Recently retired NFL star predicts if Giants or Jets will have better season

Despite the Jets flurry of offseason moves, recently retired defensive end J.J. Watt, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, still believes the Giants are the better team.

During a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, Watt was asked which New York team would have the better season.

"I'm going to go with the team that had success last year," Watt said. "I'll go with the Giants again."

The Giants went 9-7-1 and made the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Rookie head coach Brian Daboll won Coach of the Year. 

The Jets went 7-10, missing the playoffs for a 12th straight year, the longest active postseason drought in North American sports.

Regardless, the Jets have high expectations after acquiring quarterback Aaron Rodgers, a four-time league MVP, from Green Bay. They also possess better Super Bowl odds than the Giants. Per OddsChecker, the Jets hold the seventh-best odds, while their NFC counterpart has the 20th-best odds.

Both teams boast solid rosters. 

Giants running back Saquon Barkley and defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence earned Pro Bowl nods last season. The Jets have the 2022 Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year in wide receiver Garrett Wilson and cornerback Sauce Gardner.

Historically, the Giants are the better franchise as they have four Super Bowl titles. However, the Jets having a better season wouldn't be a complete surprise because of their offseason momentum. 

To add more intrigue, the Jets and Giants face off in Week 8, their first regular-season matchup since 2019. The Giants hold an 8-6 edge in the all-time series between the clubs. The winner may determine which NFL team reigns supreme in New York.