Analysis
11/13/23
6 min read
Not Even Aaron Rodgers Can Save New York Jets' 2023 Season
Things are getting bleak for the New York Jets.
After a 4-3 start, there was some belief that the Jets could hang around long enough to make a potential playoff push. And as long as they were in the playoff hunt by the time Christmas rolled around, it would leave the door open for Aaron Rodgers to return to the field. Unfortunately, things are starting to spiral at a rapid rate.
The Jets have dropped back-to-back games and sit at 4-5 after Week 10. That is a tough spot with games against the Buffalo Bills (in Buffalo) and the Miami Dolphins up on their schedule. They have some easier games left on the schedule, but as we saw in Week 10, nothing is a layup for the Jets.
Offense Can't Get Off the Ground
The Jets did not score an offensive touchdown for the second straight game. Their offense has scored a touchdown once in their past three contests. Zach Wilson deserves much blame, but this team might not be that good.
The defense is outstanding and gives the Jets a chance in every game, but the offense's overall talent level is alarming.
Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall are outstanding young players. But after them, no one else can be relied upon to carry the offense. Allen Lazard is the No. 2 receiver and has not surpassed 50 yards in a game since Week 4. They have no reliable tight end, and the run game has been hit-or-miss. The offensive line has suffered many injuries, and Zach Wilson's mobility has allowed that unit to survive at times. Then again, Wilson's lack of awareness in the pocket can make the unit look worse than they are in some instances.
The Tipping Point
The loss on Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders might have been the tipping point of their season. Facing a fourth-round rookie quarterback making his third NFL start, the Jets were unable to win. The Jets held the Raiders to 274 total yards and forced two turnovers. They surrendered only 16 points, which should be enough to win most games. But once again, the offense failed to do its job.
The most discouraging part of the game for the Jets was that Zach Wilson didn't play awful. He made several big plays through the air and even added 50 yards on the ground with his legs. The game's most significant sequence came in the second quarter. It appeared that Wilson scored a rushing touchdown that would put the Jets up 13-3, but the replay showed that he stepped out at the 3-yard line.
Stepped out at the 3, but Zach Wilson used his legs to get near the end zone 💨
📺: #NYJvsLV on NBC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/lfCP1NFAnO pic.twitter.com/DZKQE2yZvd— NFL (@NFL) November 13, 2023
On the next play, Hall scored on a run, only to have it called back due to a holding penalty. After several unsuccessful runs, the Jets settled for a 30-yard field goal. That four-point sequence cost them the game, and it's a microcosm of their season. Even when Wilson plays well, someone always makes a mistake that costs them.
Tiny Mistakes Hurt a Ton
Another example happened early in the fourth quarter. Wilson had back-to-back big throws to get the ball inside the Raiders' 30. On first and 10 from the 28, Nathaniel Hackett called a double-pass that set up perfectly. Lazard was streaking wide open down the sideline, but Garrett Wilson didn’t set his feet and threw the ball out of bounds.
Garrett Wilson: not a quarterback pic.twitter.com/njXINTx6rH
— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) November 13, 2023
Two plays later, the Jets kicked a field goal.
Those small mistakes hold the Jets back from being a good team. They are a penalty machine (eight for 83 in Week 10) and have not proven that they can overcome turnovers on offense. Zach Wilson is struggling but isn't the only one to blame. The team is starting to press, resulting in bad football over the last month.
Here is where we stand after the Sunday slate of games. The Jets are 4-5 and are the No. 13 seed in the AFC with no tiebreakers against the Los Angeles Chargers and Raiders. With just four wins, the Jets likely need to go 6-2 the rest of the way to make the postseason. Considering the state of their offense, that doesn't feel very likely.
According to the New York Times NFL Playoff Simulator, the Jets have just an eight percent chance of making the postseason after their loss to the Raiders. And if they were to lose against the Bills in Week 11, that would cut their odds in half. The same is true for their matchup against the Dolphins in Week 12.
Rodgers' Return Won't Be Enough
Rodgers would love to return to the field in December and lead this team to the playoffs. He's hoping to get a chance to save the season and help the Jets make a postseason run. But Rodgers isn't saving these Jets. It's not just because they aren't a good team. But by the time Rodgers is theoretically ready to play, the Jets might already be out of the playoff picture in the AFC.
It's easy to blame this lost season on Rodgers' injury. It's the most convenient thing to do. But the Jets have had plenty of chances to be competitive this season, especially considering how well the defense has played.
However, the Jets needed to be proactive in replacing Rodgers after Week 1 and failed to do so. Meanwhile, a team like the Minnesota Vikings, who have lost Kirk Cousins for the season due to the same injury, grabbed Joshua Dobbs and won back-to-back games. Despite several significant injuries, the Vikings are playing good football and have a chance to return to the postseason.
Looking Ahead
The unwavering loyalty from the Jets to Zach Wilson will likely cost Rodgers the chance to return this season. They had plenty of time to bring in some competition for Wilson but failed to do so at every turn. He isn’t the sole reason they are losing these games, but he certainly hasn’t been good enough to help them win. Now, his team is destined to win eight games and be right in the middle of no-man land.
At this point, the Jets might be better off telling Rodgers not to rush back this season. That would be like trying to catch a falling knife.
Instead, their hope lies in a soon-to-be 40-year-old Rodgers returning for the 2024 season healthy. As we've heard for the last several decades, there is always next year in New York – because the 2023 Jets aren’t going to be a thing with or without Rodgers.
Marcus Mosher is an NFL writer with a decade of experience in podcasting and writing for various NFL websites, including Bleacher Report, Pro Football Focus and The Athletic. He is currently a managing editor at USA Today Sports Media Group and the host of the Locked On Cowboys Podcast. Marcus has been working full-time covering the NFL since 2015 and works as a betting expert for Gambling.com. You can follow him at @Marcus_Mosher.
