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 stated he was heading house to soak in a scorching tub, the place he little question would rehash in his thoughts one of the vital irritating video games of his profession.
“The climate sucked, however so did a few of my throws,” Rodgers stated 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 accordance 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 obtained stuff on each legs.”
He stated he’d be “OK” for his or her subsequent recreation, Sunday towards the Minnesota Vikings in London.
The Jets (2-2) have loads to scrub up between from time to time, 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 closing minute.
“It is unacceptable for us to lose this recreation immediately,” vast receiver Allen Lazard stated. “I imply, any time our protection is ready to maintain any workforce to 10 factors, we now have to have the ability to put up effectively greater than that.”
The Jets, in search of their finest four-game begin since 2015, talked concerning the significance of dealing with success. They have 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 situations, 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 accordance with Subsequent Gen Stats.
“We had some probabilities, however [we made] manner too many psychological errors, too many poor throws,” Rodgers stated. “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 virtually all the time wins when the opponent is held to 10 factors. Earlier than Sunday, he had received 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’ refined cadence, identified 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 adequate to deal with all of the cadence,” Saleh stated. “Cadence hadn’t been a problem. All camp I felt like our operation had been working fairly good.”
In actual fact, the Jets had just one false begin within the first three video games.
Clearly, Rodgers does not imagine his cadence — certainly one of his hallmarks — is the issue.
“That is one approach to do it,” he stated, commenting on whether or not it might assist to simplify his cadence. “The opposite manner is maintain them accountable. We’ve not had a problem.
“It has been a weapon. We use it day by day in follow. We hardly ever have a false begin, then immediately we now have 5 — 4 or 5. It looks as if an outlier. I do not know if we now have to make huge adjustments based mostly on an outlier recreation.”
The Jets produce other points, resembling getting operating again Breece Corridor and vast receiver Garrett Wilson on monitor. They’re off to sluggish begins, and Sunday they mixed for less than 59 yards on 17 touches. For Corridor, it was the worst statistical recreation of his profession — 10 carries for less than 4 yards. He additionally dedicated two false begins.
“I want I might inform you, bro,” Corridor stated, attempting to elucidate his begin — solely 174 dashing yards and a 3.1-yard common. “Everyone, my teammates, understand how 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 recreation, 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 cross that might’ve spark their rally.
“Simply not on the identical web page” on that play, Rodgers stated.
