the Jets “should be better than 2024’s 5-12 record,” although he can’t decide how high the team can soar in 2025. The Yahoo Sports duo of Matt Harmon and Charles McDonald also thinks this team will be a tough opponent.
One Jets-related piece is being made clear. There’s plenty of wiggle room to be higher on them entering the season without predicting an above-.500 finish.
Two Factors Will Swing New York’s 2025 Season Outcome
How New York fares will likely come down to two things. First and foremost, Fields is the X-factor that could swing things in either direction. The former Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback is still looking to establish himself. He’s a highly-regarded runner, yet his passing chops remain questionable. At best, reports of his progress this offseason are mixed.
Secondly, the Jets’ defense is their ticket to establishing a higher floor. Even in 2023 when they had to panic after Aaron Rodgers‘ Achilles injury, they remained feisty and finished with seven wins. A return to form for players like Quinnen Williams and Sauce Gardner could impact the defense as a whole.
Of course, players like running back Breece Hall rebounding would also help. With a new regime at the helm, several hungry players eager to play inspiring football and a middling strength of schedule, the Jets have paths to improvement.
As Fulghum said, all it takes is six wins to hit that precious over.
Jordan Foote is a seasoned sports writer who covers the NFL for Heavy.com with an emphasis on the Kansas City Chiefs, New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers. He has years of experience publishing NFL and MLB content for Sports Illustrated’s On SI vertical, in addition to a background in NBA coverage for multiple outlets. Foote is a Baker University alumnus, earning his degree in Mass Media. He’s based in Kansas City. More about Jordan Foote
More Heavy on Jets
Loading more stories
