The NFL is aiming to start over with the Jets starting in 2023.
This basically means that NFL Vice President of Broadcast Planning Mike North said on a Zoom call with reporters Thursday that the league will give the Jets six prime-time games in the first 11 weeks of the season, which any team ever has. He talked about things he had never experienced before.
“There are so many prime-time games early in the season,” North said. We had this conversation a year ago. We were all on the Jets.for that person [Aaron Rodgers] It was disappointing for many of us that it went down to the last four plays. ”
The comment, “The Jets kind of owe us something,” won’t sit well at Forum Park.
The Jets played five prime-time games last season, plus one solo game on Black Friday. Rodgers tore his left Achilles tendon on Monday Night Football against the Bills in Week 1, and suddenly the Jets were a much less appealing team, but they were already in the prime-time slot.
This year, North said each network was looking for some storyline for Rodgers’ return, which led to early scheduling of the primetime game.
North also pointed out that the Jets could get more than six games in prime time if they can maintain their spot later in the season when the league moves games to prime time.
“[We] We feel like we can bring it back, and certainly our broadcast partners talked to me early in the process about what kind of storylines they wanted to focus on early in the season. Obviously the return of Aaron Rodgers was important to everyone. “Said. “Everyone was looking for an opportunity for Aaron Rodgers early in the season, but the Jets had momentum last year.”
The Jets are one of three teams to play six games in prime time. The rest are the 49ers and Cowboys. San Francisco is his defending NFC champion and Dallas has made the playoffs in his third straight season. The Jets haven’t made the playoffs in 13 years, so the NFL will be looking at dangerous picks.
“There’s no question we’re counting on them,” North said. “Hopefully [Rodgers] I hope you stay healthy and relevant. That’s a lot of prime time early in the season, and it might not be the end. Think about their spread to the backend. I think they will play the Rams, Seattle, Miami, and maybe Buffalo. Being relevant certainly increases your chances of appearing on national television. ”
The Jets’ early schedule is challenging not just because of who they play, but when they play. The season opens with three games in 10 days, from San Francisco on Monday to Nashville on Sunday before the home opener against the Patriots on Thursday.
North said the Jets didn’t face many 2023 playoff teams early in the season, which softened the blow of having to play two short weeks in the first three weeks.
“Everyone loved Week 3 Jets vs. Patriots on Amazon,” North explained. “We saw a schedule where the Jets were on the road in San Francisco in Week 1, then played a home game, then played a Thursday game on the road in New England. That home game was in Seattle, and that Thursday Even if the games are away games, it’s still three games in 10 days. Is that better? Is that fairer? They think about not only where they play, but who they play. We just happen to run into Tennessee, New England, and Denver. [in Week 4], 3 teams that didn’t make it to the playoffs last year. Three games in 10 days is obviously a challenge, but it doesn’t feel like the same challenge as the three teams that made it to the top of the playoffs last year. If I did that, I might have been able to stop a little longer. ”
