The 2025 NFL schedule was released on Wednesday and the Jets will host their first two games at home against the Steelers and Bills.
They also have the seventh-easiest schedule in the league (.460), which is based on their opponents’ winning percentage from last year.
However, in four of their first six games of the season, the Jets will play four opponents who made the playoffs in 2024. Their schedule late in the season is favorable on paper, at least, outside their season finale against the Bills.
EARLY TAKEAWAYS
One major takeaway from this year’s schedule is that there are fewer primetime games after the Jets released Aaron Rodgers in March. Gang Green has just two games under the lights in 2025 (Week 4 at Dolphins on Monday Night Football and Week 11 at Patriots on Thursday Night Football). Last year, the Jets were given six primetime games after NFL executives said they owed them one. One was ultimately flexed out, so the Jets played five last season amid their 5-12 campaign.
Jets head coach Aaron Glenn said at the NFL Annual Meetings in March that he wants to move in silence, and he will be able to do that, at least initially. With veterans Rodgers, Davante Adams and C.J. Mosley all released this offseason, there’s much less buzz and expectation surrounding the Jets. That could be a good thing because Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey need time to build their culture and shape the roster as they see fit.
TOUGHEST GAMES
The Jets’ overall schedule is not challenging, but the schedule makers did them zero favors to begin 2025. They will start the season against three playoff teams (vs. Steelers, vs. Bills, at Buccaneers).
The Jets will then play the Dolphins in Week 4 in a place they haven’t won at Hard Rock Stadium since 2014, which was Rex Ryan’s last game as coach.
In addition to those games, the Jets will play road games against the Bengals and Ravens, who are expected to contend for the AFC North division crown. Then there’s the Jets’ season finale against the Bills, who have won the AFC East five straight years in a row.
EASIEST GAMES
The 2025 schedule doesn’t seem too daunting for the Jets right now. But the latter stretch of the season could potentially set up a postseason run, assuming the Jets are one of the surprise teams in the league.
Following their Week 12 game against the Ravens, the Jets will host the Dolphins and play both the Jaguars and Saints on the road. Like the Jets, the Jaguars are also starting fresh with new coach Liam Coen in charge. So are the Saints, who now have Kellen Moore as coach and uncertainty at the quarterback position following Derek Carr’s retirement.
Gang Green also plays its second matchup at home against New England in Week 17, who could be one of the most improved teams in the league after hiring Mike Vrabel as head coach and acquiring wide receiver Stefon Diggs, defensive tackle Milton Williams, cornerback Carlton Davis and left tackle Will Campbell, the No. 4 overall draft pick.
FINAL THOUGHTS
If the Jets can navigate a brutal stretch in their first six games, they could finish with a better record than many predict. After their game against the Broncos in London in Week 6, the Jets will play just two teams that made the playoffs last season (the Ravens and Bills).
It’s difficult to predict what will happen because last year’s results have no bearing on the 2025 season. But the Jets will play several teams (Falcons, Dolphins, Jaguars, and Saints) late in the season that are considered in that same mediocre tier.
Making a playoff run in 2025 seems unlikely. The Jets have several questions, including how their new quarterback, Justin Fields, will perform alongside the weapons surrounding him.
Fields is an elite rusher after registering 2,509 yards and 19 touchdowns in four seasons on the ground. But he has been an uneven passer with both the Bears and Steelers.
Fields completed just 60.3% of his passes in Chicago, which is below the league average (61.1%). He did complete a career-high of 65.8% of his passing during his lone year in Pittsburgh last season. However, Fields only started six games after he was benched after Russell Wilson recovered from his preseason calf injury.
The Jets are going to let Fields sink or swim because, as Glenn said, they are going to “let him play quarterback.” Glenn believes that under offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand, the Jets can unlock more of his potential as a passer.
Fields will have a top-20 wide receiver in Garrett Wilson and a second-round draft pick out of LSU, tight end Mason Taylor. Beyond that, they do not have a bona fide third option.
Allen Lazard has been a disappointment since he signed a four-year, $44 million deal in 2023. So much so, the team asked him to take a pay cut. This is why the Jets rely significantly on their ground attack with Fields, Breece Hall, Braelon Allen, and Isaiah Davis.
The Jets defense, which has finished in the top five each of the last three seasons, should still be one of the better units in the NFL. Assuming they can avoid the injury bug, the Jets’ ceiling is around eight wins, which should give them optimism heading into the 2026 season.
However, if the Jets get off to a 1-5 or 2-4 start, it could be challenging to recover from that, no matter the schedule. The Jets’ success or lack thereof will ultimately hinge on how well Fields performs as he looks to have a breakthrough season in Year 5 in the league.