Week 1, Sept. 11: Dallas Cowboys, HOME: The Jets haven’t faced the Cowboys in the regular season since 2007, when they were crushed 34-3 in Texas Stadium. Despite losing quarterback Tony Romo to injury in 2010, Jason Garrett led the Cowboys to the sixth-ranked passing offense and a 5-3 record as interim head coach. But Dallas’ 26th-ranked passing defense may be what quarterback Mark Sanchez and the Jets offense need to start the season on the right foot.
Richard A. Brightly
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Week 2, Sept. 18: Jacksonville Jaguars, HOME: The Jaguars were bound for the playoffs before fading down the stretch in 2010, losing their last three games and missing the cut. Jacksonville could pose a threat to the Jets, who will have their hands full with running back Maurice Jones-Drew and the third best rushing offense in the league. But with what was the third-best rushing defense in the NFL, the Jets will likely be up to the task.
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Week 3, Sept. 25: Oakland Raiders, AWAY: The Jets were a playoff team in 2010 and the Raiders were not, but Oakland could pose an upset threat in their 2011 home opener. The Jets defense will face another 1,000-yard rusher, running back Darren McFadden, and first-year coach Hue Jackson will be counted on to build on the success of former head coach Tom Cable.
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Week 4, Oct. 2: Baltimore Ravens, AWAY: The Jets will be looking for revenge when they face the Ravens, the team that spoiled the Jets’ 2010 opener by holding them to 176 total yards of offense in a 10-9 victory. This night game will showcase two of the premier defensive teams in the league. The Jets represent one of the tougher matchups for the Ravens, who rank 31st overall in strength of schedule.
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Week 5, Oct. 9: New England Patriots, AWAY: It’s no secret Jets coach Rex Ryan relishes every game against Bill Bellicheck and the AFC East rival Patriots, but it will be New England who will be trying to avenge last season’s second-round playoff loss. The Jets might be facing the Patriots at the right time; New England will be coming off three road games and another tough home game against San Diego.
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Week 6, Oct. 17: Miami Dolphins, HOME: The Dolphins have a bye in Week 5 and will be well rested and ready to go for this “Monday Night Football” game. Miami was 6-2 on the road last season and beat the Jets 10-6 in last year’s Week 14 matchup at the Meadowlands. The Jets will attempt to avoid a post-Patriots game letdown.
Anthony J. Causi/New York Post
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Week 7, Oct. 23: San Diego Chargers, HOME: The Jets face another team coming off a bye when they face the Chargers. Despite ranking second in pass offense, first in pass defense, and fourth in rush defense, the Chargers couldn’t overcome another slow start last season and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2005. Rex Ryan and the Jets defense will have their hands full with quarterback Philip Rivers.
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Week 9, Nov. 6: Buffalo Bills, AWAY: The Jets will be coming off a Week 8 bye, but that may not be good news. When the Jets entered their bye week last season, they were tied for the NFL’s best record and owner of a five-game winning streak. But in their next game they were shut out by the Packers at home 9-0 in embarrassing fashion.
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Week 10, Nov. 13: New England Patriots, HOME: In their second matchup of the season, the Jets face the Patriots in a Sunday night game that finds the Patriots in the midst of their toughest stretch of games. The Patriots will play five playoff teams in six weeks following their Week 7 bye.
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Week 11, Nov. 17: Denver Broncos, AWAY: The Jets meet the Broncos and first-year head coach John Fox on Thursday night. Things could get ugly for the Broncos, who ranked 31st in rush defense last season and will have to stop LaDainian Tomlinson, Shonn Greene, and the fourth-ranked rushing attack in the league.
Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
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Week 12, Nov. 27: Buffalo Bills, HOME: The Jets will play the Bills twice in a span of 21 days, part of stretch for the Bills with five of their last nine games against AFC East foes. The Bills were 2-6 on the road last season and will be coming off tough road games against Dallas and Miami in Weeks 10 and 11.
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Week 13, Dec. 4: Washington Redskins, AWAY: The Redskins have two non-divisional opponents with winning records on their schedule, and the Jets are one of them. Last season the Redskins struggled defensively and controversy erupted when coach Mike Shanahan benched quarterback Donovan McNabb for backup quarterback Rex Grossman. The Jets defense will likely be too much to handle for a team ranked 30th in rush offense.
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Week 14, Dec. 11: Kansas City Chiefs, HOME: The Jets are lucky to be welcoming the Chiefs to the Meadowlands, who boasted a 7-1 home record but managed a 3-5 record on the road. Kansas City could be worn down heading into this matchup, coming off games against New England, Pittsburgh and Chicago.
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Week 15, Dec. 18: Philadelphia Eagles, AWAY: The Jets will face Michael Vick and the NFC East champion Eagles in Philadelphia, where the Eagles had a 4-4 record in 2010. The Jets were 6-2 on the road last season, but will have a tall task keeping the Eagles’ explosive offense at bay.
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Week 16, Dec. 24: New York Giants, HOME: The two New York teams haven’t squared off since 2007, but they’ll meet late in the season in this matchup at the Meadowlands. The Giants will be looking reclaim football supremacy in New York after missing the playoffs last season.
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Week 17, Jan. 1: Miami Dolphins, AWAY: The Dolphins could be just what the Jets ordered to finish the regular season, after Miami managed one win at home last season. The game represents the end of a tough stretch for the Dolphins, who finish the season with three straight AFC East games.
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