For the first time in years, the NFL schedule has a huge advantage to several teams in terms of rest days. One of those teams was the Jets and Aaron Rodgers.
The NFL doesn't have much control over which teams your favorite squad plays on a yearly basis. That's pretty much predetermined via NFL schedule rules. What they do have control over, however, is when you play those teams.
Roger Goodell and the league has flexed its muscles this season, providing certain teams with an excessive amount of rest as compared to their opponents. Warren Sharp of The Athletic laid this all out in a Twitter thread.
The truth is, certain teams have the advantage of more rest than others, especially compared to their opponents. Let's say the Jets play the Bills in Week X. If Buffalo played on Monday Night Football the previous week, while the Jets played on Thursday Night Football the previous week, one team will be more rested than the other. Hint: It's the Jets. It's always New York.
Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets are NFL schedule darlings
As it turns out, Rodgers and the Jets received a pretty huge advantage from the NFL in terms of rest days compared to their 2023 opponents. Yes, that's a mouthful, but it tells a story in itself.
Rodgers was acquired by New York this offseason as their starting quarterback. The future Hall of Famer fell out of favor in Green Bay. The Jets, which play in the league's largest market but are rarely rewarded, finally have their big star. The league took notice.
The Packers, meanwhile, are literally at the mean. Their schedule is fair and square. Ideally, all NFL schedules would look like Green Bay's.
If Rodgers and Co. don't make the postseason in 2023, they have no excuses.
