Aaron Rodgers deserves extra blame for damaged Jets offense

LONDON – The Jets dropped their second straight sport Sunday, falling 23-17 to the Vikings. Listed here are some ideas and observations from the sport:

1. The Jets’ offense wants some juice. It has been far too predictable and conservative via the primary 5 video games. This falls on offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett and quarterback Aaron Rodgers. They should get within the lab and discover methods to stretch the sector, break tendencies and create some explosive performs.

The tendency across the Jets proper now could be accountable Hackett when issues go improper and reward Rodgers when issues go proper. However that isn’t truthful. They’re a package deal deal and each of them share blame for the blah nature of the Jets offense proper now.

Rodgers seems like he’s afraid to take deep pictures. Rodgers is averaging 6.0 yards per try. The one beginning quarterbacks decrease than him are Bo Nix, Jacoby Brissett, Deshaun Watson and Bryce Younger. That could be a group of youth and beneath common quarterback play and an inventory of names you wouldn’t look forward to finding Rodgers on. However Rodgers seems timid. Maybe he’s afraid to throw interceptions, though that didn’t assist Sunday or perhaps he’s nonetheless working his means again in that regard. No matter it’s, the Jets have to get Rodgers to stretch the sector.

The Broncos and Vikings have proven the Jets don’t deal with the blitz properly. The Jets have to again defenses off with the specter of deep pictures. The NFL is a league of explosives. Proper now the Jets seem like a moist firecracker.

2. So, as unhealthy as these final two losses have felt for the Jets, a test of the standings present that they haven’t misplaced a lot floor. In the event that they win Monday night time towards the Payments, they are going to be tied atop the AFC East. They’re at the moment one sport out of an AFC wild card spot, too.

That is proof that it’s too early to actually fear concerning the standings. The Payments have misplaced two video games in a row, too, and don’t look a group that’s going to have the ability to run away and conceal within the division.

I’m positive there shall be loads of doom and gloom across the Jets this week, however everybody ought to bear in mind it’s a lengthy, lengthy season and nobody makes the playoffs after 5 weeks.

3. The 2022 draft class reworked the Jets and gave them a younger core that they really feel like they will construct round for the long run. However they’ve been underwhelming up to now in 2024. The Jets desperately want Sauce Gardner, Garrett Wilson and Breece Corridor to make some performs.

Gardner is doing properly in protection. That isn’t the difficulty. He simply by no means makes any game-changing performs. He had an opportunity at an interception in the long run zone Sunday and couldn’t provide you with it. The Jets want Gardner to reap the benefits of when the offense does goal him and provide you with a decide. It’s superb that Brandin Echols, a backup, has the Jets’ solely two interceptions this season. Gardner has two profession interceptions and each got here in his rookie yr. You must return to Nov. 6, 2022 towards the Payments for Gardner’s final interception.

Wilson had his best game of the season Sunday with 13 catches for 101 yards and a landing. He simply just isn’t making huge performs. This additionally goes together with merchandise No. 1 right here that Rodgers just isn’t actually stretching the sector. His longest catch Sunday was for 16 yards and his lengthy for the season is 26. Wilson had an opportunity for an enormous play on the Jets’ ultimate drive however Rodgers overthrew him.

Corridor has not been in a position to get something going within the final two weeks. He was shut down once more Sunday and he has not had the breakaway runs we’ve gotten used to seeing from him in his profession. He did have a 30-yard run in Tennnesee and a protracted catch however he’s been actually quiet this yr. The offensive line has not opened holes for him however he has proven up to now that he could make one thing out of nothing.

The ultimate notable member of that 2022 class is Jermaine Johnson, who tore his Achilles in Week 2 and is out for the yr. The Jets’ line of defense misses him.

4. All eyes now go to Davante Adams. Commerce talks are anticipated to warmth up over the subsequent few days and we’ll see if the Raiders transfer him. I perceive the argument for buying and selling for Adams. After watching Allen Lazard drop three passes on Sunday, there isn’t a doubt that Adams can be an improve. I’m simply unsure he solves what the Jets points really are proper now. They should get higher at working the ball and stretching the sector. They aren’t holding defenses trustworthy. Adams is an exceptional route runner however at 31 years outdated, is he going to be a deep menace?

I’d proceed with warning if I had been GM Joe Douglas. It might all come right down to what the Raiders are prepared to commerce him for. I can’t see the Jets giving up a second-round decide, the reported value, for Adams. But when the worth begins sinking it could be too tempting for the Jets to move up and you realize Rodgers is in Douglas’ ear telling him to make the transfer.

Revealing stat

This was the sixth time in Aaron Rodgers’ profession that he threw three interceptions. Rodgers had a stretch between 2009-17 the place he didn’t have any video games with three interceptions. Three of the video games got here in his first two years as a beginning quarterback. He final did it earlier than Sunday in 2022.

Shocking snap rely

Rookie broad receiver Malachi Corley was inactive after enjoying zero snaps final week. You’ll suppose Corley might discover a function with particular groups and as a gadget participant.

Recreation ball

I do know he received known as for 2 penalties, one which was ridiculous, however I assumed D.J. Reed performed an exceptional sport. Reed was robust in protection on Justin Jefferson and everybody else. Reed has been enjoying at a excessive stage for the previous couple of weeks.