A five-game losing streak has the New York Jets searching for answers at the bottom of the AFC East.
Things will likely get worse before they have a chance of getting better for New York (2-6), which is set to face the Texans on Thursday night in East Rutherford, N.J. Houston has been on a roll, winning four of its past five games.
Despite the Jets’ struggles, which really came to light during a 25-22 loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday, it’s hard to just completely write New York off with 10 weeks left in the regular season.
After all, there’s so much talent on this team. I mean, seriously. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is surrounded by nothing but talent. Breece Hall is in his backfield. Davante Adams and Garrett Wilson are lined up outside his tackles. His offensive line has limited opposing defenses to just one sack in each of the past two games.
So, what gives?
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Rodgers needs to call it a career after this season.
When those words last appeared here, Rodgers had just thrown for 281 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 27-of-35 passing in a 24-3 drubbing of New England back in Week 3.
My argument then was that Rodgers was never going to improve his stock following this season, assuming he consistently put up numbers similar to the ones he posted in that mid-September win over the Patriots.
Had that been the case, Rodgers would have nothing left to prove, and he could go riding off into the sunset feeling good about how his career ended.
Little did I know, but Rodgers would have been better off hanging up the cleats as soon as that article got published.
I’m willing to bet that very few people wrote home about that piece, judging by what transpired in the comment section below it.
“When you are as good at your job as Rodgers is at his, maybe you might be able to give him some advice. Until then Nick Galle maybe do some research,” one user said.
I’m not going to sit here and say I’m the Aaron Rodgers of sportswriters. I wouldn’t even consider myself the Kirk Cousins of the craft. At least tab me as a Drake Maye or Bo Nix, though—always good for a few mistakes here and there, but still shows promise at times.
What I can say is that I’ll know when to close the laptop for good. Once the quality of my writing starts to hold editors back, I’ll know it’s time for the next chapter.
And Rodgers is doing everything he can to avoid that next chapter.
His latest career-extending tactic is drinking cayenne pepper and water, which supposedly has a handful of health benefits. To each their own, I guess.
If Rodgers isn’t going to be the guy to have this New York offense putting up at least 25 points a game, the Jets ought to look elsewhere. Perhaps New York fans would be a little more open to the thought of him retiring, too.
Salvaging this season isn’t out of the realm of possibility for New York, but spicy water alone isn’t going to do the trick.
