By Tom Rock
Here’s what my editor gasped when I told him the Jets-Giants game is scheduled for Oct. 7: “That’s the first weekend of baseball playoffs!” Six months away and we already have a schedule crisis and a space crunch! The million-dollar question: Where will Bob Herzog be on Oct. 7, covering baseball or football? At least it’s a 1 o’clock game, gives us plenty of time to put the stories together. Plus, having the NY/NJ-NY/NJ game in early October should mean decent weather for the second Writer’s Cup match between the Jets and Giants beat writers. The first will take place before the preseason game between the two teams.
In case you missed it (and there's a clip 'n save cut-out version in Newsday's Thursday edition), here’s the Jets’ schedule:
• 9/9 vs. NE, 1 p.m.
• 9/16 at BAL, 4:15 p.m.
• 9/23 vs. MIA, 1 p.m.
• 9/30 at BUF, 1 p.m.
• 10/7 at NYG, 1 p.m.
• 10/14 vs. PHI, 1 p.m.
• 10/21 at CIN, 4:05 p.m.
• 10/28 vs. BUF, 4:05 p.m.
• 11/4 vs. WAS, 1 p.m.
• 11/11 Bye week
• 11/18 vs. PIT, 1 p.m.
• 11/22 at DAL, 4:15 p.m.
• 12/2 at MIA, 1 p.m.
• 12/9 vs. CLE, 4:15 p.m.
• 12/16 at NE, 1 p.m.
• 12/23 at TEN, 4:15 p.m.
• 12/30 vs. KC, 8:15 p.m.
A lot of attention is being paid to the tough opening stretch, but I’m noticing that the Jets play only two home games in the final month and a half. Now, they are home for a long stretch that includes the bye (nicely placed smack in the middle for the second year in a row). They’re at Cincy on Oct. 21, then aren’t the visiting team again until the Thanksgiving game in Dallas on Nov. 22. And the traveling isn’t bad in terms of mileage; they don’t leave the Northeast Corridor until Week 7 at Cincy and the furthest trip is to Big D. That’s probably a concession because in 2008, the Jets are already scheduled to play at Oakland, San Diego, San Fran and Seattle plus whoever they are paired up with from the AFC South (a third straight year visiting Nashville, perhaps?). Who knows, maybe one of those cross-country flights will turn into a trans-Atlantic one. I could see the NFL putting the Jets and Raiders in Europe.
So, your thoughts on the schedule?
Comments (11)
Just an odd thing, why are the Giants playing 5 Primetime games and the Jets one? No monday nights but last year they had one coming off of a bad season. Just weird to me. Otherwise its a rough schedule on first look. The only so called "Easy" games seem to be Cleveland and maybe Washington. But that's good, we don't have to hear about how the Jets are doing well based on the schedule like we had last year.
I'm not a fan of division games right off the bat, I'd like to see the teams get there feet wet and then start battling the division. Those games are so important that to open up with a rival seems to costly to either team so early if they lose
Wow,
That 4 of 5 on the road at the end of the season is brutal. That's 4 road trips in 30 days! There is a stretch when they play 4 at the meadowlands in the same amount of time and they better get a head start then. I can't expect more than 3-3 over the last 6 games. How ever 9 games will probably be enough this year. They better have 6 wins by thanks giving and I'm not sure if they can. Opening with NE and @ Baltimore can really put the Jets in a hole they would have trouble getting out of. Thank goodness for Miami in game 3!
The Jets will be a better team than they were last season. Problem is, their record won't show it. We're obviously moving un the right direction. In Tangini we trust.
Brin Back Imus!
Thanks NFL... once again, we're destined to strap on masks and O2 bottles, carry portable defibulators, and have 911 on stand-by all season. Who the heck came up with this sked? Does someone not like us in Football Heaven or something? 4 on the road out of five in the stretch, a pretty tough start, playing Thanksgiving Day, 1 night game... what the hell did we do to deserve this?
By late November, I see myself either buying a lot of beers at the bar... or crying on top of it. Man, I hope I have enough money this year. ;)
Total speculation here... but I see 7 definate wins... the rest will be a total bloodbath.
All the best Rock!
Jimmy Cheese
this schedule is absolutely brutal. the jets are going to get pummeled worse than rocky balboa. i just hope they'll recover enough to play next season coast to coast to coast to coast. someone bring the oxygen....
The Jets will take a huge step backwards in "07". The road schedule is brutal. I can see 0-8 on the road and 4-12 overall. Last year was a fluke. Based on statistics, they had no right being 10-6. This years schedule will show Mangenius (thats a joke) how much work has to be done. The AFC east definitely has the toughest schedule which means no wildcard from that division. Patriots are loaded and primed for another championship. I can't wait for the opening week blowout by the Pats over the "07" hapless Jets. Patriots--- 13-3 and another division!!!!
Tom, how do you know the 2008 road schedule? I know they schedule the conferances in advance but thought the actual home away was based on prior year finish position?
As tough as the 4 weeks out of five on the road is, the middle of the schedule is soft as can be.
10 wins and a wild card minimum.
PS Tom, they will never make a west coast team go to Europe.
I think everyone is making too many assumptions on the schedule, talking how brutal the ending is with 4 of 6 on the road, the first two being tough, etc.
Yes, "ON PAPER," at Baltimore in week 2 looks tough. But let's say that between now and week 2, the Ravens lose McNair, Samari Rolle, Ed Reed, and a couple others to injury. That match that looks like a loss becomes a lot more possible for a victory.
"ON PAPER," the matchup at home with Cleveland looks like one of those guarantee, no doubt about it victories. But let's say we go into that game without Pennington, Coles, Kerry Rhodes, and a couple other starters. That no doubt about it victory looks a lot more doubtful.
Yes, it is nice to look at the schedule and see who you are playing. But assumptions about wins and losses right now is a complete waste of time and energy. We don't know how the Jets, or any of the teams on our schedule are going to be playing when the season begins. Only when we see the teams ON THE FIELD, can we make better, more accurate judgments.
The jets schedule is pretty tuff and much harder than last year but they will continue to get better under mangini. they will have around the same record last year because they are a team on the rise and can compete with almost any team in the NFL. they need to improve their pass rush and get some better cornerbacks
I think the hardest part is our division opponents. NE, Buff and Mia will all be tough teams. Although, Buf, being without McGahee will be much easier. But their defense was much improved last year.