Despite teases of the contrary, Aaron Rodgers’ first season as New York Jets quarterback will likely begin and end after only four plays. However, when he returns in 2024, he could have a familiar welcoming party.
As Adam Schefter of ESPN pointed out, the Jets 2024 schedule will feature whichever NFC North team finishes in the same place within their division. Right now, that team is the Green Bay Packers.
With both teams occupying third in their respective divisions, the dream is still alive, but a lot can change between now and the end of the season. Furthermore, the Jets and Packers seem to be trending in opposite directions.
Following an embarrassing 34-13 thrashing against the Miami Dolphins on Black Friday, the Jets fell to 4-7 and dropping below the lowly 2-8 New England Patriots is a genuine possibility.
Meanwhile, the Packers have won two straight games and look more formidable each week behind Rodgers’ replacement, Jordan Love. At 5-6, the Packers are only a game behind the Minnesota Vikings (6-5) for second in the NFC North.
Whoever the Jets face, the contest will take place on the road. If things continue to shake out as they have for the rest of the 2023 campaign, it would give the NFL an intriguing Week 1 matchup on a silver platter.
With both teams occupying third in their respective divisions, the dream is still alive, but a lot can change between now and the end of the season. Furthermore, the Jets and Packers seem to be trending in opposite directions.
Following an embarrassing 34-13 thrashing against the Miami Dolphins on Black Friday, the Jets fell to 4-7 and dropping below the lowly 2-8 New England Patriots is a genuine possibility.
Meanwhile, the Packers have won two straight games and look more formidable each week behind Rodgers’ replacement, Jordan Love. At 5-6, the Packers are only a game behind the Minnesota Vikings (6-5) for second in the NFC North.
Whoever the Jets face, the contest will take place on the road. If things continue to shake out as they have for the rest of the 2023 campaign, it would give the NFL an intriguing Week 1 matchup on a silver platter.
Rodgers’ return from injury, facing off against his former team in his first trip back to Lambeau Field? The script, no pun intended, writes itself.
Speaking of scripts, Rodgers aims to return to the field this season before any potential meeting with the Packers in 2024. Coming back from a torn Achilles so soon, while foolish considering the Jets standing in the playoff race, would also be incredibly remarkable. Storybook stuff.
However, while the attention on Rodgers post-injury has annoyed some, the fairytale unfolding is a little too on the nose for others. Gregg Doyel of the Indianapolis Star recently questioned if Rodgers had even suffered a traditional torn Achilles.
“Whatever Kevin Durant, Kobe [Bryant] and Brandon Graham suffered, he did not,” Doyel tweeted on X, formerly Twitter. “Because this procedure would be trumpeted as a breakthrough, not treated as a secret. Plus, he’s a liar.”
Regardless of your opinion on Rodgers and the injury he may or may not have suffered, a face-off against Love at Lambeau is a gift football fans deserve. Here’s hoping it comes to fruition.
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