The New York Jets' preseason schedule announced today features games against the Tennessee Titans and Detroit Lions in the first two weeks followed by rematches with old summer foes the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles in the final two weeks. The August dates for the first three games and all kickoff times will be released in the coming days.
Head coach Todd Bowles and the Green & White will open their third preseason together at MetLife Stadium against the Titans and now third-year QB Marcus Mariota during the NFL's first full weekend of summer games from Aug. 10-14. It will be the teams' first preseason meeting in more than two decades.
Detroit is a more frequent summer opponent, having hosted the Jets in both the 2013 and '15 preseason openers. The interconference foes will play from Aug. 17-21 in what will be the Jets' only preseason game away from MetLife.
This year's 49th annual Jets-Giants clash is in its traditional Week 3 slot and will be played from Aug. 24-28. This is the Giants' home game — but there's no guarantee of a "home-field advantage" in this recent rivalry (see below). And there should be several Jets of recent vintage on the Giants sidelines in this one, such as WR Brandon Marshall, QB Geno Smith and DT Damon Harrison.
And the Jets and Eagles will get together in their usual preseason finale position on Thursday, Aug. 31, this year in the Meadowlands.
The NFL will release its full regular-season schedule in the coming weeks.
Preseason Game 1 — Jets vs. Titans, MetLife Stadium, Aug. 10-14The teams' most recent meeting came in the 2015 regular season, with the Jets defeating the Titans, 30-8, in Mariota's rookie campaign. ... Muhammad Wilkerson had three sacks and Buster Skrine had his first interception as a Jet in that game. ...
Their last preseason matchup was in 1996, when the Jets hosted the Houston Oilers in Jackson, MS, with the Oilers prevailing, 31-13. ... This is the first preseason game between the AFC opponents ever in North Jersey. ... The Jets trail in the all-time summer series, 8-6.
Preseason Game 2 — Jets @ Lions, Ford Field, Aug. 17-21This will be the seventh Jets-Lions preseason meeting and the third in the last five years. ... The Jets lost at Ford Field in their 2013 summer opener, 26-17 (when then-rookie Wilkerson recorded his first sack as a pro), and again in Detroit in the '15 opener, 23-3 (when QB Bryce Petty made his pro debut and newly signed CB Marcus Williams came up with his first INT as a Jet).
The Lions lead the all-time preseason series, 4-2. ... The Jets' wins came at home in 2005 by 10-3 and in Cleveland in 1968 (in the first game of an NFL preseason doubleheader!) by 9-6.
Preseason Game 3 — Jets @ Giants, MetLife Stadium, Aug. 24-28Last year the Jets held the Giants to 163 yards — the least offensive yardage by a preseason opponent since 1981 — but lost, 21-20, when the visitors took the lead on an 11-yard TD pass from Ryan Nassib to WR Tavarres King and Josh Brown's extra point with 2:25 to play. ... For the Jets, rookie QB Christian Hackenberg threw his first pro touchdown pass and rookie WR Robby Anderson had his first home TD reception as a pro.
The Jets have lost all four preseason games to the Giants as the home team at MetLife since 2010. ... But as visitors, they've won five straight preseason games over the Giants, including all three games "on the road" at MetLife. ... The Green & White's last summer road loss to Big Blue was by 15-14 in 2005. ... The Jets lead the all-time preseason series, 25-22-1.
Preseason Game 4 — Jets vs. Eagles, MetLife Stadium, Thursday, Aug. 31The Jets struggled to one touchdown and 202 yards of offense in the 14-6 road loss to the Eagles in last year's preseason finale. ... The TD came on Petty's 44-yard longball to Robby Anderson in the opening quarter. ... The Jets D allowed no points but the Birds scored on two returns in the middle periods. ... Rookie CB Juston Burris had his first pro INT on a deflected Chase Daniel pass in the first quarter, starting the offense on its 85-yard TD march.
The Jets have won the last two summer home games vs. the Eagles and eight of the last nine. ... This will be the 17th consecutive preseason finale between the teams. ... The Jets lead the all-time preseason series, 23-15.
