The AFC is insanely loaded this season, even more so than it was last year when a number of stars relocated to the conference.
One reason is that future Hall-of-Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers was traded to the New York Jets this offseason, which has created lots of hype around his new team.
The Jets then doubled down on their Super Bowl hopes by adding Dalvin Cook, a running back who has made the Pro Bowl in each of the last four seasons.
Some feel the Jets are being overhyped, but NFL commentator Cris Collinsworth spoke with Rich Eisen and said they’re legitimate championship contenders, and a big reason is their defense.
Is it #ChiefsKingdom and everybody else in the AFC? Broke down the impossible conference with the @SNFonNBC analyst – such a good conversation:#NFL #NFLKickoff @PFF pic.twitter.com/wSezhqDT69
— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) August 31, 2023
Last season, New York finished fourth in both points and total yards allowed, and as a result, they were able to win five of their first seven games.
They were led by rookie cornerback Sauce Gardner, who took the NFL by storm and earned Pro Bowl, All-Pro First-Team, and Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.
Collinsworth feels Gardner and D.J. Reed will be a fearsome duo in the secondary for the Jets.
Up front, they have All-Pro defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, as well as Pro Bowl linebacker C.J. Mosley.
On offense, they have brought in several of Rodgers’ old Green Bay Packers cohorts in wide receivers Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett.
The offensive line is a concern, but the Jets’ hopes this season still fall on Rodgers, who saw his production drop in 2022 and will need to play more like he did in 2020 and 2021 when he won the regular-season MVP.
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