The acquisition of Aaron Rodgers made the Jets dream of a Super Bowl title.
Rodgers added to this during his weekend video at Taylor Swift’s concert, saying “The Jets win the Super Bowl” as confetti rained down on him at MetLife Stadium.
While it’s good that the Jets are thinking big with Rodgers now in the fold, the road to Las Vegas and Super Bowl LVII isn’t easy.
Let’s start with East Asia.
This may be the hardest ever. The Bills are one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl, behind the Chiefs in the AFC with the odds-makers in Vegas. The Jets with Rodgers and the Dolphins are not far from the Bills. The Patriots are the clear fourth pick in the division, but if you drop them in the NFC South, they’ll be the second favorite to win the division behind the Saints.
Each of the East Asian midfielders has a solid resume.
Rodgers is a four-time MVP and Super Bowl winner.
Josh Allen looks like the MVP of the future and has led his team to the playoffs each of the past four seasons.
Mac Jones made the Pro Bowl as a rookie before slumping last season with a now-replaced questionable coaching staff.
Tua Tagovailoa had a breakout season last year before ending up with a concussion.
It all adds up to what looks like it’s going to be a great year in a division that hasn’t been known for its par over the years.
After the leagues merged in 1970, the Dolphins dominated the AFC East for much of the decade. There was some back and forth in the 1980s between the teams before the Bills began to dominate in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Then, Tom Brady arrived in 2001 and ran the department for most of the next two decades. The Bills have been in control since Brady went to Tampa Bay, winning the last three division titles.
The division has featured some great teams over the years but not many at the same time.
The Patriots dynasty benefited greatly from the Jets, Villas, and Dolphins struggling to get out of their way.
Buffalo endured a 17-year drought before breaking through in 2017.
The Dolphins only had three playoff games between 2002-22, suffering a post-Dan Marino hangover that lasted a long time.
The Jets have the longest active finals drought in all major sports at 12 and still going.
The last time the AFC East had three playoff teams was in 2001, when it was still a five-team division with the Colts. The Patriots, Dolphins and Jets all made it that year, but it wasn’t a sign of things to come other than Brady and the Pats dominating.
Perhaps the department’s best year was 1985.
The Dolphins, Jets, and Patriots all made the playoffs that year and they all had at least 11 wins. Miami pulled off the biggest win of the year when they knocked out the undefeated Bears. It was New England, though, that beat the Jets and Dolphins in the playoffs to reach Super Bowl XX. The Patriots never defeated the Dolphins in the Orange Bowl, but they managed six quick wins to move to New Orleans.
Teams from the AFC East have met in the AFC Championship Game on four occasions, including the one in 1985. The last time came after the 1992 season, when the Bills beat the Dolphins to claim their third straight Super Bowl title.
Another contender for the best year in AFC East history is 1998, when there were four top division teams. The Jets reached the AFC Championship Game before losing to the Broncos.
The Jets are hoping Rodgers’ season doesn’t end like the one it did for Vinnie Testaverde, finishing just shy of the Super Bowl. Testaverde may have been the last quarterback who made Jets fans think they were going to win a Super Bowl when the 1999 season began. We won’t talk about what happened after that.
Rodgers and Gates have their sights set on the Lombardi Trophy, but their divisional opponents can say something about that in what looks set to be a memorable year in the AFC East region.
Want to pick up a game? The Jets schedule with links to purchase tickets can be found here.
Is DeAndre Hopkins a good fit?
The Jets’ flirtation with Odell Beckham in free agency would lead to speculation that they are interested in any big name future that becomes available. This meant that there was a question of whether the Jets should go after DeAndre Hopkins, who was cut by the Cardinals.
The Jets obviously felt they needed more in a receiver, which is why they went after Beckham, but I’m not sure Hopkins makes sense for them. It might be more of a name than a game at this point. Hopkins production has declined in the past two years in Arizona. He turns 31 in June and I don’t think he fits what the Jets still need in a receiver.
Garrett Wilson is the No. 1 receiver on the Jets and the team should do everything it can to boost that. Wilson should have a monster year as Rodgers reaches his sophomore season.
Would Hopkins be willing to accept a supporting role after years of existence? the man?
I would be skeptical.
Hopkins is also more of a technician than a fast pacer at receiver. If the Jets need another piece on a wide receiver, I think it’s someone who can stretch the field and create some openings for Wilson and Allen Lazard underneath. When Beckham is healthy, he can do that. I’m not sure who Hopkins was at this point in his career.
Then there is the salary. It’s not clear what Hopkins is looking for, but it’s likely more than the Jets are willing to pay. That’s what happened with Beckham when the Ravens came in with $15 million. The Jets have yet to figure out a reworked contract with Rodgers and will need plenty of cash and space to do so. Hopkins feels it could be too expensive for the Jets right now.
Stat is that
Joe Namath turns 80 on Wednesday. In honor of the big day, here’s a look at how Namath has stayed at the top of every category that passes in or near his career in jets history.
passing yards
1. Joe Namath: 27,057
2. Ken O’Brien: 24.386.2007
3. Richard Todd: 18,241
touchdown passes
1. Joe Namath: 170
2- Ken O’Brien: 124
3. Richard Todd: 110
completion
1. Ken O’Brien: 2,039
2. Joe Namath: 1,836
3. Richard Todd: 1,433
Attempts
1. Joe Namath: 3,655
2. Ken O’Brien: 3,465
3. Richard Todd: 2,623
objections
1. Joe Namath: 215
2. Richard Todd: 138
3. Ken O’Brien: 95
Source: Pro Football Reference