It’s Jets against the world.
That’s what life for Gang Green has felt like since its 10-9 loss to Denver last Sunday.
Following the game, coach Robert Saleh and quarterback Aaron Rodgers were not on the same page regarding the offensive cadence after five false start penalties. Later in the week, Saleh said it was never a “cadence issue,” and the media created the issue.
Days before the Jets game against the Minnesota Vikings in London, Rodgers also denied having any problems with Saleh.
“I think he felt like maybe his answer didn’t really reflect his feelings,” Rodgers said. “The cadence has been a weapon. I think he kind of went in and got a chance Monday to respond to all that, but no I think there’s some driving force to try to put a wedge outside the facility between Robert and I, but we’re really good friends.
“We enjoy each other. We spend time with each other almost every day in his office, talking about things and the energy of the team, the focus of the team, what we need to get done, how I can help him out, how he can help me out, so we got a great relationship.”
Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard also took a shot at the media this week.
“It’s only four games into it, but you guys [the media] can compare it, you guys can twist people’s comments and make them bigger than they really are and everything, but the bond in this locker room, the bond of this team and this organization is a lot stronger than whatever words and headlines you guys want to make out of it.”
The relationship between Saleh and Rodgers has been dissected and examined ever since Rodgers missed the mandatory minicamp to go on vacation to Egypt. Gang Green fined Rodgers for his absence, but Saleh was criticized for his comments, including calling his absence “unexcused.”
Two weeks ago, during the Jets’ 24-3 victory against the Patriots, Saleh appeared to have wanted to hug Rodgers after a touchdown, but the four-time NFL MVP pushed him away. After the game, Rodgers said that Saleh wasn’t a “hugger” and “there was nothing awkward” about the exchange between the two.
“Aaron and I are fantastic,” Saleh said. “Love the guy.”
Whatever the problem is for the Jets (2-2), they have reached a crossroads before their game vs. the Vikings (4-0) on Sunday in London. Gang Green committed 15 penalties against Denver last week, 13 of which were accepted. Self-inflicted wounds have been an issue for the Jets since Saleh became coach in 2021.
“Just hearing the play call coming out the huddle and executing,” Jets left guard John Simpson told the Daily News on how the team can work on pre-snap penalties.
“Just doing your job and doing whatever the quarterback says. I feel like this is the closest I’ve been with any O-Line. We are just trying to get better each week.”
The Jets’ offensive line also came under fire because of those false start penalties and because the Broncos sacked Rodgers five times. Since the start of training camp, the Jets’ offensive line has been under a microscope because of three new starters (Simpson, Tyron Smith, and Morgan Moses).
Moses suffered a knee injury against the Patriots and will miss his second consecutive game this week. Rookie Olu Fashanu will start at right tackle in Moses’ place, and he and the rest of the Jets offensive line will have the difficult task of trying to slow down the Vikings defense, which leads the league in sacks (17), is fourth in points allowed (14.8), and is tied for fourth with three forced turnovers.
Minnesota also has recorded 10 takeaways this season, the second-most in the NFL behind Green Bay’s 12.
Rodgers uses his cadence as a weapon to draw opposing defenses offsides to get a free play where he can throw the ball deep and get explosive plays. Against an aggressive Vikings defense with a 41.5% blitz rate, the second highest in the league to only the Broncos, Rodgers could use this to his advantage.
“They’ve done a good job,” Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson said about the Vikings defense. “They have also played with the lead a whole bunch, which these other teams start pressing to make a play and start to give up some underneath things and that’s when you have those chance for interceptions.
“Trying to get a lead earlier or go down and score early in the game, so they have to play more true defense. But they have a great DB room, an experience one that when they see concepts, they kind of know where the next routes is coming from.
“I’m excited, we have a lot to prove and what’s better than going up against an undefeated team over here and just let loose and play.”
The Jets haven’t lived up to expectations so far this season. While their defense is ranked third in the league (256.5), the Jets offense is 22nd in yards (294.8) and points per game (19).
A lot of that has to do with Rodgers and the rest of the players having chemistry issues four games in. Gang Green had Super Bowl expectations entering the season, but the team has looked anything but thus far.
Because of that, many fans on social media have been critical of Saleh and the job he has done with the team.
“Pressure in New York,” Saleh said. “You can be an expansion team and still have the same amount of pressure. It doesn’t matter you got to win, it’s New York.
“The expectation is to win, when you win, you are going to the Super Bowl, when you lose, fire everybody. That is the world we live in, that is the world we embrace. We attach each week as a new week, which every week comes with the extremist amount of pressure, but we are made for it, we are built for it.”
The Jets will see a familiar face under center for the Vikings. Sam Darnold, who spent three seasons with the Jets, has played at an MVP level early this season. Darnold has 932 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and three interceptions through four games.
Darnold was the Jets’ quarterback when Saleh was hired in 2021. But after a 13-25 record with the team, the Jets traded Darnold to the Panthers and later drafted Zach Wilson second overall in the 2021 draft.
Darnold spent two seasons with the Panthers and one with the 49ers before signing a one-year, $10 million contract with the Vikings last offseason. It was expected that Darnold would be a placeholder for the 11th overall pick, J.J. McCarthy. But McCarthy will miss the entire season due to a meniscus tear in his right knee.
“Sam Darnold is playing at an MVP level right now,” Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams said. “You got a line who’s been together for the last three years.
“It’s definitely going to be a challenge. We just got to go out there and play our game, play our football. We just got to go out there and execute it to a high level because that’s a high-level offense and a high-level team we are going against.”
