There was only one bad game for the New York Jets. Then the chaos began.
This week I heard Aaron Rodgers say in the media that maybe head coach Robert Saleh should put the blame on his players. Garrett Wilson has spoken publicly about the lack of creativity in the Jets’ offense, an obvious criticism of offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett.
Everything seemed to be going well for the Jets after the first three games. A week later, the Jets are preparing for a Sunday game at 9:30 a.m. ET against the 4-0 Minnesota Vikings, which can be streamed live on NFL+, but all I feel like it’s falling apart.
This is how the NFL works, with 17 one-game seasons for each team and the ensuing overreaction. But if you’re the Jets and Rodgers is your quarterback, the drama gets even more intense.
Jets take a big step back
The Jets’ performance last week was poor. The offensive line struggled against the Denver Broncos, losing 10-9. New York failed to score a touchdown. Rodgers missed the throw when he wasn’t being hit. On a crucial fourth-and-10 in the final two minutes, Breece Hall completely whiffed on a blocking assignment and Rodgers was crushed. It was a fitting capper for a game in which Hall gained 4 yards on 10 carries. Wilson had a quiet day with 41 yards and was taken completely out of the game by Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II.
And in the end, there was a chance to pull off an ugly victory when Greg Zuerlein attempted a 50-yard field goal that missed to the right.
It was raining and the Broncos’ defense is playing well, but if the Jets want to be one of the best teams in the NFL, they can’t afford a loss like that. If you look back at the Jets’ season, there was one time they played well, but it was against a Patriots team that might be the worst in the league. And it arrived at my house on Thursday night. They were crushed in the opening game by the San Francisco 49ers, won a game against the Tennessee Titans (although they didn’t play great), and were terrible at home against the Broncos.
Aaron Rodgers and the Jets are coming off a miserable loss to the Broncos. (AP Photo/Brian Woolston)
And now the Jets head to another country for four weeks to play the hottest team in the NFL with the best defense in the league. Certainly, even if the Jets lost again, they would respond calmly and cautiously.
Vikings are off to a great start.
The Vikings were perhaps the NFL’s biggest surprise. They are the team the Jets wanted.
Minnesota is playing well on both sides of the ball. Brian Flores’ defense is outstanding, confusing some of the NFL’s best quarterbacks with his versatile looks. According to TruMedia, Minnesota’s defense leads the NFL in EPA (expected points added) through four weeks. Sam Darnold is playing at an MVP level, albeit in a limited sample size. He has an NFL-leading passer rating of 118.9. The Vikings have smashed the 49ers, Texans, and Packers, giving them some of the best quality wins in the league. No team has played better through four weeks of the season.
When the schedule was released, the consensus was that the Vikings would be the last-place team in the NFC North. It looked like the Jets would be the heavy favorites in London. The Vikings are currently projected to win. A lot has changed in one month.
The Jets’ schedule isn’t going to be easy either. After London, three of the next four games will be against Buffalo and at Pittsburgh against Houston. New York could be in dire straits by November. If the Jets can’t find a way to beat the Vikings, one of the best teams in the NFL, it will be a long flight home, which could prompt at least one big move.