In '08, Welcome to the Hotel California
Published: Wed, December 26, 2007 - 10:52am EDT
By Eric Allen
Allen is the senior managing editor of newyorkjets.com. He is in his seventh season with the Jets.
File Under: schedule Chargers 49ers Raiders Seahawks Titans, West, Coast
12/26 — With one more game yet to be played in 2007, the Jets already know all their ’08 opponents. The actual schedule won’t be released until April, but the Green & White had better register for a good frequent-flier program.
After a season in which New York’s AFC representative traveled the fewest road miles — 9,186 — of all NFL teams, they’re set to pay some West Coast dues next fall. How’s this for a red-eye delight? Hitting SoCal up to play the Chargers, moving up the Pacific Coast Highway for a battle with the 49ers, crossing the Bay Bridge to meet Da Raiders and then going to beautiful Seattle for a meeting with Seahawks. Good thing Seattle’s got some fantastic coffee shops because the ’08 Jets are going to need plenty of caffeine.
We just received late word from a PR staffer that the trek will cover 24,498 miles in all. You wonder if the league will schedule back-to-back West Coast games for the Jets so they can move their operation out there for a week.
The rest of the road slate includes the Jets' three AFC East rivals and another trip to Nashville for a contest with Jeff Fisher’s Titans, who will finish third in the AFC South to the Jets' third-place finish in the East.
We’ll see the Chiefs at the Meadowlands this weekend and here sometime next year as well. Denver and Arizona will make the long journeys to Jersey and the Rams and the Bengals (third in the AFC North) are also eastbound.
You can’t determine exactly how tough next year’s schedule is in December but here’s what pops out at me at the moment. Only New England — the NFL’s only unbeaten — has a winning road record of the teams who are coming to the swamps. Other than that, pop in an Eagles CD and press play on Hotel California. The Jets are heading west, baby!
Below are the Jets’ 08 opponents, their current records and their corresponding home or road records. What are your thoughts?
Home
New England (15-0, 7-0)
Buffalo (7-8, 3-4)
Miami (1-14, 0-8)
Denver (6-9, 2-6)
Kansas City (4-11, 2-5)
Arizona (7-8, 2-6)
St. Louis (3-12, 2-5)
Cincinnati (6-9, 1-6)
Road
New England (15-0, 8-0)
Buffalo (7-8, 4-4)
Miami (1-14, 1-6)
Oakland (4-11, 2-5)
San Diego (10-5, 7-1)
San Francisco (5-10, 3-5)
Seattle (10-5, 7-1)
Tennessee (9-6, 5-3)
Fans Respond
Here's your chance to tell Randy what you think! Add a Comment | Hide All Show All (13)Howard Said:
Wed, December 26, 2007 - 12:25pm EDT"not a bad schedule for next year,nfc west could be a playoff year with all those trips.i thinks the chargers will be the only tough test....but lets see after fa and the draft"
Row Said:
Wed, December 26, 2007 - 1:32pm EDT"Good article Eric. I guess I'm going to the Meadowlands again. Wouldn't mind one year getting to go to a Rams or Chiefs game seeing my team. Looks like we will have to improve our running defense. Any updates on the new stadium? "
Jeremy Said:
Wed, December 26, 2007 - 1:36pm EDT"Not a bad schedule, especially when you consider home game oppoents road records, but it's Dec 07, way too early. Could easily see them going 2-2 on the west coast. Maybe three, Jets had SD's # couple years back. Can't wait to see what the Green & White do in the offseason then the DRAFT. We'll have to see who joins the Dolphins too, bad feeling about that one! HAPPY HOLIDAYS !"
mike Said:
Wed, December 26, 2007 - 1:40pm EDT"Hopefully the jets will get to play oakland and s.f. back to back, and Mangini doesn't pull a Herm Edwards and come home to practice."
Tanner Said:
Wed, December 26, 2007 - 2:01pm EDT"I think the Jets will go at least 10-6 hopefully better and maybe even win the division, that would be nice instead of the Patriots."
Doug Said:
Wed, December 26, 2007 - 2:52pm EDT"As a CA-based Jets fan, I'm stoked. I'll be attentding at least two of these games."
Brandon Said:
Wed, December 26, 2007 - 3:20pm EDT"There are two scenarions i look at when observer that schedule. With Kellen at QB i see us going 5-11 next year. With Chad we have a chance of going 10-6 or 9-7 if we can improve our O line and establish a good ground game. The only other scenario would be to bring Vinny Testaverde over for one last hoorah, in which case the Jets would go 3-13! Maybe we need this to spark Chad again lol!!!"
dougmc Said:
Wed, December 26, 2007 - 4:11pm EDT"Have a Great draft, make many deals, pay for some high profile names and do all that is needed to go 11 and 5 with this schedule. Back to back visits would make some great Jet travel packages. O-Line,Super receiver, T.E. , L.B.'s Defensive Line are all needs, may have to trade first pick for 2 second rounders+ others... Looking forward to Draft already... J-E-T-S---Jets...Jets... Jets..."
DaveB Said:
Wed, December 26, 2007 - 4:30pm EDT"Hey "Steve" thanks for your remark!.i have forgot about more football than you ever knew!!..anyway, since we are jet fans lets get along!..like i said before, if you want to follow chads career beyond this go right ahead, he makes to much money to back up Clemens next year, so get ready to watch him suit up on his new team while he holds the clipboard and warms the bench!..clemens is the future"
Thomas Spicer Said:
Wed, December 26, 2007 - 4:42pm EDT"Brandon & the rest of you loyal to a fault Chad fans WAKE UP Chad has had his chance mulitple times he can not get it done PERIOD END OF STORY it is time to move on."
Drew Said:
Wed, December 26, 2007 - 6:58pm EDT"Trying to determine if the 2008 schedule is difficult or easy is absurd. Nobody knows how these teams will look next year especially our own. Lets re-load in this draft and FA and then worry about the schedule....Brandon please relax with the Chad speeches already.. One question though?? Why can't KC have the same success with a improved OL and running game?? He is behind the same OL as your boy."
John B Said:
Tue, January 1, 2008 - 6:07pm EDT"Season's over - forget it. Revis and Harris are future pro-bowlers. Chad has taken a pay cut before to stay with team. Platooning would work if coaches would make the effort and use some creativity. Jets need to protect Chad's shoulder from injury and fatigue. One outstanding LG or RT needed and 4.4 WR, 270 lb LB, and mobile 290 lb DE. The rest will be easy."
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Ira Said:
Wed, December 26, 2007 - 11:28am EDT"I am really hoping the league has them play back to back games out West. The Giants had a similar schedule in 05. They played at SD,SF,Sea and Oak. The Giants played 1 in Sept, 2 in Nov, and 1 in Dec. BTW they went 2-2 in those games."
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