Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets were given a brutal reality check on Sunday after they suffered a miserable 10-9 defeat by the Denver Broncos.
Kicker Greg Zuerlein missed a 50-yard field goal with just 44 seconds left to cap off a dismal day for Robert Saleh, whose team looked far from one capable of competing for Super Bowl glory.
The Jets were awful offensively and looked eerily similar to last season when Zach Wilson, who was stood on the Broncos sideline here, looked lost at quarterback in the wake of Rodgers’ devastating Achilles injury.
Last year’s frustrations appeared to be long gone after the returning Rodgers led the Jets to a 2-1 start.
But, 10 days after they dismantled the New England Patriots here at MetLife Stadium, the Jets were brought crashing back down to earth.
Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets were beaten 10-9 by the Denver Broncos on Sunday
The Jets were appalling offensively, producing a performance similar to last season’s struggles
Broncos receiver Courtland Sutton scored the game’s only touchdown in the third quarter
Courtland Sutton scored the only touchdown of the game as Denver emerged from a difficult double-header on the road with huge victories over the Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The result also vindicated Broncos coach Sean Payton, who made headlines before last season when he said Nathaniel Hackett did ‘one of the worst coaching jobs in the history of the NFL’ during a 4-11 stint in Denver in 2022.
Hackett, now the Jets’ offensive coordinator, did little to dismiss Payton’s claims here.
‘It was obviously sloppy,’ a downcast Saleh said afterwards.
‘They’re already a good defense and we made it easier for them. We had opportunities. We had the ball twice with the chance to win and didn’t execute. We had too many self-inflicted wounds. It was a major step back.’
It was also the toughest day Rodgers has endured this season. He took hit after hit and needed treatment on a leg injury in the closing stages.
The Jets set the tone for the day on the opening drive when Rodgers was sacked on the very first play. He then overthrew a pass to Tyler Conklin before Garrett Wilson uncharacteristically fumbled for a Broncos turnover.
On their second drive, the Jets were gave up three penalties. It was not a start to energize fans who sat in their ponchos as the rain beat down.
Rodgers completed just eight of 16 passes for 81 yards in the first half. He was also sacked three times in the rain but showed glimpses of nice footwork when flushed from the pocket.
The Broncos were no better though with their rookie quarterback Bo Nix completing just seven of 15 passes for a staggering negative-seven yards in the first half.
Things got worse for Denver when running back Tyler Badie was put on a back board and carted from the sideline before the start of the second quarter.
Badie caught a pass from Bo Nix on a third down play and was immediately hit by Quincy Williams for a four-yard loss and fumbled the ball, which was recovered by Michael Carter II for the Jets.
Badie came off the field, but then was seen lying on his back and being looked at by trainers on the sideline. He was then secured on a board and lifted onto a cart before being taken from the field.
Two field goals by Greg Zuerlein ensured the Jets went into halftime 6-0 up. It was a lead they didn’t deserve.
It was not good enough for a team with Super Bowl ambitions and although it seemed like the Jets would be the team to come out and assert themselves in the second half, it was Denver who struck first.
Nix found Courtland Sutton for an eight-yard touchdown three minutes into the third quarter to stun the home fans. The Jets response was hardly emphatic. More drives ended abruptly, more penalties were conceded.
As the clock ticked into the fourth quarter and the Jets had a third down in a promising position, Rodgers had no choice but to run it out of bounds. He looked around, frustrated, and just stopped himself from slamming the ball down in anger.
Zuerlein kicked the Jets back in front 9-7 but a Broncos drive fueled by the running of Javonte Williams in response yielded a field goal that put the visitors back in front.
More to follow.
