Days after the Jets 2023 training camp opened, Broncos coach Sean Payton sent shockwaves throughout NFL circles.
In a USA Today article, Payton made disparaging remarks about his predecessor and current Jets offensive coordinator, Nathaniel Hackett.
“It might have been one of the worst coaching jobs in the history of the NFL,” Payton said in the article. “That’s how bad it was.”
As many might expect, Payton’s comments weren’t received well around the Jets facility. Jets coach Robert Saleh responded by quoting a song by rap artist Rico Richie by saying, “If you ain’t got no hater, you ain’t popping.”
Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers was a bit blunter in his comments.
“I thought it was way out of line, inappropriate, and I think he needs to keep my coaches’ names out of his mouth,” Rodgers said to NFL Network.
The Jets defeated the Broncos last year and exacted some revenge against Payton following his comments. Gang Green and Denver will meet again on Sunday for the fifth consecutive season.
Some time has passed since the beef between the two sides began, and Rodgers and the Jets appear ready to let the past be the past.
“That’s old news, you know,” Rodgers said this week when asked about the comments on Hackett. “We’ve all said things that we’d like to take back, some things have been said and taken out of context, I’m sure, from time to time, but I honestly haven’t thought about it.”
Although the Jets (2-1) and Broncos (1-2) beef has simmered down, Sunday’s game is significant for both sides. After losing its season opener to San Francisco, Gang Green has bounced back and won its last two games.
The Jets offense is clicking on all cylinders. For the first time since 1989 and for the fourth time in franchise history, the Jets offense has scored three touchdowns in their first three games of the season.
Rodgers is coming off his best game since tearing his Achilles four plays into his Jets’ debut last season. In the 24-3 victory against the Patriots, Rodgers completed 27-of-35 passes for 281 yards and two touchdowns.
Sunday’s game is significant for the Jets for a few reasons. Rodgers and wide receiver Garrett Wilson haven’t had the chemistry many expected once the season began. Wilson has 15 catches for 150 yards and a touchdown through three games.
Opposing teams have keyed in on Wilson and forced Rodgers to throw the ball to his other receivers. The challenge won’t get any easier this week for Rodgers and Wilson. Broncos’ Patrick Surtain II, arguably the best cornerback in the NFL, will likely shadow Wilson for most of the game.
“Whenever they give that look, it can be frustrating,” Wilson said. “I gotta trust that we are going to have that answer on the other side and that’s what we’ve been finding.
“Yeah, it’s definitely frustrating. I pride myself on making plays and stuff like that and doing what I do. But if they want to give me that look, we got to we got to handle it the best way we can handle it.”
The other reason the matchup against the Broncos is essential is the Jets’ upcoming schedule in October. Beginning with their game in London on Oct. 6, the Jets’ next three opponents (Vikings, Bills, and Steelers) currently have a 9-0 record to start the season. That also doesn’t include the Oct. 31 game against the Texans, who are 2-1 with their only loss coming to the Vikings.
Who exactly are the Jets right now?
After a rough outing in the loss against the 49ers in Week 1, the Jets offense and defense looked championship-worthy against the Patriots. Gang Green also looked sluggish in the first half against Tennessee in Week 2. The Jets’ defense was also subpar against the 49ers, allowing eight consecutive scoring drives to end the game.
Last week, the Jets handled business against an inferior opponent. It’s time to see if the Jets can handle prosperity and success before the road gets tougher beginning next week.
“Consistency, you know,” Rodgers said. “I think it’s consistent messaging from the top, and then the leaders in the locker room exemplifying those messages and then just trying to practice good habits.
“It’s not just when you’re at the facility, it’s what are you doing when you’re home? How are you preparing? Games are often won and lost in a Monday to Saturday of a normal week because that’s when you take care of your body, get your rest, eat right, prepare the right way, have the right conversations, and then the Sunday is just the finality of the six days of preparation.”
After losing their first two games, the Broncos got their first win of the season against the Buccaneers in Week 3.
The Jets defense won’t be playing against ex-quarterback Zach Wilson, who will be on the sideline. They will face 2024 first-round draft pick Bo Nix, who is still looking for his first NFL touchdown pass after throwing four interceptions in three games.
Although the Broncos rolled past the Buccaneers 26-7 last weekend, Nix did not throw a touchdown after completing 25-of-36 passes for 216 yards.
“I was fortunate when I did the Senior Bowl thing, he was one of our quarterbacks, so I got a lot of time with him,” Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said about Nix. “He’s got that stuff that you just can’t coach. He’s got that confidence, that moxy, that swag, whatever you want to call it.
“He’s insanely intelligent and a great competitor. Then you watch the tape and you watch a guy that’s growing and becoming a real quarterback in this league, so we’re going to have our hands full.
“He moves the sticks with his feet a lot. And he’s got some toughness when he runs it. He’s not a guy that’s searching to find the slippery spot on the ground. Like he’s going to fight for extra yards and we’re going to have to tackle him, so he poses a great challenge.”