The Jets’ 2023 schedule shouldn’t matter, it’s time for the team to win

When the NFL released the schedule for all 32 teams last Thursday, many saw that the Jets were dealt a terrible hand.

Gang Green will play three playoff teams in the first weeks of the season, with all of them at least making it to the divisional round last year.

Tough luck. Now get over it.

It’s time to put up and shut up for the Jets, as the schedule is the schedule. The Jets will play nine games against teams that made the playoffs in 2022. Gang Green has the sixth-toughest schedule in the NFL, as its opponents combined for a .545 winning percentage in 2022.

The Jets made a seismic move this offseason after acquiring Aaron Rodgers in a trade with the Packers. Teams only make that move if they feel they’re close to winning a championship or becoming a contender. After last season, it is understandable why the Jets feel like they are close to doing something unique within the organization.

During the 2022 season full of rollercoasters, the Jets somehow finished 7-10 behind inept quarterback play and a lack of consistency from the position. However, at one time, the Jets were 7-4 entering the month of December, but they lost six consecutive games to end the season.

Gang Green had four different starting quarterbacks under center last season [Zach Wilson, Joe Flacco, Mike White, Chris Streveler]. This season that won’t be a problem for the Jets, as Rodgers gives them the best quarterback they’ve had in over a decade.

In just his short time with the Jets, Rodgers has already changed the team’s line of thinking. A year ago, no one thought the Jets had a chance even to get close to making the playoffs. Now with Rodgers, the Jets could win the AFC East and host a playoff game for the first time since 2002.

“He’s a very smart individual, very deep and very thoughtful,” Jets coach Robert Saleh said about Rodgers during rookie minicamp. I was never worried about whether or not he was going to be here.

“I always felt like if he did want to be here, he was going to be here, if he decided to be a Jet because he is so competitive and he does understand that he has to get acclimated to the new building, he’ll have to get the receivers acclimated to him and he’ll have to get the verbiage in and help get everybody on the same page.

“In my mind, you just see a fire in the guy’s eye when you’re sitting and talking to him, he’s going to do everything. He’s coming to win, and you can just feel it in his voice, you can see it in his eyes and the way he’s going about his business.”

If the Jets are as good as the NFL league offices believe they will be, the schedule shouldn’t matter. Sure, the early task is daunting as the Jets will begin the season on “Monday Night Football” at home against the Bills before playing at the Cowboys and home against the Patriots and Chiefs to start the year.

But no one said the road to the top of the AFC would be easy as the Chiefs, Bengals, Bills, and now the Jaguars expect to factor into the playoff race. The Ravens, Dolphins, and Chargers will also compete for a seat at the playoff table.

The Dolphins (second) and Patriots (third) also have two of the most rigid schedules in the league. The Chiefs and Bills have played first-place schedules the last few seasons.

When the Buccaneers signed Tom Brady in 2020, they instantly gained a target on their backs. It’s no different with the Jets and Rodgers with all the high expectations.

Former wrestler Ric Flair always said it best to be the man, You’ve gotta beat the man. Rodgers and the Jets will have that opportunity when they play both the Chiefs (Week 4) and Eagles (Week 6).

By his standards, Rodgers had a down year in 2022, as he passed for 3,695 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. This was a change from his back-to-back MVP seasons in 2020 and 2021, in which Rodgers averaged 4,207 yards, 42.5 touchdowns and 4.5 interceptions.

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“I’m not showing up to be part of a team that I think is OK,” Rodgers said last month. “Obviously, the team has a lot of pieces in place, rookies of the year on both sides of the ball, really solid defense, great scheme, one of my favorite offensive minds I’ve ever been around [Nathaniel Hackett].

“I believe in his system, stud running back, stud receiver, depth in the receiver room and tight end. I just need to fit in and do my job. That being said, I said it before, every year, there’s a handful of teams who can win it. Most people don’t say that out loud, but in actuality, there are anywhere from eight to 12 teams who can actually do it, and I believe we are one of those teams.

The Jets’ success in 2023 will likely come down to how their defense plays. A season ago, Gang Green finished fourth in yards and points allowed per game.

Some naysayers have said the Jets defense beat up on backup quarterbacks throughout the year, as four of their seven wins came against non-starting quarterbacks. However, the Jets defense played well in games against Rodgers when he was with the Packers and Josh Allen in both meetings against the Bills.

Eight of the Jets starters return this season, with Sheldon Rankins signing with the Texans, safety Lamarcus Joyner and linebacker Kwon Alexander, still free agents. So, the core of the Jets defense returns with first-team All-Pros Quinnen Williams and Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner and second-team linebacker C.J. Mosley.

“Twelve years without the playoffs, not a Super Bowl win since Super Bowl III, it’s been a long time,” Rodgers said. “So, the opportunity to be a part of something special here, it’s different.

“It’s similar to Green Bay in that way when you win, in a city like Green Bay, where I assume for a team like the New York Jets, you go down in history and there’s something special about adding that to your legacy.”