[Official: Rodgers torn Achilles]

Testaverde blew out his Achilles at 36 and came back and played every game the

next two years:

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TestVi00.htm

That was 24 years ago, surgery has improved since then

[Official: Rodgers torn Achilles]

After how Rodgers embraced everything with this organization, roster and
city do you people really believe he's going to retire???  He was mentoring
the QBs on how to have lunch with different teammates and creating handshakes
with players half his age.  Do some critical analysis, he's not retiring

[Game Observations (BUF)]

Surreal, mind-numbing, resilient and proud.  The words that describe the
emotional roller coaster of an opening 22-16 Jet win over BUF:

Surreal - to watch the pre-game "light show" and intro of Aaron Rodgers
as a Jet

Mind-numbing - to lose Rodgers to an Achilles injury four plays into his
Jet career

Resilient - the effort of the team to stabilize and rebound from Rodgers
injury

Proud - of the win and how each phase contributed

But as Robert Saleh said in Hard Knocks, "Now What?".  Because Rodgers is
gone, Zach Wilson is your starter and no one is cancelling the rest of the
season.  The defense is elite, the special teams are much improved, the
running game is explosive and there's talent all over the offense.
Can Nathaniel Hackett, Todd Downing and Rodgers "nurse" Wilson into an
effective game manager?  We'll see, but for now let's recap a thrilling win:

(Stats from: https://www.espn.com/nfl/boxscore/_/gameId/401547352)

Special Teams

- Thomas Morstead was consistent with a 43.5 average and pinned BUF inside
the 20 twice

- Greg Zuerlein was a perfect 3/3 on FGs and 1/1 on XP

- Xavier Gipson was electric with a 23 yard avg on KO and a 33 yard avg
on punts and the game winning 65 yard TD  

Defense

- Fantastic effort by the entire defense as they generated 5 sacks, 4 turnovers
and held BUF to 3 points in the second half and OT

- Nice "pattern breakers" shown by Jeff Ulbrich as he ran the defense.  Through
out the game he ran 3 safety looks in coverage and brought blitz pressure from
the secondary (Tony Adams and Michael Carter)

- Poor game by Sauce Gardner and credit to him for taking responsibility for it
after the game.  Based on his comments Gardner said due to the late start of the
game his body was sluggish in the first half.  And I would agree as he gave up too
much to Stefon Diggs and missed some tackles 

- Terrific game by DJ Reed as he was solid in coverage and had 11 Tackles

- Quincy Williams was all over the field with 10 Tackles, TFL and a TD saving
pass breakup in the end zone

- Not to be outdone by his brother Quinnen Williams had 5 Tackles, TFL, QB Hit
and a fumble recovery

- Other star performers on the DLine were:
  * Jermaine Johnson with 5 Tackles, Sack, 2 TFL and a QB Hit
  * John Franklin-Myers with 4 Tackles, Sack, TFL and 2 QB Hits
  * Quinton Jefferson with 3 Tackles, 2 Sacks, 2 TFL and 3 QB Hits

- Terrific performance by the safety duo in both phases.  In coverage Tony Adams
and Jordan Whitehead had excellent communication covering and passing off receivers.
When was the last time we had safeties that could comfortably cover a WR like 
Diggs?  Whitehead had 3 INTs and 3 pass break ups while Adams had 5 Tackles 

- Excellent recovery by the defense in overtime to get BUF off the field quickly
with a three and out:
 * False start by the BUF RT
 * Allen incompletion to the TE
 * Three yard run
 * Tight coverage by Reed on Diggs to force an incompletion

- Finally let's take a look at the last three games Josh Allen has played against
this defense, his numbers are:

63/102   61%   Comp Pct
588                  Yards
2                      TD
5                      INT
1                      Fumble
13                    Sacks

Offense

- Even though it's painful let's take a quick look at Aaron Rodgers series.  Based upon
the cut blocks of Mekhi Becton and Duane Brown the plays he got hit/injured on should've
been "quick hitters" to receivers.  Cut blocks are done to make defenders get their hands
down so a quick throw can take place.  But on both times he held the ball, was Rodgers so
amped up by the crowd that he wanted to make "sexy" plays?  Unfortunately I doubt anyone
in the local media will ask him that question, maybe Pat McAfee will

- With Rodgers going down nice adjustments by Hackett to get the running game going by
deploying 3 TE sets.  Jeremy Ruckert was devastating caving in the edge of BUF DLine to
free Breece Hall for his 80+ yard run.  In addition Hackett deployed both Breece Hall
and Dalvin Cook in the backfield at the same time

- I'm going to be completely honest, with Zach Wilson back as starter my best hope for this
team is competing for a playoff spot.  Wilson has to improve or someone else (Tim Boyle?)
has to show competency from the position for me to hope for anything more.  Wilson was
14/21 (66% Comp Pct) for 140 yards with a TD and an INT.  The best part of those "middling"
stats was how they broke down:

First Half - he was 5/8 for 40 yards and an INT (3 points)
Second Half - he was 9/13 for 100 yards with a TD (19 points, 13 of which he was responsible)

Hackett made adjustments at halftime (more screens) and Wilson settled down to be more 
efficient.  The plan was not to see Wilson before the 2025 season but here we are.  What will
he do with the opportunity?

- Breece Hall was a beast with 10 carries for 127 yards on the ground and one catch for 20
yards in the passing game.  Can anyone say Adrian Peterson in his prime?

- Dalvin Cook was solid with 13 carries for 33 yards and 3 catches for 26 yards

- Allen Lazard was the "big" receiver on the night with 2 catches for 46 yards

- Garrett Wilson grinded his way to 5 catches for 34 yards with the ridiculous one handed
juggling TD
 

[***OFFICIAL WEEK ONE NON-JETS NFL GAMES DISCUSSION THREAD****]

Here's my 2 cents, the NYG spent all camp going against their defense (which
isn't very good) and got a false read on their offense and how "explosive"
it was going to be.  Now when they see a real defense they got exposed.
Sort of similar to the Jets in recent years when our defense "dominated" our
offense in camp but our offense sucked.  To think Jones is getting $40 million, YIKES

[***OFFICIAL WEEK ONE NON-JETS NFL GAMES DISCUSSION THREAD****]

Hopefully the NYG is sucking all of the bad "ju-ju" out of MetLife so there's nothing

negative for the Jets to experience in our home games

[***OFFICIAL WEEK ONE NON-JETS NFL GAMES DISCUSSION THREAD****]

Justin Fields will not make it through a full season, he's running too much and

taking way too many hits

[Question: Aiden Hutchinson Played 60/60 Defensive Snaps & Pressured Mahomes Relentlessly]

Hutchinson is their pass rush, he has to be on the field for every snap.  Also, 

that kind of rep count sets him up for injury as the seaon piles up.   A legit

10 deep DLine eliminates that concern

[~~~ Unofficial Season Opening Thread - Lions at Chefs ~~~]

10 minutes ago, KRL said:

Until KC WRs show anything, if you're a DC you bracket Kelce with an LB and S and

dare everyone else to beat me

And if I'm Ulbrich I consider letting Gardner follow Kelce around the field when we face them

[~~~ Unofficial Season Opening Thread - Lions at Chefs ~~~]

Until KC WRs show anything, if you're a DC you bracket Kelce with an LB and S and

dare everyone else to beat me

[~~~ Unofficial Season Opening Thread - Lions at Chefs ~~~]

How did KC OLine coach and the refs not correct Jawaan Taylor's false starting and
illegal formations during camp???  The fact that the "TV ref" called out the on field
refs just put a huge target on Taylor's back.  The first play KC has next week on
offense he's going to get flagged 

[Allan Lazard would be KC’s best WR]

Jawaan Taylor just put a HUGE target on his back, refs will be calling illegal formations on

him like crazy

[Sacks and Turnovers]

30 minutes ago, rangerous said:

The thing is turnovers can be a two edged sword.  Sure it’s great if they have a net positive total. But if their record is based on turnovers and not good play then they could have trouble against solid teams.

Most turnovers are "luck", the only one that a defense can cause are strip sacks and even then

there's no way you can ensure a recovery.  Give me 50+ sacks and the best 3rd down % and I'll be happy

[Flag Plants: Give me 1 bold prediction about this year's team]

Bawden will have a double digit (10+) yard per catch average.  He'll be forgotten more than Lazard

[Costello building up to knock ‘em down]

The media will be churning out incredibly negative / stupid / controversial
takes this year like never before.  Why?  Because Elon is now giving out
$$$ based on your engagement on Twitter and people want that "free cash".
Real analysis is going to disappear, whatever stirs up anger will be the 
rule of the day.  Act accordingly and don't engage them, ignore them

[Flag Plants: Give me 1 bold prediction about this year's team]

With defenses focusing on Wilson, Lazard will lead the team in average yards per catch (16+).

He'll have a number of "chunk" plays when defenses "forget about him"

[Running back carries for week one]

2 hours ago, KRL said:

10 touches for each because Hall & Cook haven't been in any games yet

Shortsighted take, with the weather being warm and BUF not having a 10
deep DLine like us I could see Saleh wanting to grind on their defense.
So I could see the three RBs getting 15 touches each

[Running back carries for week one]

10 touches for each because Hall & Cook haven't been in any games yet

[What if....The Jets were able to draft Broderick Jones in the first round this year?]

6 minutes ago, Joe W. Namath said:

If James was drafted, he would be riding the pine as hes not starting over brown or becton.  

This!!!  Jones would've been the third tackle who would only see the field if Brown or Becton got hurt.

McDonald will be in every game as a "designated pass rusher" at a minimum

[Which Practice Squad Players Have a Chance to Contribute This Season?]

I'll say Trey Dean and Craig James because Ashtyn Davis and Bryce Hall aren't on solid ground

with their pre-season performances

[Mike Evans and Bucs hit snag]

If it happens I would expect it will be mid-season, credit to Evans he's been incredibly

productive and durable for his career:

https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/16737/mike-evans

 

[JD Pre-season Presser]

Awful interview and it had nothing to do with Douglas, it had everything to do

with the pathetic questions from the media.  They aren't going to have access

to the GM again until mid-season and the best they could do is "How excited

are you?" and "Do you feel pressure?".  Give me a break

[Bryce Hall takes a pay cut]

He wasn't good in the pre-season, so he had no leverage

[Jets Bring Back P Thomas Morstead and FB Nick Bawden]

Biggest shock is it seems they are actually going with 7 WRs.  Bawden decreases the need

for the fourth TE, his ability to catch and block makes him an HBack more than a FB

[Von Miller to Stay on PUP, Miss Week 1]

On top of Miller, Chris Jones never reported to KC so we may catch a break when

we play them

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10087702-chiefs-chris-jones-placed-on-reservedid-not-report-list-amid-contract-holdout

[1JD & Hard Knocks]

Props to Douglas for restricting access to the daily personnel meetings
where players are graded.  Hopefully that allows him to sneak players
he likes onto the practice squad