Thursday, April 18, 2013

Seventeen takeaways from Jets' 2013 schedule

BY NICK ST. DENIS

1. Talk about a rough middle stretch: at the Falcons, home vs. the Steelers and Patriots, at the Bengals and home vs. the Saints.

2. The Jets finish the season in Miami for the second time in three years. The last time, in 2011, Santonio Holmes had his mini-meltdown to help cap off the Jets' massive meltdown.

3. If the Darrelle Revis-to-Buccaneers trade happens, the All-Pro cornerback will open his season in familiar territory.

4. Gang Green has to travel to Foxborough Week 2 -- on a Thursday night -- to face the defending division champion Patriots. Remember the last time the teams met on a Thursday night? (photo: Marianne O'Leary, Flickr)

5. New York catches a slight break at the end of the schedule, with two games against the Dolphins sandwiched by meetings with the Raiders, Panthers and Browns.

6. The Jets had a plethora of primetime games over the last three seasons. in 2013, they have just two.

7. Four of the Jets' first five games aren't 1 p.m. starts. Nine of the last 11 are.

8. Gang Green always seems to get bye weeks in the dead-middle of the season. This year isn't much different, as they'll be on vacation Week 10.

9. New Bills (and former Jets) defensive coordinator Mike Pettine will get his first shot at his old team Week 3 at MetLife Stadium.

10. Former Jets running back Shonn Greene, now with the Titans, will take on his former squad Week 4.

11. No more than two Jets games in a row are either at home or away.

12. Aside from the Thursday night showing, New York's only other primetime game is an early-October bout with the Falcons.

13. Ten of Gang Green's 13 opponents are repeats of 2009.

14. Something positive? The Jets have zero trips to the left coast in 2013.

15. Rex Ryan will get a shot at his former employer, the Baltimore Ravens, for the third time in five years. He lost the first two.

16. Rex will also face his brother, Ryan, who is the Saints' defensive coordinator, Week 9.

17. The Jets will open the season at home for the fourth straight year. They've won the last two.

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