Once Aaron Rodgers came to town, expectations went sky high for the New York Jets in 2023 and the schedule-makers were ready to put as much spotlight on the team as possible this season.
Sure enough, the Jets received not only the maximum of five prime-time games, but also a national game on Black Friday as well as four other games in the 4:25 Sunday window.
So who are the Jets going to be under the lights against? Let’s take a look. This will be the five actual night games plus the Black Friday game for the Jets.
Week 1, Monday, September 11 vs. Buffalo Bills
What a way to start the season for the Jets. At home for Aaron Rodgers’ debut against the team they are trying to catch in the AFC East, the Buffalo Bills. MetLife Stadium is going to be absolutely wild for this one. The Jets haven’t played a Monday night game since 2020 and haven’t won one since 2018. This is a big test early on and the Jets wouldn’t want it any other way.
Week 4, Sunday, October 1 vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Just three weeks after the Monday night showdown with the Bills, the Jets will appear on Sunday Night Football for the first time in 12 years and it comes against the defending Super Bowl champions. What an early opportunity for the Jets to prove they are indeed ready to hang with the big boys by stopping Patrick Mahomes in his tracks.
Week 9, Monday, November 6 vs. Los Angeles Chargers
A second home Monday nighter and third home game in prime time for the Jets in the first nine weeks of the season. This one welcomes Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers to MetLife. This is a matchup of two teams looking to catch their “big brothers” in their respective divisions while also looking to prove they are Super Bowl contenders.
Week 10, Sunday, November 12 at Las Vegas Raiders
The “Sort of Derek Carr Bowl”? It’s the team that cut Carr against the team that briefly sniffed around even though everyone knew they were pushing all in for Rodgers. In reality for the Jets, it’s a trip to a place in Las Vegas they would love to return to three months later for Super Bowl LVIII. Getting a win here would be another step toward that goal.
Week 12, Friday, November 24 vs. Miami Dolphins
The NFL’s first-ever game on Black Friday will take place at MetLife Stadium when the Jets host the Dolphins in what will be the first meeting of the season between the two teams. Here’s hoping Tua Tagovailoa is able to play after he missed both Jets games last season.
Week 17, Thursday, December 28 at Cleveland Browns
Last season in Week 2, the Jets rallied in epic fashion, scoring two touchdowns in the final two minutes to defeat the Browns for their first win of the season. That matchup was Joe Flacco vs. Jacoby Brissett. This time around, it’s Aaron Rodgers vs. Deshaun Watson and it comes on what will be the final Thursday night game of the season. For the second year in a row, the Jets have a late-season Thursday game. Last year, it was right before Christmas against the Jaguars. This time, it’s right after Christmas.
