After snapping off seven wins in 2023 with a woebegone Zach Wilson at quarterback, logic suggested Aaron Rodgers didn’t have to be much more than average to push the New York Jets into the AFC playoff hunt. A dominant defense, revamped offensive line and the combination of Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson appeared capable of carrying this team to wins even if the upgrade behind center was limited to mediocrity.
Mediocrity is what the Jets got out of Rodgers in his Week 1 debut. It led to a 32-19 loss against the San Francisco 49ers that wasn’t as close as the final score indicates. The four-time MVP completed 13 of 21 passes for 167 yards, one touchdown and an interception before giving way to backup Tyrod Taylor in the waning moments of a lost game.
Let’s talk about what went wrong for the Jets and whether they can be fixed, and fast.
Aaron Rodgers didn’t look like AARON RODGERS long enough
Rodgers had a few throwback moments. He connected with Lazard like it was 2021 in Green Bay once more, drawing the Niners offside and then hitting his huckleberry wideout in stride for a 34-yard touchdown.
That’s 18 career touchdowns off a free play for @AaronRodgers12 🔥
📺: #NYJvsSF on ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus and ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/iV1pRjioij— NFL (@NFL) September 10, 2024
He was, for the most part, better than Zach Wilson. This may not be something that needs to be said, but it does feel necessary to qualify just how low the bar is here.
But he also looked like a quarterback trying to force plays that came easily when he was still in his 30s and didn’t have a surgically repaired Achilles. Rodgers has long depended on two things that made him impossible to plan against. He has an almost preternatural sense for pressure and how to escape it with nimble feet. He also has the arm strength to throw a football through a cubic meter of Jell-O.
As you might expect from a man who came into the world the same year Plinko became a Price is Right game, those gifts are fading.
oh those wheels aren't quite hitting like they used to pic.twitter.com/vCGMz3e8g3
— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) September 10, 2024
Here, Rodgers feels pressure and rolls back and to his left. He briefly creates space to extend the play. The old Rodgers would have found enough room to plant his feet and fire a shot downfield. But this version doesn’t have that same speed. Two San Francisco defenders close quickly and his pass gets spiked to the ground.
Rodgers’ third quarter interception showed off the other half of that equation.
the read is right, the instinct to step up in the pocket is there, and the pass just doesn't get where it needs to be, allowing Lenoir to close the distance and create the INT pic.twitter.com/PorqMm20e6
— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) September 10, 2024
He recognizes the pressure and the correct read. He steps up in the pocket and doesn’t let the pass rush delay his timing. Garrett Wilson is open, and Rodgers wants to put a laser beam on his chest. But the ball doesn’t have that zip. It doesn’t hit Wilson in stride. It hangs just long enough for Deommodore Lenoir to recover, bat it in the air and create a turnover.
Rodgers eventually figured out his offense, but it was in the final 20 minutes of a two-possession game before being relieved by Taylor. Was he finally warmed up after a year on the sideline? Or inflating his game against the denser air of a less inspired defense?
If it’s the first, will it matter given the lack of help around him?
The playmaking depth was indeed an issue
Despite Hall and Wilson’s ascendant status, concerns lingered about a receiving corps whose lack of depth would force guys like Lazard and Xavier Gipson into significant roles. Turns out, these worries were valid.
Through 42 minutes of game time, Hall and Wilson were responsible for 106 yards of total offense. The rest of the Jets’ skill players combined for -1 yard.
New York’s offense came back online late in the third quarter, but by then San Francisco had taken a 26-7 lead. The 49ers had effectively taken Hall out of the gameplan after a first quarter touchdown and kept Wilson from escaping downfield. This was effectively daring the rest of the Jets to come beat them and, while Lazard’s touchdown catch *was* nice, it wasn’t nearly enough.
This won’t be the same problem every week since the 49ers have a very good defense, but it will be a problem to some degree. But it’s not the worst thing New York has to worry about.
The defense was downright placid
The Jets finished 2023 ranked third in both yards and expected points added allowed despite the constant burden of a diminishing time of possession thanks to the aforementioned Wilson offense. There was minor turnover, but free agent additions and draft picks left New York loaded with a mix of young and veteran talent capable of carrying this team.
But when San Francisco jumped out to an early lead it never gave up, it wasn’t Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel or George Kittle hurting the Jets the worst. It was Christian McCaffrey backup Jordan Mason.
It’s your night Jordan Mason #FTTB
📺: #NYJvsSF on ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus and ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/4IRdbxk2xE— NFL (@NFL) September 10, 2024
Mason ran for 147 yards and a touchdown. He touched the ball 29 total times, making up 44 percent of the Niners offense. The Jets knew who was getting the first look each drive, yet remained powerless to stop the latest link in the 49ers’ chain of turning late-round/undrafted running backs who become vampire slayers under Kyle Shanahan.
It could have been worse. San Francisco racked up three drives of 70-plus yards. It rolled inside the Jets’ 35-yard line eight times and into the red zone five times. There’s credit due here for coming together with their backs against the walls, but the fact of the matter is this defense was one dropped Brandon Aiyuk touchdown away from giving up 36 points on opening night.
There are caveats. Sauce Gardner missed a big chunk of the game for reasons that didn’t appear injury related but were unclear on the broadcast. Haason Reddick, who was supposed to replace the edge rushing presence of Bryce Huff, is holding out. This still doesn’t explain how Mason consistently found lanes or how guys like Kyle Jusczcyk and Jauan Jennings broke free for clutch pickups in big situations.
The schedule won’t always have a defending conference champion on it. A revamped offensive line will gel together. The defense will generate the chaos it failed to create in Week 1. Rodgers sill sputter back to life. These are all reasons to be optimistic
But better play than Monday night is no guarantee New York will stick around the playoff race in a powerful AFC. None of the Jets’ high powered engines were capable of flying them through a storm in Santa Clara. And while they can remain in the air if only one of those two is operating at full capacity, they’ll need Rodgers and his defense at full force if anyone’s going to take them seriously as a Super Bowl threat.
