When the NFL launched the schedule for all 32 groups final Thursday, many noticed that the Jets have been dealt a horrible hand.
Gang Green will play three playoff groups within the first weeks of the season, with all of them at the very least making it to the divisional spherical final 12 months.
Tough luck. Now recover from it.
It’s time to place up and shut up for the Jets, because the schedule is the schedule. The Jets will play 9 video games towards groups that made the playoffs in 2022. Gang Green has the sixth-toughest schedule within the NFL, as its opponents mixed for a .545 profitable proportion in 2022.
The Jets made a seismic transfer this offseason after buying Aaron Rodgers in a commerce with the Packers. Teams solely make that transfer in the event that they really feel they’re near profitable a championship or turning into a contender. After final season, it’s comprehensible why the Jets really feel like they’re near doing one thing distinctive inside the group.
During the 2022 season stuffed with rollercoasters, the Jets by some means completed 7-10 behind inept quarterback play and an absence of consistency from the place. However, at one time, the Jets have been 7-4 coming into the month of December, however they misplaced six consecutive video games to finish the season.
Gang Green had 4 completely different beginning quarterbacks beneath heart final season [Zach Wilson, Joe Flacco, Mike White, Chris Streveler]. This season that received’t be an issue for the Jets, as Rodgers offers them the most effective quarterback they’ve had in over a decade.
In simply his brief time with the Jets, Rodgers has already modified the workforce’s line of considering. A 12 months in the past, nobody thought the Jets had an opportunity even to get shut to creating the playoffs. Now with Rodgers, the Jets might win the AFC East and host a playoff recreation for the primary time since 2002.
“He’s a very smart individual, very deep and very thoughtful,” Jets coach Robert Saleh stated about Rodgers throughout rookie minicamp. I used to be by no means nervous about whether or not or not he was going to be right here.
“I at all times felt like if he did wish to be right here, he was going to be right here, if he determined to be a Jet as a result of he’s so aggressive and he does perceive that he has to get acclimated to the brand new constructing, he’ll need to get the receivers acclimated to him and he’ll need to get the verbiage in and assist get everyone on the identical web page.
“In my mind, you just see a fire in the guy’s eye when you’re sitting and talking to him, he’s going to do everything. He’s coming to win, and you can just feel it in his voice, you can see it in his eyes and the way he’s going about his business.”
If the Jets are nearly as good because the NFL league workplaces consider they are going to be, the schedule shouldn’t matter. Sure, the early process is daunting because the Jets will start the season on “Monday Night Football” at residence towards the Bills earlier than enjoying on the Cowboys and residential towards the Patriots and Chiefs to start out the 12 months.
But nobody stated the street to the highest of the AFC could be straightforward because the Chiefs, Bengals, Bills, and now the Jaguars anticipate to issue into the playoff race. The Ravens, Dolphins, and Chargers may also compete for a seat on the playoff desk.
The Dolphins (second) and Patriots (third) even have two of probably the most inflexible schedules within the league. The Chiefs and Bills have performed first-place schedules the previous few seasons.
When the Buccaneers signed Tom Brady in 2020, they immediately gained a goal on their backs. It’s no completely different with the Jets and Rodgers with all of the excessive expectations.
Former wrestler Ric Flair at all times stated it greatest to be the person, You’ve gotta beat the person. Rodgers and the Jets can have that chance after they play each the Chiefs (Week 4) and Eagles (Week 6).
By his requirements, Rodgers had a down 12 months in 2022, as he handed for 3,695 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. This was a change from his back-to-back MVP seasons in 2020 and 2021, through which Rodgers averaged 4,207 yards, 42.5 touchdowns and 4.5 interceptions.
“I’m not showing up to be part of a team that I think is OK,” Rodgers stated final month. “Obviously, the workforce has quite a lot of items in place, rookies of the 12 months on each side of the ball, actually stable protection, nice scheme, considered one of my favourite offensive minds I’ve ever been round [Nathaniel Hackett].
“I consider in his system, stud operating again, stud receiver, depth within the receiver room and tight finish. I simply want to slot in and do my job. That being stated, I stated it earlier than, yearly, there’s a handful of groups who can win it. Most folks don’t say that out loud, however really, there are anyplace from eight to 12 groups who can really do it, and I consider we’re a kind of groups.
The Jets’ success in 2023 will possible come right down to how their protection performs. A season in the past, Gang Green completed fourth in yards and factors allowed per recreation.
Some naysayers have stated the Jets protection beat up on backup quarterbacks all year long, as 4 of their seven wins got here towards non-starting quarterbacks. However, the Jets protection performed nicely in video games towards Rodgers when he was with the Packers and Josh Allen in each conferences towards the Bills.
Eight of the Jets starters return this season, with Sheldon Rankins signing with the Texans, security Lamarcus Joyner and linebacker Kwon Alexander, nonetheless free brokers. So, the core of the Jets protection returns with first-team All-Pros Quinnen Williams and Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner and second-team linebacker C.J. Mosley.
“Twelve years without the playoffs, not a Super Bowl win since Super Bowl III, it’s been a long time,” Rodgers stated. “So, the chance to be part of one thing particular right here, it’s completely different.
“It’s similar to Green Bay in that way when you win, in a city like Green Bay, where I assume for a team like the New York Jets, you go down in history and there’s something special about adding that to your legacy.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com