SoFlaJets Posted April 11, 2007 Share Posted April 11, 2007 Jets' Schedule: Challenging Stretches, Familiar Foes Published: 04-11-07 By Randy Lange Editor-in-Chief The New York Jets' demanding 2007 regular-season schedule, released by the NFL on Tuesday afternoon, opens with two playoff teams in the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens and will feature a second-half road test of four away games in a five-week span, beginning with their previously announced Thanksgiving Day game at Dallas. The Jets vs. the Patriots still hasn't lost its luster for the NFL — Eric Mangini's second season as the Green & White's head coach will kick off with the season opener at home against Bill Belichick's Patriots on Sunday, Sept. 9. It will be the third time the original AFC rivals will open the season in the Meadowlands, following similar assignments in 1999 and 1989, both New England victories. It's just the third time in the last 13 seasons the Jets have opened at home. And New York's final regular-season game — tentatively scheduled as their only prime-time game for now, or before the league's flexible scheduling comes into play — also comes at home against the Kansas City Chiefs and Herm Edwards, their head coach from 2001-05. That game is set for Sunday, Dec. 30. Of the Jets' first 10 games, seven will be played at Giants Stadium — including their away game against the New York Giants on Oct. 7. Also in that opening stretch, they play three division opponents in the first four weeks and four in all before the Week 10 bye. Late in the year comes their road journey, four away games in a five-week span. The stretch opens at Dallas on Nov. 22, then rolls into Miami on Dec. 2. After a home pit stop against Cleveland, the Jets travel to New England on Dec. 16 and to Tennessee on Dec. 23. Here's the schedule in more detail: Sunday, Sept. 9 — vs. NEW ENGLAND, 1 p.m. The Jets will try to snap some dryspells in this rivalry. They have lost four season openers to New England, dating to the Boston Patriots days in 1963, and their last four home openers when they play the Pats. The last time the Jets and Patriots opened at the Meadowlands, the Jets came up short, 30-28, on a Drew Bledsoe-engineered drive to Adam Vinatieri's last-minute game-winning field goal. Sunday, Sept. 16 — at Baltimore, 4:15 p.m. The Ravens, who officially came to life in 1995, have lived it up almost every time these teams meet. They've won the last four of the teams' five matchups, including the only two in Baltimore — by 34-20 to knock the Jets out of the playoffs on Christmas Eve 2000 and by 13-3 in Game 4 of the 2005 season. Sunday, Sept. 23 — vs. MIAMI, 1 p.m. The Jets have won the last three meetings and eight of the last nine against the Dolphins in the Meadowlands. This will be the next test for the Jets' reformed O-line, featuring center Nick Mangold and left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, against the Dolphins' dynamic duo of end Jason Taylor and linebacker Zach Thomas. Sunday, Sept.30 — at Buffalo, 1 p.m. Ralph Wilson Stadium was the site of safety Kerry Rhodes' first monster game as a Jet last September when he strip-sacked J.P. Losman twice. At least the Jets won't be facing RB Willis McGahee twice this season after he rumbled for 141.7 yards per game at 4.6 per carry in their last three visits to "the Ralph." They'll see him only once, when they visit the Ravens the week before. Sunday, Oct. 7 — at New York Giants, 1 p.m. The Giants have won the last three, five of the last seven and six of 10 overall in this long-time but infrequently revisited rivalry between stadium co-tenants. At least Gang Green is 3-2 all-time when it's Big Blue's home game, which it is this year. Sunday, Oct. 14 — vs. PHILADELPHIA, 1 p.m. The Jets are 0-7 all-time and 0-3 at home vs. the Eagles. In their last three meetings, '93 and '96 in the Meadowlands and '03 at Lincoln Financial Field, the Green & White lost all three after holding fourth-quarter leads. Donovan McNabb is talking as if he expects to back at the Eagles' offensive controls all year. Sunday, Oct. 21 — at Cincinnati, 4:05 p.m. The Jets make their first visit ever to Paul Brown Stadium and only their second trip to the Queen City in the last 17 seasons. This rivalry has gone the Green & White's way since the Bengals' last win, the 1990 season opener at old Riverfront Stadium. The Jets have won the last five, four at home and by 31-14 in 1997 when Riverfront had been renamed Cinergy Field. Sunday, Oct. 28 — vs. BUFFALO, 4:05 p.m. Last season's 31-13 home loss to the Bills in Game 13 ended a four-game home winning streak against the Jets' upstate New York rivals. The front four will look the same with Aaron Schobel, Chris Kelsay and Ryan Denney, but the Bills' back seven will be barely recognizable, with LB London Fletcher (Washington), LB Takeo Spikes (Philadelphia) and CB Nate Clements (San Francisco) all departed. Sunday, Nov.4 — vs. WASHINGTON, 1 p.m. The teams' last meeting was the 2003 Thursday night NFL opener, won by Washington, 13-10. This will be the Redskins' first visit to the Meadowlands to play the Jets since the third game of 1999, a 27-20 Washington win. The Jets are 1-7 all-time vs. Washington and have never beaten the 'Skins at home. Sunday, Nov. 11 — Bye week Sunday, Nov. 18 — vs. PITTSBURGH, TBA The Jets' previous two games against the Steelers were particularly painful, both losses at Heinz Field in 2004 — 17-6 in the regular season, then 20-17 in overtime in the playoff game that the Jets were twice in position to win in regulation on long Doug Brien field goal misses. The last Jets win came in the Meadowlands in 2003 when Curtis Martin mushed to 174 yards in the ice and snow in a 6-0 December win. Thursday, Nov. 22 —at Dallas, TBA The Green & White get the treat of playing on Thanksgiving for only the third time in the Jets phase of their history. The first two times were losses to the Lions, in '72 and '85. (They won all three Turkey Day games as the Titans from 1960-62.) Dallas hasn't been as dominant in this game as it once was, having lost six of the last 10 holiday servings. The Cowboys have ridden herd in this series with a 6-2 all-time record, although the Jets' last win came at Texas Stadium by 22-21 on John Hall's late field goal in 1999. Sunday, Dec. 2 — at Miami, TBA The Jets' 13-10 Christmas night success of a year ago at Dolphin Stadium not only put them a game closer to their playoff berth in the first year under Eric Mangini but also increased their primetime hex over the Dolphins to six straight wins, three in Miami (1998, '99, '06). With flex scheduling, this game could wind up in prime time as well. Sunday, Dec. 9 — vs. CLEVELAND, TBA New York's last home win over Cleveland was by 24-21 back in 1990, Bruce Coslet's home opener as head coach. The Browns have taken three of the last four, including last season's controversial 20-13 ending when Chad Pennington and Chris Baker didn't get the forceout call on a potentially game-tying last-minute touchdown catch at Cleveland. Sunday, Dec. 16 — at New England, TBA The Jets will want to conjure up the formula they used to rock the Patriots, 17-14, at Gillette Stadium in November and not the one for their 37-16 AFC Wild-Card loss there in January. The emphasis could be on new Green & White feature back Thomas Jones in a mudders' duel, or it could be on the air game: Pennington throwing to new Patriot-slayer Jerricho Cotchery and Laveranues Coles against Tom Brady and his new wideouts that includes Donte Stallworth, Wes Welker and Kelley Washington. Sunday, Dec. 23 — at Tennessee, TBA Since the Houston Oilers moved to Tennessee, the Jets have ruled the Titans with wins at Vanderbilt Stadium in 1998 and at LP Field in last year's season opener, in which Pennington and Coles starred, plus their Monday Night upset of the Titans in the Meadowlands in 2003. But Vince Young, a bit player in last year's game, will be a year older and more dangerous this time around. Sunday, Dec. 30 — vs. KANSAS CITY, 8:15 p.m. Coach Herm returns to take on the team he coached for five years. The Chiefs have won four of the last six in the series, most recently the 2005 season opener at Arrowhead Stadium. In the last two Meadowlands matchups, the Jets breezed in 2001 by 27-7, then lost a nailbiter the next season, 29-25, in Pennington's NFL starting debut. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jack48 Posted April 11, 2007 Share Posted April 11, 2007 Jets' Schedule: Challenging Stretches, Familiar Foes Published: 04-11-07 By Randy Lange Editor-in-Chief The New York Jets' demanding 2007 regular-season schedule, released by the NFL on Tuesday afternoon, opens with two playoff teams in the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens and will feature a second-half road test of four away games in a five-week span, beginning with their previously announced Thanksgiving Day game at Dallas. I never do this but what the heck--split with buffalo(because they always do, for some reason) and NE, 2 Miami wins, Washington, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Tennessee, Giants, Kansas City, maybe Dallas--10-6 minimum. Possibly 11. Why not? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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