With an improved secondary, the New York Jets will double their win total from last season. But uncertainty at quarterback, coupled with an improved AFC East, makes the playoffs out of the question in 2015. Prediction: 8-8.

A game-by-game breakdown:

Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 13, Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m.

The Todd Bowles era opens at home, the Jets' sixth straight season opener at home. This is a favorable opener for the Jets because they're familiar with former Jets assistant Mike Pettine's defensive scheme (a carbon copy of the Rex Ryan system) and because the Browns, like the Jets, have an unsettled quarterback situation. Maybe we'll see Johnny Football. Prediction: Jets 21, Browns 20. Record: 1-0.

Week 2: Monday, Sept. 21, at Indianapolis Colts, 8:30 p.m.

This could be the Jets' toughest non-divisional road game. In three seasons, Andrew Luck is 19-5 at home. This will be the Jets' first trip to Indy since their wild-card win in the 2010 playoffs. Ah, those were the days. Prediction: Colts 27, Jets 14. Record: 1-1.

Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 27, Philadelphia Eagles, 1 p.m.

Strange, but true: The Jets never have beaten the Eagles in a regular-season game -- 0-9. Maybe Bowles, a former Eagles assistant, can end the skid. It'll be a lot more dramatic if former Jets quarterbacks Mark Sanchez and/or Tim Tebow get a chance to play. Prediction: Eagles 24, Jets 21. Record: 1-2.

Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 4, at Miami Dolphins, 9:30 a.m.

The two AFC East rivals play at London's Wembley Stadium, the first overseas regular-season game in Jets history. Maybe the Jets and Dolphins, who played the famous Midnight Miracle game in 2000, can stage a Midday Miracle on the other side of the pond. Prediction: Jets 40, Dolphins 37 (OT). Record: 2-2.

Week 5: Bye

Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 18, Washington Redskins, 1 p.m.

A lot of similarities here: Both teams are coming off four-win seasons and they're both facing the likelihood of a quarterback controversy. Bowles played for the Redskins for seven years in the late 1908s and early 1990s, so that's a neat, little subplot. Prediction: Jets 26, Redskins 16. Record: 3-2.

Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 25, at New England Patriots, 1 p.m.

In honor of Darrelle Revis, who left the Super Bowl champs to sign with his old team, let's call it the Tamper Bowl. Bowles gets his first crack at the Patriots, the nemesis that inflicted so much frustration during the Ryan era. With a vastly improved secondary, the Jets should have a fighting chance against Tom Brady. Patriots 24, Jets 21. Record: 3-3.

Week 8: Sunday, Nov. 1, at Oakland Raiders, 4:05 p.m.

With an emerging defense, the Raiders could be a sleeper in the AFC. Memo to Bowles: Make sure Geno Smith is aware of the proper time zone. California causes problems for him. Prediction: Jets 20, Raiders 17. Record: 4-3.

Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 8, Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m.

Big question: Will former Jets general manager John Idzik, now a salary-cap consultant for the Jaguars, make the trip back to MetLife Stadium? If so, will he be greeted by a banner-toting airplane, just for old time's sake? But, seriously, the Jets can't afford to lose this game. They won't. Prediction: Jets 28, Jaguars 10. Record: 5-3.

Week 10: Thursday, Nov. 12, Buffalo Bills, 8:25 p.m.

For six years, the Jets tried to back up Rex Ryan's often outrageous boasts, failing more often than not in recent seasons. Now we'll get a chance to see how the Jets respond when they're on the receiving end of the trash talk. Watch your back, Jace Amaro. Prediction: Bills 13, Jets 12. Record: 5-4.

Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 22, at Houston Texans, 1 p.m.

The Texans traded Ryan Fitzpatrick to the Jets because they felt more comfortable with a couple of younger quarterbacks, Ryan Mallett and Brian Hoyer. Maybe Fitzpatrick gets a chance for a little payback in the Maccagnan Bowl -- if he's starting over Smith. Prediction: Texans 24, Jets 20. Record: 5-5.

Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 29, Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m.

The Jets can beat them on foreign soil, and we know they can beat them in South Florida, but they can't beat them at home. This will be the Jets' fourth straight home loss to the Dolphins, which will make former Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum -- Miami's new VP -- a happy man. Prediction: Dolphins 21, Jets 17. Record: 5-6.

Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 6, at New York Giants, 1 p.m.

Four years after the Victor Cruz Game (read: 99-yard touchdown), the Jets enjoy a little payback. The battle of New York will feature the matchup of the year: Revis versus Odell Beckham Jr. Oh, baby. Prediction: Jets 24, Giants 23. Record: 6-6.

Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 13, Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m.

If the Jets don't draft quarterback Marcus Mariota, they might have to face him in this contest. The Titans could take him with the No. 2 pick in the draft, setting up a delicious subplot. Prediction: Jets 34, Titans 13. Record: 7-6.

Week 15: Saturday, Dec. 19, at Dallas Cowboys, 8:25 p.m.

The Jets visit Jerry's World for the first time, clinging to their playoff dreams. In the end, Adrian Peterson (wink, wink) will be too much for them to handle as the Cowboys pull away in prime time. Prediction: Cowboys 27, Jets 17. Record: 7-7.

Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 27, New England Patriots, 1 p.m.

Sorry, Todd, no one said this Patriots' thing was going to be easy. The Jets lose their fourth straight to the defending Super Bowl champs. Look at the bright side: Tom Brady will be one year closer to retirement. Prediction: Patriots 20, Jets 16. Record: 7-8.

Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 3, at Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m.

Amaro catches the winning touchdown pass in the final minute, costing the Bills a wild-card spot. Ryan fires his headset into the ground and later remarks, "I wanted to kick their a--, and they kicked mine." He responds by abolishing team captains for 2016. Prediction: Jets 28, Bills 23. Record: 8-8.