ORCHARD PARK — The Jets’ 2020 schedule is now set.
The Jets will play the NFC West and AFC West as part of the league’s schedule rotation and then face the Colts and Browns, who finished third in their respective divisions like the Jets did.
The home slate is: Patriots, Bills, Dolphins, 49ers, Cardinals, Raiders, Broncos and Browns.
The road schedule is: Patriots, Bills, Dolphins, Rams, Seahawks, Chiefs, Chargers and Colts.
The league will announce the order of the schedule in April.
The Jets will select No. 11 in the 2020 NFL Draft. It is the first time they will not draft in the top 10 since 2016. Players taken at 11 in the last 10 years: Jonah Williams, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Marshon Lattimore, Vernon Hargreaves, Trae Waynes, Taylor Lewan, D.J. Fluker, Dontari Poe, J.J. Watt, Anthony Davis and Aaron Maybin.
Jets outside linebacker Jordan Jenkins praised how coach Adam Gase held the team together when it was 1-7.
“He never faltered, not one bit,” said Jenkins, who recorded his team-high eighth sack of the year Sunday against the Bills. “I respect him so much for that. A lot of coaches would’ve thrown in the towel and just went out there and went through it without living through it.”
The Jets finished the season 6-2 in the second half.
WR Jamison Crowder led the Jets with eight catches for 66 yards and scored their only touchdown. Crowder ended the season leading the team in receptions (78), receiving yards (833) and receiving touchdowns (six).
“All year he’s done a great job of just being productive for us,” Gase said. “When his number’s called, he’s been extremely reliable. It seems like every ball that’s thrown to him, outside the Baltimore one, is caught, but then he redeemed himself the next play. He’s just been probably one of the most consistent guys we’ve had through the entire year.”
On the Jets’ first drive Sunday, Gase made two questionable decisions. On third-and-2 from the Bills 33, he called a wildcat run for Le’Veon Bell, who danced too much and was stuffed for no gain. Gase then decided to try a field goal on fourth down rather than go for it. Sam Ficken missed a 51-yard attempt.
“I wasn’t feeling it,” Gase said of going for it on fourth-and-2. “I wish I could have the third-down call back. I didn’t like that call. I would have held that one for later.”
The Jets suffered a staggering amount of injuries this season. They used a franchise-record 72 players. Gase said the injuries are not an excuse for the team’s record.
“Nobody cares,” Gase said. “No one cares if you get injured or not. You just have to try to figure out a way to win the game.”
Bills running back Frank Gore came into the Jets postgame locker room to deliver one of his jerseys to Jets safety Jamal Adams, whom he has spoken glowingly of in the past.