When the Jets traded for Aaron Rodgers, it is fair to say Jets fans expected games like yesterday's 30-6 win over the Houston Texans. The quarterback threw for 300 yards, the running game was good enough to keep the aggressive Texans defense off balance, and the Jets defense smothered first-year quarterback (and expected rookie of the year) C.J. Stroud, harassing him into barely more than 100 yards passing before knocking him out of the game in the fourth quarter. It was as complete a victory as the Jets have had this year and yet it was a perfect example of what makes this team uniquely frustrating because it was back-up Zach Wilson who was under center, not Rodgers, and the win itself just served to keep the faintest glimmer of playoff hopes alive for a team that has been historically inept on offense all year as the possibility (no matter how remote) of Rodgers's return dangles in front of a fan base who has had their hopes dashed more than Charlie Brown when Lucy pulls away the football at the last second.
Of course, this cruel tease may be short-lived. The Jets fly to Miami to play the Dolphins next weekend, a team they lost to on Black Friday by three touchdowns but what if they somehow find a way to win? After all, the defense has held quarterbacks to an average of just 170 yards a game and that loss occurred with Tim Boyle (since cut) at quarterback and a fluke play (a pick six to end the first half). It would be very on brand for the Jets to tease its fan base in this way, claw their way to 6-8 and then let sports talk radio go all in on SHOULD AARON RODGERS COME BACK THIS SEASON and if he does, immediately get injured again. This is the Jets, after all.
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