BT wondered if the Jets needed a recalibration of expectations after the first two games of the season, particularly with the defense looking like it had taken a step back from the year before, and Aaron Rodgers not showing the same mobility he had before his Achilles surgery.
Thursday night’s dismantling of the Patriots swayed those expectations back in the other direction, as Rodgers’ mobility seemed to be all the way back, the defense owned the line of scrimmage, and the offense looked like a machine with Rodgers leading the way.
“Because of Aaron Rodgers…the fact that he was moving around and looks so spry, to me, the Jets ceiling elevated last night,” BT said. “Optically, how many times have you sat down as a Jets fan, and it’s the exact opposite script? You barely possess the ball, the opponent doubles you up in yardage…the Jets looked like a well-oiled, precise, talented, well-coached team.”
BT sees a version of Rodgers that will continue to extend the play and find home run throws for big-chunk plays, a backfield tandem with Breece Hall and Braelon Allen that will wear defensive fronts down, and a wide receiver group that is proving to be deeper than anticipated with Allen Lazard’s bounceback performance through three games, and the continued improvements of Mike Williams. All told, as long as Rodgers is on the field, the Jets can dream big once again.
“Each game, they’ve gotten better, and you’re really starting to see how diverse they are,” BT said. “They’ve got this eclectic, dynamic backfield, Rodgers looks like Rodgers, and Mike Williams is getting more involved. And Rodgers and Garrett Wilson, they’re not even clicking yet.
“If the Jets can keep Rodgers healthy, they can go to the Super Bowl.”