The NFL has arrived for the 2011-2012 season and American football has never been more fun. The New York Jets, part of the American Football Conference (AFC) are one of three teams that New Yorkers claim each year. And this year, the Jets’ schedule is going to be big football. The NY Jets’ schedule begins with a Monday night football game against the Houston Texans and includes another Monday night game.
Founded in 1959, the NY Jets were originally called the Titans of New York and officially became the Jets in 1963. The Jets’ schedule is drawn up each year to allow them to share their home field (New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey) with the New York Giants – theirs is the only arrangement like this in the NFL. Each team owns 50 percent of the stadium. Did you know that although they are officially called the New York Jets, the team actually plays its games in New Jersey? The same goes for the NY Giants and their shared field. The team once called Shea Stadium their home field.
Although the team hasn’t won a Super Bowl since 1968, tickets for the Jets are hard to come by. Each and every New Yorker has their team and the Jets are a fan favorite. Fans will note that the Jets’ 2011 schedule won’t be easy. The team’s regular season begins with a matchup against the Dallas Cowboys and the team will face the other two New York teams: the NY Giants and the Buffalo Bills.
Additionally, the Jets’ schedule includes a game against the New England Patriots, their longtime division rival. This rivalry has roots going back to a playoff game in 1966, where the Jets beat the Pats and knocked them out of the race to appear in the first Super Bowl. This season, the NY Jets’ schedule includes a matchup with the New England Patriots in New England. This game will be in week five, so it may not be a deciding factor in how the season plays out, but for the fans it is an important game.
The rest of the Jets’ schedule may not be easy. The team faces the Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos and Oakland Raiders on the road and the Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers at home. The Jets also have a rivalry with the Miami Dolphins, so every season fans look forward to the matchup between these two.
It’s not often on the Jets’ schedule that they play the New York Giants (they share a home field, after all), but this year the teams will meet twice. One game will be played in the preseason with the Jets playing the road team and the other game won’t be until Week 15 when the Jets play the home team. The 2011-2012 season will be one that Jets fans won’t soon forget.