The NFL schedule is officially out, so while we’ve known the opponents and the venues for the 17 games the Jets will play this season, we now know exactly when those games will take place. And, so, we can officially bring you this: our list of the five “biggest” games to watch this season, at MetLife Stadium or somewhere else (including London)!
NOTE: all times subject to change.
WEEK 1: Jets at Panthers, Sept. 12 at 1 p.m. ET
The Sam Darnold/Robby Anderson revenge game is coming right out of the chute! Week 1 will see Gang Green travel to Charlotte to take on the Queen City Kitties, and if it’s No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson vs. Darnold, it will, according to ESPN stats and info, be the first time a Top 3-drafted QB will start his first NFL game against a Top 3-drafted QB selected by the same franchise.
It will be the eighth-ever meeting for the two opposite conference rivals. The Panthers lead the all-time series 4-3, the last game a 35-27 Panthers win at MetLife on Nov. 26, 2017. Josh McCown vs. Cam Newton was the matchup then, and McCown threw two TD passes to current Panther Anderson, who had six grabs for 154 yards that day.
WEEK 5: Jets at Falcons in London, Oct. 10 at 9:30 a.m. ET
The Jets are 1-0 in London, having beaten Miami in 2015, and they’re 3-1 in international games all-time, which you can read more about here. Set your alarm clock early, grab the morning tea, and check out the Jets as they land on the hallowed grounds of Tottenham Hotspur!
WEEK 9: Jets at Colts, Nov. 4 at 8:20 p.m. ET
Gang Green has just two national games on the early slate: the London game and this one, their lone Thursday nighter in Indy. The Jets will be coming off hosting the Bengals on Halloween Sunday, and the Colts will be home for a division clash with the Titans Oct. 31, so both teams will suffer a bit from the short week. And hey, Jets fans outside NYC, at least you’ll get one non-early morning game to watch!
WEEK 16: Jets vs. Jaguars, Dec. 26 at 1 p.m. ET
No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson vs. No. 1 overall pick in Trevor Lawrence? Sign us up, as it looks like T-Law will indeed play in MetLife Stadium in 2021, albeit for one game as a visitor. Plus, if Tim Tebow makes the Jags, it will mark his return to the area after spending part of his previous NFL stint with the Jets and his entire tenure as a minor-league baseball player in the Mets system. Merry Christmas for everyone!
WEEK 17: Jets vs. Buccaneers, Jan. 2 at 1 p.m. ET
Something’s gotta give when old “friends” Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski come back to MetLife, this time in the defending champion Bucs’ colors instead of Patriots blue. The Jets have never lost to the Bucs at home and are 10-2 all-time against the franchise, but Brady has won more games against the Jets than any other team except Buffalo.
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