The New York Jets were thinking about Super Bowls and parades.
Now, they could settle with not finishing last in their division.
Losing Aaron Rodgers was a massive blow for Robert Saleh’s team, and the numbers just don’t lie.
According to ESPN (via Sportscenter), their odds of making the playoffs dropped 20% without Rodgers, plummeting from 68.4% to 46.3%, even after the win over the Buffalo Bills.
The Jets' playoff chances have dropped over 20% after the injury to Aaron Rodgers, according to ESPN Analytics 😯 pic.twitter.com/MM6hJLgfPy
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 13, 2023
Going from a future first-ballot Hall of Famer back to Zach Wilson is a massive drop-off, so there’s no wonder why this happened.
Still, it’s not like the Jets were a one-man show by any means.
They still have one of the best defenses in the AFC — if not the best.
They also have a much-improved wideout corps with Allen Lazard and Mecole Hardman joining Garrett Wilson.
And adding Dalvin Cook next to Breece Hall gives them an elite one-two punch out of the backfield.
Of course, Wilson has struggled since he was taken with the No. 2 pick, but some players are late bloomers and need some more time to get their acts together.
He wasn’t spectacular by any means in the season opener, but he managed to keep the chains moving when it mattered the most.
This Jets team showed plenty of resiliency, and they could surprise more than a couple of people this season.
NEXT: Analyst Tells Jets To Pursue Super Bowl Champion QB
