Even as the NY Jets started to show all the usual signs of struggling in the 2024 season, they could take solace in the fact that Aaron Rodgers was still dicing up opposing defenses. In the Jets' London matchup, Rodgers looked more like Zach Wilson than a Hall of Fame quarterback.
With Rodgers playing with a banged-up knee after last week's loss to the Denver Broncos, facing off against arguably the best team in the league in the Minnesota Vikings is not what the doctor ordered for this team. Rodgers, apparently having lost the ability to play at his past high level, had perhaps the worst quarter of his career.
Rodgers wasted a Vikings fumble that put the Jets in Minnesota territory in the middle of the first quarter, throwing an interception directly to Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel that was returned for a touchdown. It was just the fifth pick-six of a career that has now lasted 20 years.
Rodgers didn't stop there, as he was intercepted on the next drive. This throw was just as bad, as he airmailed Allen Lazard from a clean pocket and gave Vikings safety Camryn Bynum a gift of a pick. After the first quarter, Rodgers completed just three of nine passes (all to Garrett Wilson) for 16 yards with two picks, good for a 2.8 passer rating.
BACK TO BACK PICKS FOR THE @VIKINGS.
— NFL (@NFL) October 6, 2024
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Jets QB Aaron Rodgers throws two interceptions in first quarter vs. Vikings
While the Jets' offense looked no different from last week against Denver, as the run game is non-existent and the creativity is lacking, the fact that Rodgers and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett are tied at the hip means nothing is going to change in the immediate future.
With New York tied to the Rodgers project, including his chosen offensive coordinator Hackett, it is unlikely that things are going to change, barring a massive Davante Adams trade. Even if Adams were to come to New York, he likely is not going to fix anything if the offense keeps looking like this.
With Rodgers playing as poorly as possible and the rest of his team doing him no favors, the Jets appear to be heading towards an unprecedented 14th straight season without making the playoffs.
