“The next step is expecting to dominate,” four-time NFL MVP and Super Bowl champion quarterback Aaron Rodgers said after a commanding 24-3 win by the New York Jets over their AFC East division rivals, the New York Patriots, at MetLife Stadium last Thursday.
The win raised the Jets’ record to 2-1 going into Sunday’s NFL Week 4 matchup at home versus the 1-2 Denver Broncos. A week ago, Rodgers was 19 yards short of throwing for 300, as he was 27-35 for 281 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. As Rodgers’s self-confidence rises after missing all but four plays a year ago due a a torn left Achilles, he continues to build the team’s collective belief in themselves. “I was feeling really good out there. It felt good pre-game and I’ve been progressing,” said Rodgers after the Jets’ outgained the Patriots in total yards by the wide margin of 400 to 139.
“I said to you guys after Week 1, it is going to be a process. I’ve continued to extend plays once I feel more comfortable, and this was kind of the first step in playing like I know I’m capable of playing. I felt like I was, you know, myself quite a few years ago.” The Jets’ defense was smothering, sacking the Patriots’ quarterbacks Jacoby Brissett and Drake Maye seven times and holding New England to only 78 rushing yards. “We feel confident in our ability to stop the run,” head coach Robert Saleh said after the win. “I said we will fix it and it’s not to say that it’s totally fixed because there are going to be games where things pop open, but at the same time, I know our guys can stop the run.” The Jets’ strong showing was achieved without having defensive captain C.J Mosley. The linebacker had started 47 consecutive games before being sidelined versus the Patriots due to a toe injury. “We are confident that he’ll be back in the Denver game,” said Saleh on Monday regarding Mosley’s status. “I feel like if this was later in the year he would have been able to go, but it wasn’t worth it to make such a small injury worse. In the grand scheme of things, it probably wouldn’t be worth it.”
