Aaron Rodgers will be feeling all kinds of emotions as he leads the Jets offense onto the field to a deafening roar at MetLife Stadium, and soon after, he hopes to experience the joy of leading a touchdown drive on that first series Thursday night.
Despite all the talk that the Jets’ offense has started well this season, Rodgers said they need to fix some things and start games better, starting with their clash with AFC East rival New England.
“It would be a waste of money to keep doing the same thing over and over and expect different results,” Rodgers said. “We have to change some things. We have to get a little sharper. We have to start faster. We started really slow the first two weeks. We have to start fast, get something going in the first 15 (plays) and give our defense a chance to play with the lead.”
With the first 15 plays scheduled, it’s safe to assume Rodgers’ fingerprints will be all over what the Jets do in their first home game against New England.
Rodgers called the personnel and playmaking for the Jets’ first touchdown on Sunday in Tennessee. Running backs Breece Hall and Braelon Allen were both in the game. Rodgers faked a pass to Hall, threw a block to Allen, and Allen scored.
Overall, the Jets (1-1) have run three or fewer plays on seven of 10 first-half possessions. They scored touchdowns on their third series in Week 1 and their fourth last game. In contrast, the Jets have scored four touchdowns and a field goal on 10 second-half series.
“We just have to figure out what we need to do in the first 15 minutes to keep going and strike a little earlier,” Rodgers said. “I think 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 experience “a lot of emotions.”
It will also be the first time since 1999 that the Jets will face the Patriots, who are not coached by Bill Belichick. Jerod Mayo replaced Belichick and uses some of his same defensive principles.
The Jets are still developing on offense and have some issues to work out. They’re playing behind a new and much-improved offensive line and with Rodgers as a starter for the first time. But the Jets have shown encouraging signs.
They made it to the end zone three times in each game. The Jets scored three TDs twice all of last season. The last time their offense scored at least three touchdowns in back-to-back games was on Oct. 2 and Oct. 9, 2022. They haven’t scored three in three straight games since 2019.
The Jets could become a defensive nightmare if they get Garrett Wilson (10 catches, no touchdowns) going and involve Mike Williams (one reception) more.
“It’s a weird feeling because we realize we can be better but we’re still scoring,” Robert Saleh said. “It’s two games in a row with three touchdowns, which hasn’t happened here in a long time. And we still look at it like, ‘Man, we’ve got so much more left in the tank.’
“At the end of the day, we’re dealing with an offense that’s still trying to find itself and is still capable of generating scoring opportunities better than most teams in the past of this organization.”
Rodgers and the rest of the Jets are impatient. They want the offense to click as quickly as possible.
“I don’t even want to wait a couple of weeks,” tight end Tyler Conklin said. “I’m excited to see how good this offense can be on Thursday on a short week. We have all the tools. We have what it takes to be a really, really, really, really good offense. It’s just up to us to continue to do what we can every day to become that.”
Rodgers is the difference. His ability to read the defense and change plays at the line of scrimmage is invaluable. Rodgers converted an Allen run to score the decisive point in Tennessee.
Rodgers’ body is holding up in this tough early phase. The Jets are playing their third game in 11 days. That’s tough for anyone, especially the oldest player in the NFL.
“It’s definitely a physical challenge,” Rodgers said. “But we enjoy playing, so the shorter time between games is great. It’s definitely hard on the body and a tough week. It’s easier for a 20-year-old than a 40-year-old, but I’ll be ready on Thursday night and I’m looking forward to three days off.”
Two-minute exercise
Linebacker CJ Mosley (toe) is officially questionable after not practicing this week. Jamien Sherwood would start if Mosley is unable to play.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after covering the NBA for nearly two decades with the Knicks and Nets.
