Any thoughts that the NFL and the league's fans weren't into Aaron Rodgers and the Jets as they were a year ago for the 2023 schedule announcement have officially been dashed.
One look at the Jets' entire '24 schedule unveiled tonight says the appetite is still there. And a look at the nighttime portion of the Green & White's home slate confirms it.
Week 6 — Buffalo, Monday night, Oct. 14
Week 9 — Houston, Thursday night, Oct. 31
Week 11 — Indianapolis, Sunday night, Nov. 17
Four home primetime games? Half their MetLife Stadium schedule? All in a nine-game span? Since the NFL's Monday Night Football era began with Jets-Browns in 1970, that's the Jets' all-time season record. Coming on the heels of last season's three night affairs, they will have played more games under the home lights in 2023-24 than they did in the previous six seasons combined.
That's one of the eye-poppers about this season's home schedule. There are several others to note:
Home Opener in Week 3
The last time the Jets opened a season with two road games was 2017. The last time before that: 1992. It's not unusual in the NFL — 11 teams the previous three seasons opened with two-game road trips — but it's rare for the Green & White. And presumably this skrinkle (sked wrinkle?) will have the Jets and their fans fired up for that opener, especially since this year the opponents are the Patriots.
It will be the Jets' 14th home opener against New England, their most against any opponent (Miami is second with 9 HOs, Buffalo third with 8). But it's only their second home opener vs. the Patriots in the last 15 seasons (the other was in '21).
And this is a perfect night stage for the Green & White. They snapped one losing skid against the Pats in the snows of Foxboro in January, and now the opportunity arises against new head coach Jerod Mayo and possibly new rookie QB starter Drake Maye to get that first MetLife win since 2015 and the Eric Decker "Meadowlands Leap" OT victory.
See the 17-game slate for the Jets during the 2024 NFL season.
Week 1
Jets at 49ers
Monday, Sept. 9 | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN
Week 2
Jets at Titans
Sunday, Sept. 15 | 1:00 p.m. | CBS
Week 3
Jets vs. Patriots
Thursday, Sept. 19 | 8:15 p.m. | Prime Video
Week 4
Jets vs. Broncos
Sunday, Sept. 29 | 1:00 p.m. | CBS
Week 5
Jets at Vikings | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Sunday, Oct. 6 | 9:30 am | NFL Network
Week 6
Jets vs. Bills
Monday, Oct. 14 | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN
Week 7
Jets at Steelers
Sunday, Oct. 20 | 8:20 p.m. | NBC
Week 8
Jets at Patriots
Sunday, Oct. 27 | 1:00 p.m. | CBS
Week 9
Jets vs. Texans
Thursday, Oct. 31 | 8:15 p.m. | Prime Video
Week 10
Jets at Cardinals
Sunday, Nov. 10 | 4:25 p.m. | CBS
Week 11
Jets vs. Colts
Sunday, Nov. 17 | 8:20 p.m. | NBC
Week 13
Jets vs. Seahawks
Sunday, Dec. 1 | 1:00 p.m. | FOX
Week 14
Jets at Dolphins
Sunday, Dec. 8 | 1:00 p.m. | CBS
Week 15
Jets at Jaguars
Sunday, Dec. 15 | 1:00 p.m. | FOX
Week 16
Jets vs. Rams
Sunday, Dec. 22 | 1:00 p.m. | CBS
Week 17
Jets at Bills
Sunday, Dec. 29 | 1:00 p.m. | CBS
Week 18
Jets vs. Dolphins
TBD
Familiar Foes
The first four MetLife games on the schedule feature four teams — Patriots, Broncos, Bills, Texans — that the Jets defeated last season, Buffalo and Houston at home. All four present intriguing QB matchups against the Jets' top-five defense as well as for the ageless and accomplished Rodgers.
New England's QB will be either Maye or Jacoby Brissett, who gave the Jets fits in relief in last season's comeback win over Washington. Denver's signal-caller will be either rookie Bo Nix, journeyman Jarrett Stidham or former Jet Zach Wilson. Buffalo will be led no doubt by the redoubtable Josh Allen. And Houston's C.J. Stroud had a sensational rookie season everywhere, it seems, except MetLife when the Jets prevailed, 30-14.
Stern Second Half
The Indy game arrives the week before the bye, but let's count the Colts as part of the second half of the schedule. The Jets defense could be tested by another second-year QB — this time Anthony Richardson, who has declared himself "on a mission" after his injury-shortened '23 campaign — as well as RB Jonathan Taylor, the South Jerseyan who had a monster game in the 45-30 win over the Jets in '21 (172 rush yards, 200 scrimmage yards, 2 TDs)
Then comes another battle with a former QB of theirs, this time Geno Smith when the Seahawks play the Jets at MetLife, on Dec. 1, for the first time in eight years. Three games later, an intriguing duel will be fought between two seasoned musketeers, the Rams' Matt Stafford going up against Rodgers & Co. No guarantees, but in 17 previous head-to-heads, mostly Green Bay vs. Detroit, Rodgers is 13-4 with 35 TD passes to 3 INTs and a 109.5 rating.
Which brings us to Week 18, Game 17.
And It Could All Come Down to ...
Miami. For the second straight season, the old foes will play twice in less than a calendar month. This time the second home-and-home is at the Jets' place. So much could be riding on this game for both sides — division title, playoff berth, dare we say that one AFC bye. The Jets defense vs. Tua Tagovailoa throwing to Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle and handing off to Raheem Mostert, who had a mere four rushing TDs in last year's two games, the most by a Jets opponent in a season since "Lookie, Lookie, Here Comes Cookie" Gilchrist with six rush TDs for the Bills in 1963.
Quite the stretch run. Two foes who made the playoffs (Dolphins, Rams) and two who were knocking on the postseason door. A combined 2023 schedule strength for that foursome of .574.
All in all, an exciting home schedule, and a challenging one. The Jets feel they're up for that challenge, and we'll all know how the home front will hold up beginning in four months when the Patriots come calling.
