Jets, Aaron Rodgers have six prime time games in 2023 as NFL schedules released

Thursday night, the 2023 NFL schedule was released for all 32 teams.

Early that morning, the Jets found out the Aaron Rodgers era with the Jets would begin under the lights in primetime.

Rodgers and the Jets will host the Bills on Monday Night Football, Sept. 11, at MetLife Stadium. The two teams split their meetings last year as the Jets shocked the Bills at home, 20-17, last November. Buffalo exacted revenge at home last December 20-12.

Gang Green last opened a season at home under the lights on Sept. 11, 2011, as it defeated the Cowboys 27-24.

The Jets’ start on road won’t be any easier on Sept. 17 in Week 2 as they will travel to AT&T Stadium to play the Cowboys. Gang Green will return home in Week 3 on Sept. 24 to host the Patriots, hoping to snap a 14-game losing streak against New England.

This year is a drastic change compared to years past. Gang Green will receive the maximum six primetime games compared to just one a season ago. The Jets’ lone national television appearance during the 2022 season was a 19-3 loss to the Jaguars on Thursday Night Football last December.

On Wednesday, it was announced the Jets would host the Dolphins on the first NFL Black Friday game on Amazon Prime on Nov. 24 at MetLife Stadium.

In addition to the games against the Bills and the Dolphins, on Oct. 1, Gang Green will have its first “Sunday Night Football” game since 2011 as it will host the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs. The Jets will also have primetime games against the Chargers (Nov. 6, Monday Night Football, ESPN) and at the Raiders (Nov. 12 on Sunday Night Football, NBC). Then on Dec. 28, the Jets will travel to Cleveland to take on the Browns on Thursday Night Football.

In the battle for New York, the Jets will face their in-state rival Giants on Oct. 29 at 1 p.m. in a “road” game at MetLife Stadium. This will be the first time the Giants and Jets have met during the regular season since 2019 when Gang Green defeated Big Blue 34-27.

On Christmas Eve, the Jets will host the Commanders at 1 p.m.

To conclude the 2023 season, the Jets will travel to Gillette Stadium to play the Patriots on Jan. 7.

The Jets and the three other AFC East teams will face teams from the AFC West and NFC East in 2023. As they finished in fourth place in the AFC East last season, the Jets will also play fourth-place finishers in the AFC North, the Browns, and the NFC South, the Falcons.

Gang Green will play 10 of its first 15 games at MetLife Stadium. However, the Jets will end the 2023 season on the road in three of its final four games.

With the addition of Rodgers, many expect the Jets to contend in the AFC and make the playoffs for the first time since 2010. Now the Jets will get an early chance to see where the team stands in the AFC East as they will play the Bills, who have won the division the last three seasons, in the season opener. Last season, the Jets defense finished fourth in yards and points allowed.

Although there’s a lot of optimism surrounding the Jets this offseason, they will have to navigate through one of the toughest schedules in the league. The Jets will have the sixth-most difficult schedule based on opponents’ combined 2022 winning percentage as they will face seven teams (two games against the Bills and Dolphins each) that made the playoffs last season.

The Eagles have the most demanding schedule, as their opponents had a winning percentage of .566 last year. The Dolphins (.554) have the second-most challenging schedule, followed by the Patriots (.549), Cowboys (.549) and Giants (.549).

“As soon as they made the trade and got Aaron Rodgers, they immediately are in the Super Bowl conversation, and rightfully so,” Troy Aikman said on ESPN Thursday morning during the announcement of the Monday Night Football opener. “They have a really talented football team and it is going to be a lot of interest, of course.

“Watching Aaron Rodgers this offseason and for us to get them Week 1 against a really good Buffalo Bills team will be fantastic.”

JETS 2023 SCHEDULE

Preseason

WEEK 1: at Cleveland Browns (Hall of Fame Game)

Aug. 3, 8 p.m., NBC

WEEK 2: at Carolina Panthers

TBD

WEEK 3: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

TBD

WEEK 4: at New York Giants

Regular Season

Week 1: vs. Buffalo Bills

Sept. 11, 8:15 p.m., ESPN, (Monday Night Football)

Week 2: at Dallas Cowboys

Sept. 17, 4:25 p.m., CBS

Week 3: vs New England Patriots

Sept. 24, 1 p.m., CBS

Week 4: vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Oct. 1, 8:20 p.m., NBC (Sunday Night Football)

Week 5: at Denver Broncos

Oct. 8, 4:25 p.m., CBS

Week 6: vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Oct. 15, 4:25 p.m., FOX

Week 7: Bye

Week 8: at New York Giants

Oct. 29, 1 p.m., CBS

Week 9: vs. L.A. Chargers

Nov. 6, 8:15 p.m., ESPN (Monday Night Football)

Week 10: at Las Vegas Raiders

Nov. 12, 8:20 p.m., (Sunday Night Football)

Week 11: at Buffalo Bills

Nov. 19, 4:25 p.m., CBS

Week 12: vs Miami Dolphins (Black Friday)

Nov. 24, 3 p.m., Amazon Prime Video

Week 13: vs Atlanta Falcons

Dec. 3, 1 p.m., FOX

Week 14: vs. Houston Texans

Dec. 10, 1:00 p.m., CBS

Week 15: at Miami Dolphins

Dec. 17, 1:00 p.m., CBS

Week 16: vs. Washington Commanders

Dec. 24, 1:00 p.m., CBS

Week 17: at Cleveland Browns

Dec. 28, 8:15 p.m., Amazon Prime Video

Week 18: at New England Patriots

Jan. 6. or 7, TBD