NFL predictions 2020: Jets final record projection, Super Bowl odds & more to know

The Jets might be cleared for takeoff in 2020 — if they can make it to the runway.

Gang Green finished 7-9 in 2019, hardly a record to hang your hat on, but the team finished on a 6-2 run despite the hodgepodge of talent, injuries and drama unfolding within the locker room. Wins in the NFL are wins in the NFL, after all — they all count the same regardless of who you play.

There was a lone bright spot for New York, though, and that was the guy underneath center: quarterback Sam Darnold threw 13 touchdowns to four interceptions, completing 61 percent of his passes over that eight-game stretch and generally looked like a competent level starting QB at worst and a franchise answer at best.

Still, the Jets are in the middle of a rebuild on the fly, shipped off their best player to the Seahawks, and have a ton of question marks scattered across the roster. There's cause for optimism in Florham Park, N.J. in 2020, but Jets fans should temper expectations.

Here is a breakdown of the Jets' 2020 outlook and our predictions, based on projections by SN's Vinnie Iyer.

MORE NFL PREDICTIONS:
SN's complete 2020 standings projections & playoff picks

Jets record prediction for 2020

• Record: 4-12
• Division: No. 4 in AFC East
• Playoffs: N/A

Iyer's take: Adam Gase has reshuffled his receiving corps and line for Sam Darnold, who has plenty to prove vs. his buzz-worthier 2019 draft classmates. The defense doesn’t have many sources of confidence without Jamal Adams. The Bills have more talent, the Patriots have better coaching and the Dolphins have a better overall plan. 

Rivera's take: Stop me if you've heard this before: the 2020 Jets season is a pivotal year for the franchise.

The reason? The quarterback.

There's certainly evidence for doubt heading into the 2020 NFL season for the Jets, but if Sam Darnold can continue to build his case as a franchise QB behind a rebuilt offensive line, there's also reason for optimism.

Consider this: Darnold improved on all of his rookie numbers in touchdowns, completion rate, yards, passer rating and dropped his INTs by two in 2019. While it wasn't the second-year leap a lot expected to happen, improvement is improvement, and Darnold showed a fair amount of it to silence some critics. Keep in mind, Darnold is entering his Age 23 season, and he did all that while dealing with a horrendous line and questionable offensive weapons.

General manager Joe Douglas has taken strides to give Darnold help along that front — and make good on a promise to Mama and Papa Darnold — selecting mountainous left tackle Mekhi Becton with the 11th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, taking offensive lineman Cameron Clark in the fourth round and making some key free-agent signings, including center Connor McGovern and guard Greg Van Roten. Denzel Mims out of Baylor might also be a big-time steal, too, giving Darnold an athletic, rangy target out wide, pairing with a seemingly ready to prove-it receiver in Breshad Perriman.

Make no doubt: there are still a ton of "ifs" and "maybes" factoring into the Gang Green equation this year. Among them: Who is Adam Gase? Will Le'Veon Bell have a bounce-back year? What will the defense be without Jamal Adams?

Still, the roster that went 7-9 last year took one giant step back with the removal of Adams, but improved almost everywhere else, at least on paper. That could bode well in 2020.

Final record: 7-9

Jets odds for 2020 win total, Super Bowl

• Win total: Over/under 6 1/2
• Super Bowl odds: +12500

(Odds courtesy Sports Insider)

One thing about the 2020 Jets is almost set in stone: hopes of a Super Bowl are higher than Cheech and Chong. 

Even with expanded playoffs, the Jets will still have to fight through an AFC East that's tougher than people realize, with the Bills, Patriots and upstart Dolphins (now featuring Tua Tagovailoa) all, arguably, ahead of them in the division. Couple that with a tough schedule out of division, and they could have a tough go in 2020. The O/U win total is just about where it should be.

MORE: Week 1 NFL picks against the spread | Week 1 odds from Sports Insider

Jets schedule 2020

The Jets finished the season on a 6-2 run last year, but it was against a fair amount of soft competition. The only way to become a good football team in the NFL is to … beat good football teams, and the Jets will have plenty of opportunities do so in 2020: