The New York Jets and the New York Giants have shared MetLife Stadium since the venue opened in 2010. Both teams play each other every preseason and at least once every four years during the regular season. The two teams play this week, and the Jets are considered the away team.
They have shared a stadium since 1984, when the Jets left Shea Stadium to play at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Sunday is the 11th time the teams will meet in the regular season while sharing the same stadium.
What Changes for the Jets on Game Day?
One change the Jets avoid is moving locker rooms for the game. The team stays in their normal locker room, and both teams will use the two visiting locker rooms on game day for storage.
The Jets will have to wear white jerseys when the team usually wears green jerseys at home. The team did wear white throwback jerseys in the Week 1 home win over the Buffalo Bills. The Giants and Jets use the same sideline for home games, so the Jets will have to use the opposite sideline this week.
MORE: How Many Season-Ending Injuries Have There Been at MetLife Stadium?
The stadium will have the end zones painted in the Giants’ colors: red, white, and blue. The Giants’ season ticket holders will be in their normal seats, but Jets fans will find their way into the stadium.
The Jets will have the perk of calling the coin toss as the visiting team.
Covering Up One Team’s Accomplishments Backfires
On Dec. 24, 2011, the teams met in the regular season for the first time at Metlife Stadium. The Jets were the home team, and they decorated the stadium with the usual green and white theme for their games. Leading up to the game, Jets coach Rex Ryan said the Jets were better than the Giants.
The Jets took the extra step of using black curtains to cover up the mural outside the Giants locker room that celebrates the team’s Super Bowl appearances. A couple of Giants players did not like the decision to cover up the mural and took the curtains down. The Jets responded by putting the curtains back up and stationing a security guard in front of the mural.
Victor Cruz’s 99-yard touchdown reception was the highlight of the Giants’ 29-14 win. Giants running back Brandon Jacobs and Ryan exchanged words as the two teams walked off the field after the game. The Jets missed the playoffs that season as the Giants went on to defeat the Patriots for the franchise’s fourth Super Bowl championship.
From the current NFL standings to team depth charts to coverage of every game in the 18-week NFL schedule, we have all the news from around the league to keep you up to speed!
