A heavy dose of reality arrived for the New York Jets when the 2022 NFL schedule was announced Thursday.
The Jets have a brutal slate the first nine weeks of the season, before it eases up a bit after their Week 10 bye.
The virtual minefield begins with four straight games against the AFC North. The Jets host Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens in the season opener Sept. 11, could see DeShaun Watson when they visit the Cleveland Browns the following week and then host the reigning AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals in Week 3. It won’t be an easy follow up to travel to Pittsburgh and play the Steelers on Oct. 2.
Keep in mind the Jets have not won a game in the month of September since 2018.
Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson await the Jets, who play consecutive road games at Green Bay and Denver in Week 6 and Week 7. Then there are the Buffalo Bills, the top team in their division and maybe the best in the AFC, on tap in Week 9.
It’s been a feel-good offseason for the Jets. They received universal acclaim in football circles for their success in the 2022 NFL Draft. Bulked-up quarterback Zach Wilson – “beefy” in the words of coach Robert Saleh – has impressed in offseason workouts. They filled multiple holes on both sides of the ball in free agency. And a healthy Carl Lawson appears ready to return as a dominant force on defense.
But how they avoid falling into a deep ditch in the early going will likely determine the Jets fate this season.
📺 Schedule Release Special on @nflnetwork
— New York Jets (@nyjets) May 13, 2022
Jets 2022 NFL schedule: Five games to watch
Week 1: Ravens at Jets (Sept. 11)
The Jets have not won a season opener since Sam Darnold’s debut, a 48-17 road win at the Detroit Lions in 2018. They haven’t won any game in September since then. It will be hard to buck that trend with a healthy Lamar Jackson back for the rejuvenated Ravens. Jackson missed five games and Baltimore still was 8-9 last season. They are talented and well-coached. Oh, and did we mention they have a healthy Lamar Jackson at quarterback?
Week 5: Dolphins at Jets (Oct. 9)
The Jets are 0-12 the past two seasons within the division. This game will be their first against an AFC East opponent in 2022. There are other intriguing subplots in this one. Tyreek Hill spurned the Jets to accept a trade and monster contract with the Dolphins in the offseason. He and fellow stud wide receiver Jaylen Waddle will be a huge test for the Jets two new cornerbacks, Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, the No. 4 pick in the draft, and free agent pick up D.J. Reed. Seeing how Zach Wilson stacks up against another young, athletic QB in Tua Tagovailoa, adds some zest, as well.
Week 7: Jets at Broncos (Oct. 23)
The revamped Jets offense faces a top 10 defense on the road in a city where they have been shut out their past two visits, including 26-0 last season. The improved Jets defense will face Russell Wilson, who’s a major upgrade at QB over Teddy Bridgewater. Toss in the mile high altitude and having played the week before on the road against the Packers, and this is a stiff test. But a win, or even a solid showing, will say a lot about who the Jets are and where they are headed.
Week 14: Jets at Bills (Dec. 11)
General manager Joe Douglas said he wants the Jets to play meaningful games in December. After winning just six games the past two seasons combined, perhaps that’s a stretch. But if the Jets somehow survive the first nine games and are in the hunt in the final month of the season, this will be a huge one for them. It’s not only a division rival, but it’s a game against a stacked Bills team led by quarterback Josh Allen. Allen has done nothing but the give the Jets fits since entering the NFL in 2018. And it likely will be played in frigid conditions up in Buffalo in mid-December. Big boy football. Will the Jets be up to it?
Week 16: Jaguars at Jets (Dec. 22)
WOW, JUST WOW @ZachWilson#JAXvsNYJ on CBS pic.twitter.com/JAijzdcUgp
— New York Jets (@nyjets) December 26, 2021
Zach Wilson against Trevor Lawrence. The No. 2 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft versus the top overall pick. It will always be special when these two quarterbacks face each other to compare their respective career arcs. They did play against each other last season when the Jets rallied behind Wilson for a 26-21 win on Dec. 26. Lawrence had the better passing numbers in that game, but Wilson had an electrifying 52-yard touchdown run. This is the Jets only primetime game this season (Thursday night, 8:15 p.m.). It will be an opportunity to hopefully show how far their rebuild has come.
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