Jets vs. Patriots: Aaron Rodgers and offense looking to start faster
Aaron Rodgers of the Jets reacts during the second half against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on Sunday in Nashville. Credit: Getty Images/Justin Ford
Aaron Rodgers will feel all kinds of emotions when he leads the Jets offense onto the field to a deafening roar inside MetLife Stadium. Shortly thereafter, he hopes to feel the joy of leading a touchdown drive on that first series Thursday night.
For all the talk about the Jets offense getting off to a good start this season, Rodgers said they need to fix some things and get off to a better start in games, beginning with this clash against AFC East rival New England.
“It would be a boondoggle to keep doing the same thing over and over and expect different results,” Rodgers said. “We got to change a couple of things. We’ve got to get a little sharper. We’ve got to start faster. We’ve been starting really slow the first two weeks. We’ve got to start fast, put something together in the first 15 [plays] and give our defense the chance to play with the lead.”
Those first 15 plays are scripted, so you can believe Rodgers’ fingerprints will be all over what the Jets run against New England in their home opener.
Rodgers suggested the personnel grouping and play design on the Jets’ first touchdown in Tennessee on Sunday. Running backs Breece Hall and Braelon Allen were both in the game. Rodgers faked a pass to Hall, threw a screen to Allen and he scored.
Overall, the Jets (1-1) have run three plays or fewer on seven of 10 first-half possessions. They scored touchdowns on their third series in Week 1 and fourth one last game. By contrast, the Jets have four touchdowns and a field goal in 10 second-half series.
“We’ve just got to figure out what we’ve got to do in the first 15 to keep going and execute a little early,” Rodgers said. “I feel like once we get a first down, we’ve been pretty good. We’ve had too many three-and-outs so far.”
This will be Rodgers’ first game in what he calls “JetLife” Stadium since tearing his left Achilles tendon four snaps into last year’s opener. Rodgers, 40, expects to feel “a lot of emotions.”
It’s also the first time since 1999 that the Jets will face the Patriots coached by someone besides Bill Belichick. Jerod Mayo replaced Belichick and is using some of his same defensive principles.
The Jets are still growing offensively and getting some kinks out. They’re playing behind a new and much-improved offensive line and with Rodgers extensively for the first time. But the Jets have shown encouraging signs.
They’ve gotten in the end zone three times in each game. The Jets scored three TDs twice all of last season. The last time their offense generated at least three touchdowns in back-to-back games was Oct. 2 and 9, 2022. They haven’t scored three in three straight since 2019.
The Jets could become a defense’s nightmare when they get Garrett Wilson (10 catches, no touchdowns) going and Mike Williams (one reception) more involved.
“It’s a funny feeling in the sense that we recognize that we can be better, but we’re still scoring,” Robert Saleh said. “It’s back-to-back games with three touchdowns, which hasn’t happened here in a long time. And we’re still looking at it like, ‘Man, we got so much more in the tank.’
“At the end of the day, we’re looking at an offense that’s still trying to learn itself, find itself and it’s still able to generate scoring drives more so than most teams in this organization’s past.”
Rodgers and other Jets are impatient. They want this offense to click ASAP.
“I don’t even want to wait a few weeks,” tight end Tyler Conklin said. “I’m excited to see where this offense can be on Thursday on a short week. We have all the pieces. We have the ability to be a really, really, really, really good offense. That’s just on us to keep doing what we can do every day to become that.”
The difference maker is Rodgers. His ability to read defenses and change plays at the line of scrimmage is invaluable. Rodgers checked into an Allen run for the game-winning score in Tennessee.
Rodgers’ body is holding up in this rough opening stretch. The Jets will play their third game in 11 days. It’s a grind for anyone, especially the NFL’s oldest player.
“Testing the body for sure,” Rodgers said. “But we love to play, so shorter time between games is great. It’s definitely tough on the body, tough on the week. Easier for a guy who’s 20 than a guy who’s 40, but I’ll be ready to go Thursday night and look forward to three days off.”
Two-minute drill
Linebacker C.J. Mosley (toe) is officially questionable after not practicing this week. Jamien Sherwood would start if Mosley can’t play.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
