Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
SOURCE: Jets Slated for Monday Night Football Opener
Those internet rumors may carry some merit after all.
With speculation suggesting as much in recent days, a television network source has told Jets Country, the New York Jets and the New York Giants will meet on Monday Night Football in Week 1 of the 2023 National Football League schedule.
The source also expects one of Gang Green's divisional clashes with the Buffalo Bills to land in a primetime slot later in the season.
The highly-anticipated Jets-Giants regular season clash is designated as a home game for Big Blue this time around. Belonging to different conferences, the MetLife Stadium co-inhabitants square off against each other only once every four years during the regular season.
The reported Week 1 MNF meeting means the Jets and the Giants will kick off their season schedules on the 22nd anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks. MetLife Stadium stands no more than 15 miles from the World Trade Center, where nearly 3,000 people perished in 2001.
The NFL will release its 2023 schedule in primetime on Thursday, May 11, according to an earlier report by ESPN's Adam Schefter. Last year, the league unveiled its entire slate of matchups on May 12, 2022.
With a few days left until the announcement, NFL Commissioner Rodger Goodell apparently must "rubber stamp" the schedule and tweaks can still be made. Right now, however, it looks like all eyes will be on MetLife Stadium for the MNF opener.
With Aaron Rodgers in town, Gang Green's stock is on the rise, especially in the eyes of NFL schedule makers and television executives.
Mike North, the NFL VP of Broadcasting, admitted the influence that the Rodgers trade news had on schedule development.
"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. If Aaron Rodgers is the quarterback, we're going to do something with those games. If Aaron Rodgers isn't the quarterback of the Jets, we're going to do something with those games, but maybe not as much," said North as a guest on Audacy's "It's Always Gameday in Buffalo" podcast.
As soon as the Rodgers' trade rumors gained traction in early March, the Jets became a must-see attraction around the league.
Longtime NFL columnist Peter King predicted the Jets would occupy a primetime window for their season opener back in March.
"I’d bet the Jets will appear in either the Sunday or Monday prime-time opener. The league loves Aaron Rodgers. The league will try to capitalize on the fascination of Rodgers changing teams to have a ratings bonanza in week one. My money’s on NBC getting, say, Jets-Eagles or Jets-Bills on the opening Sunday night," said King in "Football Morning In America" on March 20.
He then reaffirmed his position last week.
"As for the other biggies, the three primetime games in week one ... I think, and this is based only on logic, that Aaron Rodgers and the Jets will play Sunday night on NBC or Monday night on ESPN, but I can’t tell you the opponent," wrote King on May 1.
The Jets' season opener will likely be one of five primetime affairs on the team's 2023 schedule. As King stated weeks ago, " If you love the Jets and are used to settling in at 1 o’clock Sunday to watch them, those days are over. In 2023, anyway."
READ MORE:
ESPN Reporter Claims Rodgers Deal Affected NFL Schedule Release Timing
Jets Seem Destined for 2023 Week 1 Primetime Game
Peter King Sees Plenty of Primetime Matchups in Jets' Future
Jets Flying High in Sports Illustrated's Post-Draft Power Rankings
Albert Breer Highlights 'Good Sign' for Rodgers and Jets
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