EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — An admittedly “banged up” Aaron Rodgers walked gingerly to the interview podium, feeling the results of 14 quarterback hits. The 40-year-old New York Jets star mentioned he was heading residence to soak in a sizzling tub, the place he little question would rehash in his thoughts one of the irritating video games of his profession.
“The climate sucked, however so did a few of my throws,” Rodgers mentioned Sunday after the Jets’ 10-9 loss to the Denver Broncos at a soggy MetLife Stadium.
This marked solely the fifth time in Rodgers’ 20-year profession that his offense failed to attain a landing, in line with ESPN Analysis — and he did not end two of these video games due to harm. He accomplished this one, though he was clearly hobbled after a fourth-quarter sack.
Trainers checked out his left leg on the sideline, the identical leg that endured a torn Achilles within the 2023 opener. He declined to specify what was ailing him, saying, “I’ve acquired stuff on each legs.”
He mentioned he’d be “OK” for his or her subsequent sport, Sunday towards the Minnesota Vikings in London.
The Jets (2-2) have quite a bit to scrub up between every now and then, particularly on offense, which allowed 5 sacks and dedicated 9 of the workforce’s 13 penalties — together with 5 false begins.
The low level got here within the first half, after they needed to accept a subject aim after having a first-and-goal from the 1. They tried to go for it on fourth down, however a false begin by left guard John Simpson pressured coach Robert Saleh to ship in kicker Greg Zuerlein, who later missed the potential game-winner from 50 yards within the remaining minute.
“It is unacceptable for us to lose this sport as we speak,” huge receiver Allen Lazard mentioned. “I imply, any time our protection is ready to maintain any workforce to 10 factors, we have now to have the ability to put up effectively greater than that.”
The Jets, in search of their greatest four-game begin since 2015, talked in regards to the significance of dealing with success. They had been favored by eight factors over the Broncos (2-2); the Jets hadn’t been favored by that a lot since 2011. Suffice to say, they did not reply effectively within the wet circumstances, which affected each passing assaults.
Rodgers (24-for-42, 225 yards) was beneath duress and appeared pissed off at occasions, because the Jets had no solutions for the Denver blitz. 4 of their 5 sacks got here after they despatched 5 or extra rushers, in line with Subsequent Gen Stats.
“We had some possibilities, however [we made] means too many psychological errors, too many poor throws,” Rodgers mentioned. “We simply missed some simple stuff — some safety stuff that ought to’ve been simple and a few route-adjustment stuff that ought to’ve been simple. I do not know, our focus simply wasn’t as sharp as the primary few weeks.”
Rodgers nearly at all times wins when the opponent is held to 10 factors. Earlier than Sunday, he had gained 22 straight begins when the opponent scored 10 factors or fewer, which was the longest energetic streak within the NFL. For his profession, he is 33-2 in that scenario, together with playoffs.
Saleh lamented the pre-snap penalties, a previous bugaboo for the Jets, who led the league in false begins final season. He questioned aloud if Rodgers’ subtle cadence, recognized for drawing defenses offsides and leading to free performs, is correct for the Jets.
“We’ve got to determine it out, whether or not or not we’re ok to deal with all of the cadence,” Saleh mentioned. “Cadence hadn’t been a difficulty. All camp I felt like our operation had been working fairly good.”
The truth is, the Jets had just one false begin within the first three video games.
Clearly, Rodgers does not imagine his cadence — one in every of his hallmarks — is the issue.
“That is one solution to do it,” he mentioned, commenting on whether or not it could assist to simplify his cadence. “The opposite means is maintain them accountable. We’ve not had a difficulty.
“It has been a weapon. We use it day by day in apply. We not often have a false begin, then as we speak we have now 5 — 4 or 5. It looks like an outlier. I do not know if we have now to make large adjustments based mostly on an outlier sport.”
The Jets produce other points, akin to getting working again Breece Corridor and huge receiver Garrett Wilson on observe. They’re off to sluggish begins, and Sunday they mixed for under 59 yards on 17 touches. For Corridor, it was the worst statistical sport of his profession — 10 carries for under 4 yards. He additionally dedicated two false begins.
“I want I might let you know, bro,” Corridor mentioned, attempting to clarify his begin — solely 174 speeding yards and a 3.1-yard common. “Everyone, my teammates, know the way a lot I put into it, and I understand how a lot they put into it as effectively.”
Wilson (5 catches for 41 yards) has but to crack the 60-yard mark in any sport, and it is apparent that he and Rodgers nonetheless are working by way of some chemistry points. There was a blatant miscommunication on a fourth-quarter go that might’ve spark their rally.
“Simply not on the identical web page” on that play, Rodgers mentioned.
