When the NFL launched the schedule for all 32 teams closing Thursday, many observed that the Jets have been dealt a horrible hand.
Gang Inexperienced will play three playoff teams throughout the first weeks of the season, with all of them on the very least making it to the divisional spherical closing 12 months.
Robust luck. Now get well from it.
It’s time to position up and shut up for the Jets, as a result of the schedule is the schedule. The Jets will play 9 video video games in direction of teams that made the playoffs in 2022. Gang Inexperienced has the sixth-toughest schedule throughout the NFL, as its opponents combined for a .545 worthwhile proportion in 2022.
The Jets made a seismic switch this offseason after shopping for Aaron Rodgers in a commerce with the Packers. Groups solely make that switch within the occasion that they actually really feel they’re close to worthwhile a championship or turning right into a contender. After closing season, it’s understandable why the Jets actually really feel like they’re close to doing one factor distinctive contained in the group.
In the course of the 2022 season filled with rollercoasters, the Jets somehow accomplished 7-10 behind inept quarterback play and an absence of consistency from the place. Nevertheless, at one time, the Jets have been 7-4 coming into the month of December, nevertheless they misplaced six consecutive video video games to complete the season.
Gang Inexperienced had 4 utterly completely different starting quarterbacks beneath coronary heart closing season [Zach Wilson, Joe Flacco, Mike White, Chris Streveler]. This season that acquired’t be a difficulty for the Jets, as Rodgers affords them the simplest quarterback they’ve had in over a decade.
In merely his temporary time with the Jets, Rodgers has already modified the workforce’s line of contemplating. A 12 months prior to now, no person thought the Jets had a chance even to get shut to creating the playoffs. Now with Rodgers, the Jets would possibly win the AFC East and host a playoff recreation for the first time since 2002.
“He’s a really good particular person, very deep and really considerate,” Jets coach Robert Saleh said about Rodgers all through rookie minicamp. I was certainly not nervous about whether or not or not or not he was going to be proper right here.
“I always felt like if he did want to be proper right here, he was going to be proper right here, if he decided to be a Jet on account of he’s so aggressive and he does understand that he has to get acclimated to the model new setting up, he’ll must get the receivers acclimated to him and he’ll must get the verbiage in and help get everybody on the similar net web page.
“In my thoughts, you simply see a hearth within the man’s eye whenever you’re sitting and speaking to him, he’s going to do all the things. He’s coming to win, and you’ll simply really feel it in his voice, you possibly can see it in his eyes and the best way he’s going about his enterprise.”
If the Jets are practically pretty much as good as a result of the NFL league workplaces take into account they’re going to be, the schedule shouldn’t matter. Positive, the early course of is daunting as a result of the Jets will begin the season on “Monday Night time Soccer” at residence in direction of the Payments sooner than having fun with on the Cowboys and residential in direction of the Patriots and Chiefs to begin out the 12 months.
However no person said the road to the best of the AFC might be simple as a result of the Chiefs, Bengals, Payments, and now the Jaguars anticipate to concern into the playoff race. The Ravens, Dolphins, and Chargers may additionally compete for a seat on the playoff desk.
The Dolphins (second) and Patriots (third) even have two of in all probability probably the most rigid schedules throughout the league. The Chiefs and Payments have carried out first-place schedules the last few seasons.
When the Buccaneers signed Tom Brady in 2020, they instantly gained a aim on their backs. It’s no utterly completely different with the Jets and Rodgers with the entire extreme expectations.
Former wrestler Ric Aptitude always said it best to be the individual, You’ve gotta beat the individual. Rodgers and the Jets can have that likelihood after they play every the Chiefs (Week 4) and Eagles (Week 6).
By his necessities, 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, via which Rodgers averaged 4,207 yards, 42.5 touchdowns and 4.5 interceptions.
“I’m not exhibiting as much as be a part of a workforce that I believe is OK,” Rodgers said closing month. “Clearly, the workforce has various gadgets in place, rookies of the 12 months on both sides of the ball, really steady safety, good scheme, thought of certainly one of my favorite offensive minds I’ve ever been spherical [Nathaniel Hackett].
“I take into account in his system, stud working once more, stud receiver, depth throughout the receiver room and tight end. I merely need to slot in and do my job. That being said, I said it sooner than, yearly, there’s a handful of teams who can win it. Most folk don’t say that out loud, nevertheless actually, there are anyplace from eight to 12 teams who can actually do it, and I take into account we’re a sort of teams.
The Jets’ success in 2023 will doable come proper all the way down to how their safety performs. A season prior to now, Gang Inexperienced accomplished fourth in yards and components allowed per recreation.
Some naysayers have said the Jets safety beat up on backup quarterbacks all yr lengthy, as 4 of their seven wins acquired right here in direction of non-starting quarterbacks. Nevertheless, the Jets safety carried out properly in video video games in direction of Rodgers when he was with the Packers and Josh Allen in every conferences in direction of the Payments.
Eight of the Jets starters return this season, with Sheldon Rankins signing with the Texans, safety Lamarcus Joyner and linebacker Kwon Alexander, nonetheless free brokers. So, the core of the Jets safety returns with first-team All-Professionals Quinnen Williams and Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner and second-team linebacker C.J. Mosley.
“Twelve years with out the playoffs, not a Tremendous Bowl win since Tremendous Bowl III, it’s been a very long time,” Rodgers said. “So, the possibility to be a part of one factor specific proper right here, it’s utterly completely different.
“It’s just like Inexperienced Bay in that manner whenever you win, in a metropolis like Inexperienced Bay, the place I assume for a workforce just like the New York Jets, you go down in historical past and there’s one thing particular about including that to your legacy.”
()
