NY Jets, Aaron Rodgers Start Season Of Super Bowl Dreams: Preview

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ ? Over the course of the past decade plus, the New York Jets have acquired for themselves the sort of rare infamy in professional sports reserved for only the most calamitous collapses, the most precipitious plunges from prestige. They're very much the New York Mets of football, though not even the Jets have let down the overblown hopes of the nation's largest city with quite the exquisitively agonizing artistry of the Mets.

The last time the Jets made a postseason appearance in 2010, Jalen Hurts was 12-years-old, Tom Brady only had three Super Bowl rings, and the Jets were fresh off the final years of another legendary quarterback's career being gasped out in New York.

In the thirteen years since, there have been a series of offseason ups followed by in season downs so absurd as to only be comical, even for hardened Jets fans. There has been turnover after turnover from front office to offensive line, and turnover after turnover on field. The playoff drought is the longest active drought in the NFL by several years, and the 22nd longest drought in NFL history.

And yet in the words of Steve Goodman, "year after, year after, year, after year, after year, after year, after year, after year," the small percentage of the New York City metropolitan area that cheers for the Jets over the Giants has held out hope.

And, after all, Aaron Rodgers isn't Brett Favre, and hope springs eternal for the Jets each fall just like it does for all 32 teams across the country. And it's been some time since the fans, the media, the eternal optimists, and even the eternal pessimists have had so much to talk about as 2023-24.

Rodgers is one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, and his arrival in New York via a trade of multiple high round draft picks represents the franchise's most aggressive push in years. It means they're done waiting around for number two overall draft pick Zach Wilson to reach his lofty potential.

There's no arguing that the Jets now have the pieces to contend. They return one of the best defenses in the league in 2022-23. Quinnen Williams and Sauce Gardner are no-doubt top 100 players, and top 50 players in many rankings. With Rodgers lending a veteran eye at the helm of a young offensive core, the Jets hope his tandem with wideout Garrett Wilson will be one of the best in the league.

Pessimists will point to Rodgers' age. They'll point to Green Bay's willingness to trade him, his potential fragility and succeptibility to injury at age 40, the missed passes last season that could indicate a sharper decline than Tom Brady. They'll point to unproven assets on both sides of the ball.

But regardless, the Jets will be one of the most compelling storylines in football this season. And no matter what happens, fans have reason to be excited about two teams in New York this fall.

Predictions

Sporting News has the Jets winning the East at 13-4, two games over Buffalo, then beating the defending champion Chiefs in the AFC Championship and beating either San Francisco or Philadelphia in the Super Bowl. All in.

ESPN, meanwhile, also sees the Jets taking down Buffalo in the regular season but falling to the Bills in their opening playoff game.

NFL.com's projections have Buffalo winning the division, with the Jets making the playoffs in second place. They forecast a 54.1 percent likelihood that New York snaps its now legendary drought this year.

At plus 1800, the Jets have the eighth best Super Bowl odds on Fanduel Sportsbook.

Schedule

The Jets have one of the most interesting schedules in the NFL in 2023. They host two Monday Night Football games, including opening week against Buffalo and week 9 against Los Angeles. They play both of last year's Super Bowl contestants, facing Kansas City at home in week 4 and hosting Philadelphia in week 6. And they play the Giants in week 8.

Here's how the Jets full schedule shakes out:

Week 1: Monday, Sep 11 vs. Buffalo Bills, 8:15 p.m.

Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 17 @ Dallas Cowboys, 4:25 p.m.

Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 24 vs. New England Patriots, 1 p.m.

Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 1 vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 8:20 p.m.

Week 5: Sunday, Oct 8 @ Denver Broncos, 4:25 p.m.

Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 15 vs. Philadelphia Eagles, 4:25 p.m.

Week 7: Bye

Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 29 @ New York Giants, 1 p.m.

Week 9: Monday, Nov. 6 vs. Los Angeles Rams, 8:15 p.m.

Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 12 @ Los Vegas Raiders, 8:20 p.m.

Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 19 @ Buffalo Bills, 4:25 p.m.

Week 12: Friday, Nov. 24 vs. Miami Dolphins, 3 p.m.

Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 3 vs. Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m.

Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 10 vs. Houston Texans, 1 p.m.

Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 17 @ Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m.

Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 24 vs. Washington Commanders, 1 p.m.

Week 17: Thursday, Dec. 28, @ Cleveland Browns, 8:15 p.m.

Week 18: Sunday, Jan. 7 @ New England Patriots, time TBD