This episode features a look into the Jets 2023 season following QB Aaron Rodgers' Achilles tendon injury -- after just four offensive plays -- in the Week 1 game against the Buffalo Bills. Guest co-host: Nigel Anderson, fellow long-time Jets fan.
34:08
Segment 1: 0:40 Aaron Rodgers is lost for the season after being sacked. Reminiscent of QB Vinny Testaverde's Achille's tendon tear on a non-contact injury during the first game of the 1999 season. The team had Super Bowl aspirations after reaching the AFC Championship Game in Denver. At least the Jets won the game against Buffalo last week. The much-discussed fears of the offensive line's issues came true very quickly. Bills QB Josh Allen's four turnovers were critical in the loss.
Segment 2: 3:30, 6 Observations from Week 1 OT Win Vs. the Bills.
- Jets appear to be a pretty good team. Sample size of one game. Defense played very well. Lots of positives, including strong running game (170+ yards) and come-from-behind win against a tough divisional opponent with Super Bowl aspirations. Negative: 117 net passing yards...will be hard to win games with that level of production.
- RB Breece Hall had a triumphant comeback following off-season knee surgery and looked phenomenal. Career high 127 yards. First touch: a 20+ yard run on the Jets' first offensive play. Also had an 83 yard scamper. Having Dalvin Cook as part of a strong 1-2 RB punch will be critical as the team will rely on the ground game with Wilson under center.
- Looks like the Jets found a gem in undrafted free agent Xavier Gipson, who scored on the game's winning play: a long punt return for a TD in OT after the Jets D forced the Bills' 3 and out.
- Offensive line still a huge concern, especially against the Cowboys strong pash rush (Week 2 matchup). Question: why not bring in another veteran OT or 2 in addition to the draft?
- Zach Wilson was named the starting QB by Coach Robert Saleh. "This is Zach's team." There will be no QB competition. Jets fans likely disagree with that approach. The team needs to bring in a competent NFL QB ASAP. We discuss potential QB options.
- Key to Jets' success: the development of Coach Saleh and his in-game management. Did he make the right call to kick a FG late in the game vs. Buffalo instead of going for a TD after Allen's fumble inside the Bills 30?
Segment 3: 24:30, Giants at Arizona, Week 2 matchup. "Get right" game for the Jints after getting blown out by Dallas 40-0 in their home opener. Must game given the Giants are at San Francisco in Week 3. The Niners looked great in dominating Pittsburgh in Week 1. Nigel: SF will go to the Super Bowl.
Segment 4: 26:08, "The Phil Rotondi Rule" (hypothesis while at Brooklyn College years ago): NFL teams can't win the Super Bowl if they get shut out or give up 40 points or more on defense. Nigel: quarterbacks that don't play at least 25 games in college tend to not excel in the NFL.
Segment 5: 30:05, Already in the Post-Rodgers Portion of the 2023 Season. Questions of what could have been. Will he rehab and come back, or retire? The expectation: Rodgers will not "limp into retirement" and will play again for the Jets. Only thing we know for sure: the Jets will send a second round pick, not a first, to Green Bay to complete the Rodgers trade because Rodgers will not play at least 65% of the offensive snaps. Another brutal night for Jets fans. Zach Wilson needs to up his game. Jet management's plan to start Wilson after Rodgers' retirement moves up a season or two or three. Here's to hoping all of the coaching and mentoring of Wilson by Rodgers over the summer will make a major difference in the QB's play and approach. It's a long season.
Audio production: Nicky Wetherell
