On Sunday, the Patriots snapped a six-game losing streak with a 25-22 win over the New York Jets, pushing New England’s much-hyped AFC East rival to 2-6 on the season.
New York entered the season with sky-high expectations, as the franchise was finally getting a healthy Aaron Rodgers, who suffered an Achilles injury four plays into their season opener in 2023, ending his debut season at MetLife before it even got started.
With a roster full of high draft picks that have mostly panned out to be Pro Bowl level players, pundits believed the addition of Rodgers would vault this team into an elite tier, with many picking the Jets to win the division for the first time since 2002.
Instead, as we head into Week 8, New York is one of eight teams with two wins on the year, and is currently slated to pick fourth in next spring’s NFL Draft.
Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback Ty Law spoke about his former team on Tuesday’s edition of The Greg Hill Show.
“There were significant moments where Aaron Rodgers was making mental errors,” said WEEI’s Greg Hill. “When it came to delay of games, and not being able to figure it out on the two-point conversion, and didn’t like what he saw, or whatever his excuse is.
“Did that surprise you, about Aaron Rodgers?” Greg asked the one-time Jet (2005).
“It does, because he’s been, you know, such a great quarterback for so long,” said Law. “That just let’s you know that the team and the organization right now is against the ropes. And not even the great Aaron Rodgers can fix it.
“From what we’re looking at right now, it’s a colossal failure with, you know, the addition of Aaron Rodgers. Which no one thought that because he’s that elite of a quarterback, he’s that great a player over a period of time, and, you know, a sure-fire first ballot hall of famer. But this is not working.”
Law went on to question what the next steps are for this New York franchise, as they have an offseason “to do” list that grows by the day.
“It’s gonna be interesting to see what they do, you know, moving on,” said Law. “[Rodgers] is gonna be there, but next year will he be there? What’s he gonna do with the head coach?
“I mean, they’re all over the place in New York, so I’m glad that New England, as far as a rebuilding team - you know, a young team considering, young head coach, got to beat Aaron Rodgers. So that’s good for the morale.”
WEEI’s Chris Curtis followed this answer up with Law, asking if he thinks Rodgers’ career, even with the personal accolades, is ultimately an underachievement, as the four-time NFL MVP has only reached the Super Bowl once in his 20-year career.
“Well, he got to it and won,” said Law. “I mean, you think about some of the all-time greats that are in the Hall of Fame that can’t say that, you know? Dan Marino being one of them. I mean, at one time, he was the pinnacle at the quarterback position, and he only had - he has no Super Bowls. He went to one and didn’t win.
“So at least Aaron Rodgers, you know, can call himself a champion at the end of the day. But when you say, ‘Hall of famer, this many Pro Bowls,’ you’re gonna see ‘champion’ with Aaron Rodgers, so you gotta give him credit. But as far as the conversation, as far as being, you know, one of, like, the G.O.A.T. or, you know, that conversation was coming up before because of his talent - he’s not on that list anymore.
“I mean, he’s gonna be one of the G.O.A.T.s as a hall of famer, but like the G.O.A.T., as far as his talent, you know, that is unless he can manage to play 10 more years, which I doubt, he’s out of that conversation.”
If Rodgers and the Jets are going to turn this thing around, it’s going to be done on the fly, as they’re on short rest heading into Week 9 as they play host to the Houston Texans on Thursday Night Football.
Houston is 6-2 on the season, and among the best teams in the NFL. Their offense has dealt with injuries all season long, yet continues to find a way to win on the strength of a strong pass rush and elite second-year quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Regardless of Thursday’s outcome, a true inflection point is on the horizon for this franchise and quarterback.