<
        >

          NFL Nation

          New York Jets' schedule includes rare start, almost no prime-time love

          Todd Bowles and the Jets are looking to climb out of the AFC East cellar in 2017. Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
          • Rich Cimini, ESPN Staff WriterApr 21, 2017, 01:02 AM
            Close
              Rich Cimini is a staff writer who covers the New York Jets and the NFL at ESPN. Rich has covered the Jets for over 30 years, joining ESPN in 2010. Rich also hosts the Flight Deck podcast. He previously was a beat writer for the New York Daily News and is a graduate of Syracuse University. You can follow him via Twitter @RichCimini.
            Follow on X

          The NFL has released its 2017 regular-season schedule. Here's a look at what's in store for the New York Jets.

          Breakdown: Clearly, the TV networks aren't digging the team's rebuilding plan. The Jets have only one prime-time game -- one! In Week 9, they host the Buffalo Bills on a Thursday night, and that's it. No Sunday night games, no Monday night games (assuming there are no late-season flexes). This marks the first time since 2007 the Jets won't appear on the Monday night stage. But you know what? The coaches aren't disappointed. From a preparation standpoint, it's a lot easier to play day games -- and they play 13 times at 1 p.m. A year ago, the Jets were bad, day and night, but they were especially awful at night. They were 1-3, having lost the last three by 25, 31 and 21 points. So, yes, America can breathe a sigh of relief; her exposure to the Jets will be minimal. But you can bet the Jets aren't broken up about it.

          A rare (and tough) start: Not only will the Jets open on the road for the first time in eight years, they will play their first two games away from MetLife Stadium -- at the Bills and the Oakland Raiders. This is highly unusual. The last time they began with back-to-back road games was 1992, when they started 0-2 with Browning Nagle at quarterback and finished 4-12. This is a tough break for coach Todd Bowles, who will field a young team that will have to adjust quickly in hostile environments. Style-wise, they will face two entirely different opponents. The Bills led the league in rushing last season and the Raiders were a pass-oriented team. No doubt, the Jets will be tested in a variety of ways before their home opener in Week 3 against the Miami Dolphins.

          A Murderer's Row finish: The Jets play seven games against elite quarterbacks, which doesn't bode well for a defense that figures to have a rebuilt secondary. They face Tom Brady (twice), Derek Carr, reigning NFL MVP Matt Ryan, Cam Newton, Drew Brees and Philip Rivers. In fact, the Jets face three future Hall of Famers in the final three weeks -- Brees, Rivers and Brady, who have combined for more than 173,000 passing yards. Perhaps the Jets will find a couple of defensive studs in the draft and will be humming by December. They'd better hope so.

          Strength of schedule: T-8th, .535

          Jets Regular-Season Schedule (All times Eastern)

          • Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 10, at Buffalo, 1 p.m.

          • Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 17, at Oakland, 4:05 p.m.

          • Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 24, Miami, 1 p.m.

          • Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 1, Jacksonville, 1 p.m.

          • Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 8, at Cleveland, 1 p.m.

          • Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 15, New England, 1 p.m.

          • Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 22, at Miami, 1 p.m.

          • Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 29, Atlanta, 1 p.m.

          • Week 9: Thursday, Nov. 2, Buffalo, 8:25 p.m.

          • Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 12, at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.

          • Week 11: BYE

          • Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 26, Carolina, 1 p.m.

          • Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 3, Kansas City, 1 p.m.

          • Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 10, at Denver, 4:05 p.m.

          • Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 17, at New Orleans, 1 p.m.

          • Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 24, Los Angeles Chargers, 1 p.m.

          • Week 17: Sunday, Dec. 31, at New England, 1 p.m.