The NFL Schedule release show is a great time for fans to get excited about their franchise for the first time since the draft concluded. For the New York Jets and their fans, that excitement might be short-lived.
Based on last season’s opponent win percentage – the measure that analysts use to judge the strength of schedule before the season starts – the Jets own the sixth toughest schedule in the NFL going into the 2023-24 regular season.
Of course, that may not be a bad thing going into this year.
As part of the NFL’s schedule with a 17th game added, the Jets are scheduled to face off against the NFC East and AFC West. The usual contests against the AFC East are also included. Being in last place in the division last year means that they’ll play the Houston Texans, Atlanta Falcons, and Cleveland Browns as well.
We already know when the Jets are playing at least once this year with the announcement of a home game in the Inaugural Black Friday contest against the Dolphins in Week 12.
Just because a season schedule may appear tough, doesn’t mean that will be the case for the Jets this season though. Not every team is able to have the same success they encountered from year to year. While New York is scheduled to face seven teams that were in the postseason last year – not all seven can be expected to return.
Just last season, there were seven new teams that entered the postseason that hadn’t the year before. If that formula stays consistent, not only could the Jets end their decades-long playoff drought, but many of the playoff teams that they are scheduled to play won’t be in the playoffs either.
Injuries and one-score games are also major factors throughout the season that isn’t always able to replicate from year to year. The Giants went 8-4-1 in one-score games this past year while teams like the Cowboys and Eagles went a combined 12-3. There won’t be a guarantee that those teams will have similar success going into a new season where everyone’s schedule is tougher.
Basically, the NFL season from year to year is a crapshoot. While some teams may enter the new year as a favorite, injuries, and outside circumstances might get in the way and hurt the rest of the year.
With that in mind, there’s a different outlook within the halls of 1 Jets Drive. As long as Aaron Rodgers is still the quarterback for the Jets, a tougher schedule isn’t nearly as daunting as it may have been in years past.
