Head coach Robert Saleh admits the 2024 New York Jets' schedule will be a challenge and not just because of the strength of opponents.
Even with their "third-place" schedule, the Jets still must face the San Francisco 49ers, Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers in non-divisional play. Increasing the difficulty for New York, all three of those games are in primetime windows and all three have a short week attached.
"Well you play and compete to have the spotlight. I mean, I think that's what everybody wants. Obviously as a coach, you want the one o'clock game so you can have the consistency, but we all strive for these moments," said Saleh on Thursday in Florham Park.
In the first 11 weeks of the season, the Jets will play seven opponents in standalone time slots, a stretch that includes a Week 5 trip to London. They play a road game in Week 2 following their Monday night season opener in San Francisco. Then, it's a Thursday Night Football home opener in Week 3.
"There's always going to be changes with regards to Monday, short week, get ready to go to Tennessee, short week on Thursday, long week to Denver, short week to London, back to a mini long week. I mean, there's all kinds of changes," said Saleh.
New York does not have a bye following the Week 5 London trip. They'll get an extra day with the Week 6 matchup being on Monday Night Football, but they'll have to deal with the four-time reigning AFC East champion Buffalo Bills.
"I think it's also healthy and we've kind of reflected that with the way we've done our schedule here during training camp. It's been very different days. It's been changing, whether it was a nine o'clock practice to a 12 o'clock practice to a heavy load on Tuesday to a heavy load on Thursday and then flip it to a Wednesday and a Friday," said Saleh. "We've been very deliberate changing things up on them all offseason to have them prepared for these moments."
The Jets reside in the world's wildest media market, and future Hall-of-Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers is an instant boost to interest and viewership. It adds up to the maximum number of primetime television exposures and a challenging terrain for Saleh and the staff to navigate.
"Every team has to deal with it. We're lucky we get to do it more than most," said Saleh.
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