Oct 31, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) reacts after a landing in opposition to the Houston Texans by huge receiver Garrett Wilson (5) in the course of the fourth quarter at MetLife Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Brad Penner-Imagn Photos One month earlier than Aaron Rodgers celebrates his forty first birthday, the New York Jets are holding onto flickering hope they will play past the common season.
At 3-6, New York hits the street to tackle the Arizona Cardinals (5-4) trying to additional restore its playoff possibilities dented by a five-game dropping streak that preceded a 21-13 Halloween evening victory over the Houston Texans.
Rodgers believes the Jets are able to a run if all three phases of the crew contribute as they did final Thursday. New York had eight sacks of Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, the Jets took away huge performs within the passing sport and Rodgers’ receivers turned in highlight-worthy performances. Garrett Wilson’s one-handed “Jumpman” landing and Rodgers’ first TD to Davante Adams since he was acquired from the Las Vegas Raiders in mid-October supplied glimpses of what opposing secondaries could possibly be in for the subsequent two months.
“If you wish to be an awesome crew, you have to follow like an awesome crew,” Rodgers stated of tracing the elements that impressed the Jets to appear like a totally practical and harmful outfit in opposition to Houston.
“And I feel the previous couple of weeks we have practiced lots higher. However there’s nonetheless that an ordinary that we simply want to come back up an additional notch. And after we try this, which I am assured we are going to, then the consistency I feel reveals up on gameday.”
After this Week 10 matchup, the Jets subsequent see an opponent with greater than 4 wins after they go to Buffalo (7-2) on Dec. 29. The Rams (4-4) are the one different crew on the Jets’ schedule the remainder of the 2024 common season at the moment at .500 or higher.
The Jets solely are targeted on stacking wins, Rodgers stated, and avoiding dropping video games as a result of they’re fastened on longer-range targets.
“It is a lengthy street journey to a division chief. We do not want any additional motivation,” Rodgers stated. “We all know what we’re enjoying for.”
Arizona’s run protection contributed to every of the crew’s losses this season. The Cardinals permit 132.9 yards per sport and surrendered 10 dashing touchdowns of their first 9 video games. Cross rush stays a priority regardless of including depth at outdoors linebacker by buying Baron Browning from the Broncos on the commerce deadline.
With out shifting quarterbacks off their launch level, Arizona’s third-down protection is among the many worst within the NFL. Opponents moved the chains on 49.2 % of third downs this season, which ranks thirty first within the NFL.
Based mostly on his expertise opposing Rodgers, Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon stated defending Rodgers means there are “sure issues you are able to do, a whole lot of issues you possibly can’t” on protection.
“He can spin it, you are not going to trick him,” Gannon stated. “The accuracy, the timing. In case you are somewhat bit off, he’ll make you pay.”
There is no such thing as a standings ladder to climb for the Cardinals. Arizona leads the NFC West division and enters with a three-game successful streak.
Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray is not carrying the burden of the offense by himself. Stellar line play has helped a resurgent James Conner energy a working sport averaging 149.7 yards per sport in 2024. Conner (664 yards, 4 TDs), Murray (350 yards, two TDs) and third-down again Emari Demercado (175 and a 53-yard landing) have mixed to common over 7.0 yards per carry and rookie Trey Benson (154 yards, one TD) set his season excessive in snaps final week.
“Hand the ball off, play protection and win? Yeah, that is one thing good soccer groups can do,” Murray stated. “I do not wish to say we’re good but, however we’re rising. It does not make me suppose something much less of what we are able to accomplish offensively, or myself.
“You wish to throw the ball across the yard and have the flashy performs, but it surely’s too onerous to win on this league. You are taking it.”
Earlier than beating the Bears 29-9 final week, the Cardinals had three wins in 4 video games by a complete of 4 factors. The Cardinals are going for 4 straight victories for the primary time since successful seven in a row to start the 2021 season beneath Kliff Kingsbury. The primary loss that season got here by the hands of Rodgers, then with the Inexperienced Bay Packers (24-21).
That season additionally was the final time the franchise had back-to-back wins earlier than beating the Chargers (17-15) and Dolphins (28-27) in succession forward of the Week 9 waltz over the Bears.
Murray was sacked 3 times in opposition to the Bears, ending a streak of three consecutive video games by the Cardinals not permitting a sack.
With eight sacks final week the Jets’ move rush is hitting its stride. Via 9 video games, the 31 complete sacks for the Jets is second at this level in a season solely to the 1981 NY Sack Change (36), which set the team-record with 66 sacks in a 16-game season.
Jets heart Joe Tippmann is the one starter on the offensive line who was in a position to take part in follow on Wednesday. Linebacker C.J. Mosley (neck) and security Ashtyn Davis (concussion protocol) didn’t follow.
Conner was a restricted participant Wednesday with a finger harm. Cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting missed final week’s sport with neck soreness however was a full participant on Wednesday.
–Subject Stage Media
