Things have swung in the direction of the New York Jets this offseason. They received several upgrades in free agency ahead of landing Aaron Rodgers in a blockbuster trade with the Green Bay Packers. A new report spells out how that trade is affecting other aspects of the NFL.
It appears Rodgers going to New York has given the Jets a significant advantage this season with how the NFL scheduled their games. The Jets had one of the most demanding schedules in the NFL on paper before the dates were released last week. Warren Sharp with Sharp Football Analysis recently put out a thread on Twitter that showed how the NFL schedule makers spun their magic to give Rodgers what some would call an unfair advantage this season.
Aaron Rodgers gets the New York Jets a major advantage
Sharp analyzed schedule equity based on rest periods between opponents’ matchups. This accounts for the turnaround time between the previous game each team would have before their weekly matchup.
let's look at schedule equity using a number of variables related to rest & prep
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) May 16, 2023
– Net rest edge
– More or less rest than opponent
– Opponent’s days to prep for your game
– Short week road games
– Games off road SNF/MNF
– Negated bye weeks
but first let's talk historic inequity
Guess which team Sharp found has the best net rest edges? The Jets at +12 days of rest. The Packers are even. The San Francisco 49ers have the worst net rest edge at -20.
we need to focus closely on rest disparity this yr since imbalance is at historic highs
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) May 16, 2023
which teams benefit most?
which are challenged most?
let's dig in team-by-team
start by reading this for @NFLonFOX https://t.co/TVnV7w09bU
INTRODUCING: 2023 Net Rest Edges
🔖bookmark! pic.twitter.com/pkEqRw4r0S
Sharp suggests that the NFL created this advantage for the Jets in order to enrure Rodgers could keep the team on the course for a playoff run. All six games in their divison have no rest disadvantage for the Jets. Their final four games in the AFC actually give the Jets a rest advantage.
The net rest edge was certainly not an advantage given to the Packers for the previous two seasons.
what happened next was huge for the NFL
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) May 16, 2023
the New York Jets landed marquee QB Aaron Rodgers
last year, Rodgers' former team, the Packers, had the NFL's WORST net rest edge (-12)
in 2021 in GB it was 8th worst (-5)
but this year? in New York?
NFL best +12
from worst to first
with a QB to market, the NFL surely would like nothing more than for a successful Jets season and a playoff run
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) May 16, 2023
Weeks 1-9 they play outside of their stadium only TWICE
from Oct 5 – Nov 12, they don't leave NY
out of 17 games, only 7 are outside NY
how about more help? OK…
with a QB to market, the NFL surely would like nothing more than for a successful Jets season and a playoff run
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) May 16, 2023
Weeks 1-9 they play outside of their stadium only TWICE
from Oct 5 – Nov 12, they don't leave NY
out of 17 games, only 7 are outside NY
how about more help? OK…
the Jets don't play a single AFC East game with a rest disadvantage
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) May 16, 2023
how about more help? OK…
in the Jets final 4 AFC East games, fighting for the title, they have
KEY REST EDGES in EVERY GAME
(see pic)
read more on the Jets schedule edges here:https://t.co/E3QybGz7we pic.twitter.com/FBkUGd7oQI
We’ll see how the Jets take advantage of thier opportunity to play opponents with shorter turnaround times. But it seems pretty clear Rodgers presence is helping to give the Jets an advantage with the schedule. Now it’s up to Rodgers to do something with it.
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