The full Jets schedule:
Sunday, Sept. 7: vs. Raiders, 1:00
Sunday, Sept. 14: at Packers, 4:25
Monday, Sept. 22: vs. Bears, 8:30
Sunday, Sept. 28: vs. Lions, 1:00
Sunday, Oct. 5: at Chargers, 4:25
Sunday, Oct. 12: vs. Broncos, 1:00
Thursday, Oct. 16: at Patriots, 8:25
Sunday, Oct. 26: vs. Bills, 1:00
Sunday, Nov. 2: at Chiefs, 1:00
Sunday, Nov. 9: vs. Steelers, 1:00
Sunday, Nov. 16: Bye
Sunday, Nov. 23: at Bills, 1:00
Monday, Dec. 1: vs. Dolphins, 8:30
Sunday, Dec. 7: at Vikings, 1:00
Sunday, Dec. 14: at Titans, 4:00
Sunday, Dec. 21: vs. Patriots, 1:00
Sunday, Dec. 28: at Dolphins, 1:00
Game of the Year: Oct. 16, at Patriots
Another year, another reunion with Darrelle Revis. This time he’s wearing the uniform of the blood rival Patriots. The Jets managed to beat Revis last year with the Buccaneers. Now they try to do it again. Will Revis be matched up with new Jets wide receiver Eric Decker? It will be a delicious subplot to this always interesting game.
Three toughest games
Oct. 12 vs. Broncos: Peyton Manning returns to MetLife Stadium after getting embarrassed in the Super Bowl. Denver added a ton of talent this offseason as they make another run at the Lombardi Trophy. Eric Decker faces his former team for the first time as a Jet.
Sept. 14 at Packers: The Jets are 4-2 all-time at Lamebeau Field and have won their last two games there. Aaron Rodgers should be a good test to see if the Jets’ secondary has improved since last year when they gave up nearly 4,000 yards passing.
Nov. 2 at Chiefs: Andy Reid and Marty Mornhinweg get to renew acquaintances here and the Jets will see some old friends in Kansas City defensive tackle Mike DeVito and defensive coordinator Bob Sutton. The Chiefs lost three games at Arrowhead Stadium last year – all to playoff teams.
Three easiest games
Oct. 26 vs. Bills: The Bills’ playoff drought is now at 14 years. The Jets always seem to beat them at home. They haven’t lost to Buffalo in New Jersey since 2009. The Jets have had two of their best offensive games against the Bills.
Sept. 7 vs. Raiders: The Jets beat up Oakland last year at home, and they get the chance to do it again this year. The Raiders added Matt Schaub at quarterback and a bunch of veterans – including former Jets tackle Austin Howard. This is also the return to MetLife Stadium for former Giants star Justin Tuck.
Dec. 14 at Titans: This trip might not be too easy, but it just shows how difficult the Jets schedule is that this is one of their easiest games. The last two years the Jets have lost in Nashville. Can Chris Johnson switching sides be the difference this year?
Costello’s take
The toughest week of the schedule for the Jets comes in October when they have four days between games with the Broncos and the Patriots (Thursday night game). The Jets played the same two teams in this situation in 2011 in reverse order and it blew up their season. The beginning of the season is NFC heavy with three straight NFC opponents starting in Week 2.
The Jets get their trip to Lambeau Field out of the way in September when it should still be warm, but they have to go to Minnesota in December and the Vikings are playing outdoors this year at the University of Minnesota while their new stadium is built. A few reunions of note: Darrelle Revis (Patriots on Oct. 16), Austin Howard (Raiders on Sept. 7), Eric Decker (Broncos on Oct. 12) and Chris Johnson (Titans on Dec. 14).
If the Jets are fighting for a playoff spot, they will be doing it in Miami in the final week of the season playing the Dolphins. This is the third time in four years the Jets will end the season in Miami.