The Aaron Rodgers era with the Jets will begin under the lights in primetime.
On “Good Morning America,” Pro Football Hall of Famer and ESPN analyst Troy Aikman revealed the Jets will host the Buffalo 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 MetLife Stadium 20-17 last November. Buffalo got its revenge at home in December, 20-12.
This is the second Jets primetime game announced before Thursday night’s schedule release. 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. The rest of the Jets schedule will be revealed on Thursday at 8 p.m.
The Rodgers effect is real, as Gang Green has already received more national television games than a year ago. During the 2022 season, the Jets was featured once in primetime, a loss to the Jaguars on Thursday Night Football last December.
The Jets reportedly will also host the defending Super Bowl champions Chiefs on “Sunday Night Football” on Oct. 1. This will be the first time the Jets have played on Sunday night since 2011.
Gang Green did play New England on Thanksgiving in 2012, which was branded under “Sunday Night Football,” as that was its last regular season appearance on NBC.
Following their season opener against the Bills, the Jets will travel to AT&T Stadium to play the Cowboys. Gang Green will return home to play the Patriots in Week 3, attempting to snap a 14-game losing streak to New England.
The Jets will play their cross-state rival Giants in a “road” matchup at MetLife Stadium on Oct. 29. This will be the first time the two teams have played in the regular season since 2019, when the Jets defeated the Giants 34-27.
NBC Washington reports that the Jets will host the Commanders on Dec. 24.
The Jets have been pegged as Super Bowl contenders ever since the arrival of Rodgers. Last season, the Jets defense finished fourth in yards and points allowed per game. But Gang Green’s offense, with quarterbacks Zach Wilson, Joe Flacco, and Mike White, was 25th in yards and 29th in points scored.
“As soon as they made the trade and got Aaron Rodgers, they immediately are in the Super Bowl conversation, and rightfully so,” Aikman said on ESPN. “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.”
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 they stand in the AFC East as they will play the Bills, who have won the division the last three seasons.
The Jets have signed wide receivers Allen Lazard and Mecole Hardman this offseason., Through the draft, the Jets added defensive end Will McDonald and center Joe Tippmann.
This year’s roster is a significant change from Robert Saleh’s first two seasons with the Jets when they relied a lot on rookies and younger players. Now, the Jets hope to go from 7-10 and the bottom of the AFC East to Super Bowl contenders in one season.
“Over the last two years, there’s so much youth playing,” Saleh said during rookie minicamp last week. “All that youth creates depth and that creates competition.
“The greatest form of motivating as a coach is competition. So, it all helps. To add the veterans, to add all the experience that we’ve been able to add this offseason like I said, there’s really good balance here.”
()