From Most Difficult to Most Winnable: Ranking Every Game on the Jets' 2023 Schedule

Gang Green faces prime opponents in primetime spots on challenging NFL regular season slate

Kirby Lee - USA TODAY Sports

The New York Jets' 2023 regular season schedule is loaded with accomplished opponents and the going gets tough from the get-go. 

The Jets are slated to play non-divisional games against both Super Bowl LVII participants in addition to facing the 12-win Dallas Cowboys. 

In the first six weeks of the season, Gang Green will go up against the defending SB champion Kansas City Chiefs, the Philadelphia Eagles, the Cowboys and the 13-win Buffalo Bills. The opening stretch is as grueling as any on the entire 272-game league slate. 

"As such, obviously, they [the Jets] play the Bills twice, they've got an incredible schedule this year. They play Kansas City, they play Dallas, they play Philly," said Mike North, the NFL VP of Broadcast Planning, 

With Aaron Rodgers as QB1, the Jets are slated to play those opponents in featured television windows. Gang Green hosts the Bills on Monday Night Football in Week 1 before welcoming the Chiefs to MetLife Stadium for Sunday Night Football in Week 4. 

Although not in primetime, the Jets-Cowboys and Jets-Eagles matchups will be available to most of the country in the 4:25 pm ET Sunday afternoon network slot. 

When it comes to the difficulty level of all 17 matchups lining the Jets' difficult schedule, here they are in rank order from most-winnable to most-challenging: 

17: Week 14 vs. Houston Texans
(Dec. 10, 1:00 pm ET on CBS) 

Opponent's Power Rank: 32
Opponent's 2022 Record: 3-13-1
Opponent's 2023 QB1: CJ Stroud

Summing It Up: Houston, we have no problem here. The point spread already tabs the Jets as an 8.5-point favorite over the seemingly perpetually-disappointing Texans. Rookie quarterback CJ Stroud will most definitely be starting at this point in the season with Houston presumably already out of postseason contention.

16: Week 16 vs. Washington Commanders
(Dec. 24, 1:00 pm ET on CBS)

Opponent's Power Rank: 30
Opponent's 2022 Record: 8-8-1
Opponent's 2023 QB1: Sam Howell

Summing It Up: Another late-season cupcake at home against a team likely to be competing for the No. 1 overall draft pick at this juncture. The Jets' defense will likely have a chance for a Christmas Eve feast on an inexperienced quarterback.

15: Week 13 vs. Atlanta Falcons
(Dec. 3, 1:00 pm ET on FOX)

Opponent's Power Rank: 20
Opponent's 2022 Record: 7-10
Opponent's 2023 QB1: Desmond Ridder

Summing It Up: The Falcons are a bottom-five NFL team when it comes to roster talent and I just don't see Desmond Ridder becoming anything more than a lower-tier starter. Atlanta reached the 7-win mark due to their weak division and would get trampled while running with the likes of the AFC East.

Falcons' QB Desmond Ridder in the 2022 regular season finale / Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

14: Week 10 at Las Vegas Raiders
(Nov. 12, 8:20 pm ET on NBC's SNF) 

Opponent's Power Rank: 24 
Opponent's 2022 Record: 6-11 
Opponent's 2023 QB1: Jimmy Garoppolo 

Summing It Up: Jimmy Garoppolo will bring stability to the Raiders' QB situation (assuming he stays healthy), but this team isn't going anywhere as long as Josh McDaniels is the head coach. The Jets are likely leave Las Vegas with none other than a primetime victory.

13: Week 17 at Cleveland Browns 
(Dec. 28, 8:15 pm ET on Prime Video's TNF)

Opponent's Power Rank: 18
Opponent's 2022 Record: 7-10
Opponent's 2023 QB1: Deshaun Watson

Summing It Up: The Browns have talented pieces, but I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for it to all come together in Cleveland. Deshaun Watson looked more like Tim Couch last season and one has to wonder what his mindset will be for a Thursday night game in Week 17 when the team is buried in the AFC North standings.

WR Garrett Wilson after making one of his two TD receptions against the Browns in 2022 / © Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

12: Week 3 vs. New England Patriots
(Sep. 24, 1:00 pm ET on CBS) 

Opponent's Power Rank: 16 
Opponent's 2022 Record: 8-9 
Opponent's 2023 QB1: Mac Jones 

Summing It Up: It's wild to think that a Bill Belichick team would be the Jets' easiest opponent during a brutal season-opening six-game stretch. The Pats' offense severely misses Tom Brady, and Aaron Rodgers should be able to solve Belichick's defense.

11: Week 5 at Denver Broncos
(Oct. 8, 4:25 pm ET on CBS)

Opponent's Power Rank: 28 
Opponent's 2022 Record: 5-12 
Opponent's 2023 QB1: Russell Wilson 

Summing It Up: The Broncos' aren't a good team on paper, and there's only so much a coach like Sean Payton can do. If Russell Wilson has an reawakening, then this could be a tough test for the Jets. Playing in the high altitude will likely be Gang Green's greatest challenge in this one.

10: Week 12 vs. Miami Dolphins
(Nov. 24, 3:00 pm ET on Prime Video) 

Opponent's Power Rank: 13
Opponent's 2022 Record: 9-8 
Opponent's 2023 QB1: Tua Tagovailoa

Summing It Up: The Dolphins head north for a Black Friday affair at MetLife Stadium, but will Tua Tagovailoa still be in the lineup 12 weeks into the season? The lefty quarterback makes Miami an offensive power, but his fragile health remains a question mark.

Dolphins' QB Tua Tagovailoa is pressured by Jets' edge rusher Bryce Huff / © Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

9: Week 18 at New England Patriots
(Jan. 6 or 7, TBA)

Opponent's Power Rank: 16 
Opponent's 2022 Record: 8-9 
Opponent's 2023 QB1: Mac Jones

Summing It Up: Traveling to New England in January is no easy task and Belichick seems to have it out for the Jets. With this game possibly deciding Gang Green's postseason fate, look for the Pats' bitter coach to pull out all the stops.

8: Week 9 vs. Los Angeles Chargers
(Nov. 6, 8:15 pm ET on ESPN's MNF) 

Opponent's Power Rank: 12
Opponent's 2022 Record: 10-7
Opponent's 2023 QB1: Justin Herbert 

Summing It Up: It's a Monday Night Football matchup against the Justin Herbert-led Chargers, one week after Gang Green's "road" Game against the New York Giants. The Jets could have a slight intangible advantage heading into this one being that they don't leave the state of New Jersey any of the four prior weeks. After Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and Jalen Hurts, Herbert is arguably the fourth-best QB on the 2023 schedule.

7: Week 8 at New York Giants
(Oct. 29, 1:00 pm ET on CBS) 

Opponent's Power Rank: 14 
Opponent's 2022 Record: 9-7-1 
Opponent's 2023 QB1: Daniel Jones 

Summing It Up: It's somewhat of a rivalry game against a pretty formidable opponent. Giants' offensive guru Brian Daboll will find ways to challenge the Jets' defense even with an average QB taking the snaps. This battle has the makings of a tightly-contested affair much like the Giants' win over Rodgers' and the Packers in London last year.

Giants' QB Daniel Jones attempts a pass against the Jets in 2019 :: © Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com

6: Week 1 vs. Buffalo Bills
(Sep. 11, 8:15 pm ET on ESPN's MNF)

Opponent's Power Rank: 4
Opponent's 2022 Record: 13-3 
Opponent's 2023 QB1: Josh Allen 

Summing It Up: The Bills will have to contend with "Primetime Aaron Rodgers" in a hostile road environment. The entire football world will be focused on Rodgers' debut in Green & White and there should be plenty of emotion running through MetLife Stadium on the 22nd anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks. Josh Allen will offer a good early test for a Jets' defense that effectively handled the dual threat quarterback in 2022.

5: Week 15 at Miami Dolphins
(Dec. 17, 1:00 pm on CBS) 

Opponent's Power Rank: 13 
Opponent's 2022 Record: 9-8 
Opponent's 2023 QB1: Tua Tagovailoa 

Summing It Up: A late-season divisional matchup on the road in the South Florida heat will go a long way in determining where the Jets wind up in the AFC East race. When at full strength, the Dolphins' offense is as potent as they come and it features rare speed with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle running routes. 

4: Week 2 at Dallas Cowboys
(Sep. 17, 4:25 pm ET on CBS) 

Opponent's Power Rank: 9
Opponent's 2022 Record: 12-5 
Opponent's 2023 QB1: Dak Prescott 

Summing It Up: The Cowboys are coming off back-to-back 12-win seasons and Jerry World will be rocking for the team's home opener. Dallas stars Cee Dee Lamb and Tony Pollard will force the Jets' defense to be on top of its game in Week 2. Meanwhile, Rodgers and Co. will have to contend with a raucous crowd and a fierce Cowboys' front seven spearheaded by Micah Parsons. 

Cowboys' QB Dak Prescott faces pressure from the Jets' pass rush in 2019 / © Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

3: Week 6 vs. Philadelphia Eagles 
(Oct. 15, 4:25 pm ET on FOX) 

Opponent's Power Rank: 1 
Opponent's 2022 Record: 14-3 
Opponent's 2023 QB1: Jalen Hurts 

Summing It Up: The Eagles feature what is arguably the best roster, from top to bottom, in the NFL. The Super Bowl LVII runner-up will be the final opponent in a brutal season-opening six-game span, but at least the Jets will be the home team for this one.

2: Week 11 at Buffalo Bills 
(Nov. 19, 4:25 pm ET on CBS) 

Opponent's Power Rank: 4 
Opponent's 2022 Record: 13-3 
Opponent's 2023 QB1: Josh Allen

Summing It Up: Although the Jets' stifling defense seemingly matches up well against the Bills' elite offense, being the road team in Buffalo is not a desirable position to occupy. This will be Gang Green's first of two crucial AFC East games in a six-day span. Rodgers (with the Packers) and the Jets both took Ls in Western New York last fall.

1: Week 4 vs. Kansas City Chiefs 
(Oct. 1, 8:20 pm ET on NBC's SNF)

Opponent's Power Rank: 2 
Opponent's 2022 Record: 14-3 
Opponent's 2023 QB1: Patrick Mahomes 

Summing It Up: Even when going on the road, the Chiefs have been practically unbeatable during the regular season in recent years. The reigning Super Bowl champs have the best quarterback that the Jets will face all season. Gang Green may feel some added pressure having to play this game in the spotlight -- the franchise's first SNF appearance in more than a decade. The huge litmus test for the Jets will be just another game for battle-tested Kansas City.

Chiefs' QB Patrick Mahomes leaves the pocket in a 2020 game against the Jets / © Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

* Power Rankings provided by Sports Illustrated's Conor Orr

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