The New York Jets season will mercifully end today, putting a bow on a long and tough year filled with despair and just enough hope at times to keep us coming back for more.

With the end of the 2023 season all eyes will then turn to the 2024 season where things will be much better (right?).

So, of course Jets fans will look at free agency, the draft and the potential schedule. And it is in the schedule that we find a potential for a huge matchup in 2024. And it will all depend on what happens in week 18 of this year.

The Green Bay Packers host the Chicago Bears in the final week of the regular season which has major implications for both teams. If the Packers win, they are in the playoffs (there a few other scenarios that will get them in the playoffs, but for the sake of time, let’s just assume they need to win and they are in). The Chicago Bears have been playing really well of late and they are led by Justin Fields who is trying to prove that he is the future of the Bears and they don’t need to draft a QB with the first overall pick.

So, what does this game have to do with the New York Jets? If the Bears win, it is likely that the Jets would travel to Green Bay next season for a game against the Packers. That would be Aaron Rodgers’ first visit to Lambeau Field since leaving the Packers last season.

Chalk the Jets up to having at least one prime time game next season if Rodgers returns to Green Bay.

All NFL teams will have their 2024 opponents finalized after Week 18 (some already do), and New York has 15 of its 17 games set. It will also host the same-place division finisher from the AFC West (currently the Raiders) and visit the same-place finisher in the NFC North.

Green Bay currently sits at 8-8 and is second in the North and would remain there with a victory over the Bears. A loss brings all sorts of tiebreakers into play. Minnesota still has longshot playoff hopes and if the Vikings win Sunday in Detroit along with a Bears victory, the Vikings will finish second.

A Vikings loss and a Bears win positions Minnesota in fourth, and then it's down to tiebreakers for third between Chicago and Green Bay.

Rodgers was recently asked about a possible 2024 return and said: "It'd be emotional for sure going back and playing at Lambeau. That would be hyped. I was there in 2009 when Brett came back. There was some cheers for sure, there were some boos. He played lights out."

I would be curious to see how Packers fans would receive Aaron Rodgers in Lambeau if he makes a return next season. I would hope he did enough for the organization that they would receive him warmly, at least pregame, but football fans are funny creatures. Either way, it would be must-watch television.

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Featured image via Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports