Week 10 Power Rankings

November is finally upon us! The leaves are falling and the cold weather is starting to set in. This is football weather. Teams are hitting and running the football is paramount as the season drags along. For the first time in over a month, we have a mainstay at the number one spot as the Philadelphia Eagles held on this week to defeat the Dallas Cowboys. This week’s theme? The middling teams. The teams jarring and jockeying for playoff positioning. That is now an important thing. We’ve had 9 rookie quarterbacks start a game this season, which is on the cusp of an NFL record, but guys are getting healthy. We can expect Deebo Samuel back this week for the 49ers as they travel to Jacksonville in one of, if not the best game of the week. Justin Fields also may return tomorrow against Carolina. So guys are getting healthy. And if you think your team is out - my Jaguars were 2-6 at this point last year before they went on their run. So anything is possible. Lets get to it!

POWER RANKINGS - WEEK 9 (November 2nd - November 6th)

Playoffs Already? Yes, Playoffs Already

1. Philadelphia Eagles (-) The Eagles broke the mini curse. After defeating the Cowboys in a 28-23 thriller, Philly just keeps racking up wins. Have they looked as dominant as last year? No. Bust does it matter? Also no. The Eagles are 8-1 and will be in the playoffs again looking to get back to their second consecutive Super Bowl.

2. Baltimore Ravens (-) The Ravens answered the bell yet again against a premiere opponent by destroying the Seahawks on Sunday. While the division may not be a lock yet, the playoffs absolutely are. This team is 7-2 and is not looking back. They are extremely dangerous.

3. Kansas City Chiefs (-) This team just doesn’t lose back to back games. The defense was on display again as they thwarted any type of Dolphins comeback Sunday morning in Germany. The offense still seems “broken” but while it finds itself, the defense is carrying the load. The secondary is the best its ever been under Reid.

The Kings of the Jungle

4. Jacksonville Jaguars (-) The Jags were on a bye this week, and the most important thing is that this team got healthy. Going into their game against the 49ers Sunday, all but Zay Jones should be suited up and playing. If the Jaguars came beat San Francisco at home, the team is officially a Super Bowl threat and a lock for the playoffs. Make no mistake, its a big game Sunday in Duval County.

5. Detroit Lions (+1) Our first mover of the week even though they were on bye. Their hold on the NFC North is strong, but all of the sudden the Vikings are coming up fast in the rearview mirror. An important game against the Chargers in LA is on deck. A loss and a Minnesota win shrinks the NFC North lead to one game.

6. Cincinnati Bengals (+2) Last week I said they were back. Boy, are they really back. Joe Burrow has looked incredible and the Bengals are back to being firm Super Bowl contenders. However, the hole they dug at the beginning of the year now causes every game to be important here on out in a crowded AFC.

All Eyes Are On You

7. San Francisco 49ers (+3) A week off for Frisco showed how good they actually are. Coming off a bye, look for things to get right as they travel to Jacksonville for a 1pm game. It should be a great game. Look for the Niners to get back to running the ball.

8. Dallas Cowboys (-1) A tough fought loss at Philly drops them a spot, but it seems we are the point in the year where “experts” are talking about the Boys in blue as Super Bowl contenders. Reminder - this team hasn’t been to a conference title game since 1995. And they will be judged on that and only that.

9. Miami Dolphins (-4) 0-3 against teams over .500. Not good enough. The Dolphins are officially the Cowboys of the AFC until they prove otherwise. This team is not a lock for the playoffs until they can beat those teams. A week off is much needed as they need to figure things out.

Getting Taped Up for the Fight

10. Cleveland Browns (+4) The defense did its job but pitching a shutout against rookie Clayton Tune and the Arizona Cardinals. They are sitting at 5-3 and currently the six seed in the AFC standings. Let’s see how good they are this week when they play the Ravens for a second time. Last time didn’t go well, and they want to be in the dance, they are going to have to beat their AFC North counterparties.

11. Minnesota Vikings (+1) And another one! Josh Dobbs doesn’t know anyone, but who cares. The Vikes fought back and stunned the Atlanta Falcons and are over .500 after starting 0-3. An incredible turnaround. Kevin O’Connell deserves a bunch of credit.

12. Seattle Seahawks (-3) Embarrassed in Baltimore. When Detroit did, they answered the bell the following week. Seattle is home for Washington this week. They should beat them. The difference between 6-3 and 5-4 is monumental. And Geno Smith needs to pick it up.

13. Houston Texans (+3) The CJ Stroud game. The kid is a baller and pulled a rabbit out of his hat Sunday. The front runner for the OROY, the Texans may have found something. They are on the outside looking in right now, but they are for sure in the fight.

14. Pittsburgh Steelers (+1) They cooled down the Will Levis train on Thursday as they handled the Titans, but they continue to win ugly. I’m extremely skeptical that it's sustainable but your record says who you are, and the Steelers are 5-3.

15. Buffalo Bills (-2) If the season ended today, the Buffalo Bills wouldn’t qualify for the playoffs. A lot of people in the off-season thought that Buffalo may not up to snuff this year and so far it’s been true. Yea, their talent is really good, but they need to win games. A hot Denver team is on deck at home Monday Night.

16. Los Angeles Chargers (+2) A statement win on Monday in Metlife against the Jets. Their offense wasn’t great, but the defense stepped up big time. The Chargers are now 4-4 and firmly in the hunt. They have a massive game at home against the Lions Sunday.

17. New Orleans Saints (-) They won a game they were supposed to. They are now 5-4 in what continues to be a see-saw season. They were the favorites for the division going into the season and may be the best of the bunch when it's all set and done.

Stuck in the Atmosphere

18. New York Jets (-7) An extremely uninspiring performance from the Jets on Monday where they really could’ve taken control of a ton. The offense simply didn’t show up. Zach Wilson aint it. The offensive line is terrible. And Robert Saleh should be coaching for his job. Don’t care about the Rodgers injury.

19. Washington Commanders (+4) It’s hard to pinpoint where they truly belong in the NFL. They are 4-5 and I think that’s about right. They gave up both of their young, premiere EDGE rushers at the deadline, sending a message to fans that they are essentially starting over. I think Ron Rivera’s days are numbered.

20. Indianapolis Colts (+5) In a game a lot of people thought they could lose, they handled their business. This isn’t a playoff team, but it’s not an easy out either. Take away their two losses to Jacksonville and this team is 4-3!

21. Las Vegas Raiders (+5) Pretty wild how much Josh McDaniels affected that locker room. An inspiring victory against the Giants at home on Sunday sets them up for a big, big matchup against the Jets on Sunday Night. A win puts them at .500 and in the mix for a wild card spot. Wild stuff.

22. Denver Broncos (-1) On a bye last week, Denver is sitting at 3-5 and made no moves at the trade deadline. Extremely interesting. I don’t hope this team thinks they have a shot at hell at the playoffs, but its going to be really interesting to see what happens down the stretch.

FRAUDS

23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-4) This team is cooked. I would’ve kept the door open if they won that game in Houston but after blowing it I’m done. And this isn’t Baker’s fault either. Its about everyone else outside of Baker that’s the problem.

24. Atlanta Falcons (-2) Arthur Smith should be fired. If not for anything else, for his usage of Bijan Robinson alone. You’re not smarter than everyone else man. Your team is under .500, so whatever you are doing isn’t working.

25. Tennessee Titans (-5) When we believe, they let us down. Will Levis wasn’t bad on Thursday, but he also wasn’t fantastic. Yes, he made a couple of throws, but as Mike Vrabel said - WE lost. The Titans can theoretically only afford two more losses and I just don’t think that’s in the cards.

What Do You Provide, Exactly?

26. Green Bay Packers (+4) Sure, they won. They beat Brett Rypien and didn’t look great doing it. Not a good first year under Jordan Love for the Pack.

27. Los Angeles Rams (-3) We got fooled and thought this team was decent. They are not. They are bad. 3-6 at the break and two games out of a wild card spot they are alive, but they need to go on some sort of run and still have to play the 49ers and Seahawks again.

28. Chicago Bears (-) I swear, this team just exists. Cole Kmet had a pulse Sunday. And this kid Bagent isn’t awful. But hey, Justin Fields may come back against the PANTHERS, so when he lights it up lets not forget to act like he’s Steve Young.

The Shit Under My Shoe

29. New England Patriots (-2) Holy shit, they’re terrible. We all saw it coming, but I think its worse than we anticipated.

30. Carolina Panthers (-1) Bryce Young, you have a TON of work to do.

31. New York Giants (-) My fucking lord. Just good christ. The fall from grace is astounding.

32. Arizona Cardinals (-) Kyler comes back this week. Soooooo about the tank?

Week 7 Power Rankings

We are firmly not entrenched in the meat of the NFL season. Last week we talked about teams finding their identities, but now it seems teams are starting to separate themselves from the pack. There were some big time performances last week including the Browns and Jets amongst others, but teams we thought we were out on, we might need to reconsider. The public has spoken and the overwhelming majority enjoyed the format last week, so we roll on putting teams in tiers. Lets get to it!

POWER RANKINGS - WEEK 6 (October 12th-October 16th)

Eyes on the Prize!

1. Detroit Lions (+3) For the first time in a while, we have a new number one. Both 5-0 teams went down this week, but the Lions (!) are the model of consistency in the NFL. Another test passed as they went into Tampa Bay and dropped the Bucs on cremesicle day.

2. San Francisco 49ers (-1) Drop the Niners one spot with their shocking loss to Cleveland with PJ Walker under center. The Browns do flaunt the best defense in the league, and they made Brock Purdy look like a human being. The injuries to CMC, Deebo and Trent Williams are concerning.

3. Kansas City Chiefs (+2) The only game they’ve lost this year is without their two best players not named Mahomes, and it was by one point. Everyone knows this team hasn’t fully clicked on offense yet, and they haven’t skipped a beat. The Chiefs are the new Patriots.

4. Miami Dolphins (-1) They drop due to no fault of their own. They continue to wear teams down with their offensive explosions every week. A small scare from Tyreek Hill, but he came back quickly. Jalen Ramsey’s 21 day window is officially open to help a defense that has struggled at times this season.

Knocking On the Door

5. Philadelphia Eagles (-3) Yup, I dropped the Eagles out of the first tier. This team has been flirting with getting away with bad play all year, and it finally bit them on Sunday. Another subpar performance from Jalen Hurts, who now has 7 INTs on the year, and the Eagles don’t seem like a team that SHOULD be 5-1. They have an absolutely monumental game against Miami next week on SNF at home.

6. Jacksonville Jaguars (+1) This team went to London for 10 days and beat two teams who had winning records. They come back to Jacksonville and beat another team with a winning record. They are starting to find themselves. A trip to the Big Easy on a short week (and their 3rd city in 12 days) will be a big test with T-Law questionable to play.

7. Dallas Cowboys (+3) It’s not surprising that the Cowboys came out after a big loss and won a game on the road against a tough opponent. It’s how they will respond coming off that big win.

8. Buffalo Bills (-) For the second week in a row, the offense struggled mightily. This week it was against the lowly Giants at home on the national stage. Buffalo went through a small rut last year. Is this that rut?

WHAT ARE YOU - AFC NORTH EDITION

9. Baltimore Ravens (+3) We all watched that game Sunday morning. The Ravens are the exact same team as last year. You can’t convince me otherwise. For all the hype Todd Monken got over the off-season, this team’s play calling in the red zone was abysmal. It needs to be better.

10. Cleveland Browns (+6) This defense is unreal. They took the key out of the machine that is the 49ers and made them look like kids playing at a park. They did JUST enough offensively to squeak out a win. If the offense can be good consistently, look out.

11. Cincinnati Bengals (+7) After all the talk about how bad the Bengals were, and they were that bad early on, they go into their bye week one game out of first place. Un-frickin-believable.

I SEE YOU FAM !

12. Los Angeles Rams (+8) The Rams take a major step this week as they win a game they were supposed to win. Cooper Kupp is officially back and the Rams will be in this thing in December.

13. Seattle Seahawks (-7) This was a measuring stick game for the Seahawks, and they failed. They couldn’t protect Geno and only mustered 13 points against a struggling Bengals team. The defense continues to impress and Devon Witherspoon is now the clear front runner for the DROY.

14. Houston Texans (+5) DeMeco Ryans has this team grinding every week. These guys feel like they are never out of a game and always punch their opponent in the mouth - that’s a dangerous combination.

15. New York Jets (+6) Everyone wrote the Jets off, but they continue to show that their roster was more than A-Rod. A big, big win at home against the Eagles (for the first time) has them riding high into the bye. Their next 3 games (Giants, Chargers, Raiders) gives them a huge opportunity to put themselves in fantastic position. Time for Zach Wilson to put on his big boy pants.

PRETENDER TERRITORY

16. New Orleans Saints (-5) This team has an all world defense but has nothing to offer on offense. And it’s mind boggling with so many good players. I wouldn’t be shocked if they beat Jacksonville Thursday or got blown out. I know one thing - this teams inconsistency will hold them back.

17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-8) Unfortunately, this is an unserious football team. They had two big tests this year (Eagles, Lions) and failed both miserably as they were outscored 45-17 in both contests. Its a cute story, but the Bucs aren’t a serious threat in the NFC.

18. Pittsburgh Steelers (-3) The drop here has to do with teams that are clearly better than them (Rams, Texans, Jets). They can prove me wrong this week by beating said Rams on the road.

19. Los Angeles Chargers (-2) Another big loss for this football team. Conversations need to be had about this offense and Justin Herbert. I don’t care that he’s second in the NFL in game winning drives since his arrival. How many big wins does this team have since he’s been there?

THE ABYSS

20. Washington Commanders (+2) As up and down a team as you will see. If things check out, they will lose to the Giants this week. I don’t know what this team needs.

21. Atlanta Falcons (-7) I am officially out on Atlanta. Desmond Ridder suffered his first home loss and was pathetic on Sunday. The clock is ticking on him, officially.

22. Minnesota Vikings (+4) The Vikings have won two games in a row and after an 0-4 start, they find themselves one game out of a wild card spot. They also have the 49ers on deck. I believe their season is on the line Monday.

23. Las Vegas Raiders (-) Out of any team in the NFL, the Raiders have an opportunity to make a big splash here. They now sit at 3-3, but their schedule is extremely favorable. Jimmy G being hurt isn’t great, but Brian Hoyer isn’t the worst backup in the world. I will say, Hoyer vs. Bagent Sunday is riveting TV.

24. Green Bay Packers (+1) They were on bye this past week and hopefully got healthy. If they want a playoff spot, beat the Broncos on the road.

BACK TO REALITY

25. Indianapolis Colts (-12) With AR probably out for the season now, we got a glimpse of what life with Gardner Minshew is like. Not great Bob. The sad reality is that this team would’ve been a threat with a growing AR, but it looks like it will have to wait another year.

26. Tennessee Titans (-2) As long as this team refuses to come into this decade, they will be what they are. And right now, they have become the worst team in the AFC South.

WILL YOU GIVE CALEB WILLIAMS A STOCK IN OWNERSHIP?

27. Chicago Bears (-) Remember when the Justin Fields hype was going on for like 10 days? Me too. That ended Sunday as well his time being on the field with an injury. Tyson Bagent time!

28. New York Giants (+2) For the first time in a month they looked like they didn’t belong in the California Penal League.

29. Arizona Cardinals (-) Without James Conner and Budda Baker give me one reason to watch the Cardinals.

30. Denver Broncos (-2) The firesale is coming. Pre-Order your tickets at www.denverbroncos.com

31. New England Patriots (-) You guys think Mac Jones is cross-eyed?

32. Carolina Panthers (-) At least Bryce Young likes Spider-Man.

Week 3 Power Rankings

Yes, we are a little late to the party. But Week 3 hasn’t REALLY started yet. After a couple of weeks, teams identities are starting to come into form. But the end of September is when the teams who were down in the dumps last year really rise to make their mark. The teams at the top haven’t changed week over week, but there is a lot of jumping and hopping in the middle. Let’s get right to it.

Power Rankings - Week 2 (September 15th-18th)

1. San Francisco 49ers (-) Frisco had a more competitive game last week against the Rams, but the fans showed out as they took over SoFi Stadium. A win was never really in doubt.

2. Dallas Cowboys (-) For the second week in a row, the defense dominated. But the offense got going and handled a really good Jets defense. They have outscored their opponents 70-10 in the first two weeks and travel to Arizona. The loss of Trevon Diggs cannot be understated.

3. Miami Dolphins (-) Miami is now 2-0 on the road. Tua is 5-0 against Bill Belichick. The fins found another way to win by running the ball, and for the second week in a row the defense came up big when it needed to.

4. Philadelphia Eagles (-) I kept them here out of respect for them, but they have not looked good for two weeks in a row. They are a Justin Jefferson fumble and a Kayhson Bouttee foot from possibly being 0-2.

5. Baltimore Ravens (+6) Baltimore knew this game would be tough, but they handled their business and are now 2-0. For the Ravens though, the trend seems to be about how they finish, not how they start.

6. Kansas City Chiefs (+2) So far it’s been about defense. Against two high powered offenses, the Chiefs defense has given up two total touchdowns so far. Their secondary has vastly improved year over year.

7. Washington Commanders (+12) Sam Howell has looked very good after two weeks. The defense had seven more sacks and if not for the Hail Mary, they would have won comfortably in Denver. If they can find a way to beat Buffalo at home this week, you better start believing.

8. Buffalo Bills (+9) A complete 180 from week one. Josh Allen was almost perfect and the defense was excellent. They travel to Washington to face an up and coming Commanders team.

9. Detroit Lions (-2) The loss of CJ Garner-Johnson is huge. The secondary still has its issues defending the pass. 31 points should be enough to win at home, but until the Lions figure it out defensively, its hard to see them getting extremely far.

10. Jacksonville Jaguars (-5) The offense was pathetic on Sunday, not scoring once in four red zone trips. The defense has been outstanding, giving up a shade over 15 PPG in two weeks to start the year. They should be able to right the ship against Houston.

11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+5) Baker has been playing loose and free, and it’s showing. The defense is not done yet, and these guys are playing inspired. Kudos to Todd Bowles, who we’ve crushed in the past for these guys getting off to a good start. Huge test Monday night against the Eagles.

12. New Orleans Saints (+1) The defense has been outstanding so far, although it’s been against two subpar offenses. The offense needs to figure out how to score in the red zone. That flaw has seemed to follow Derek Carr from Vegas to New Orleans.

13. Atlanta Falcons (+7) Gutsy win at home against Green Bay. This defense is legit. Another week of watching these boys and I’m doubling down on the NFC version of the Titans.

14. Cleveland Browns (-8) You can’t underestimate the loss of Nick Chubb. Probably the best pure runner in the game, he will be missed. Now all the pressure lies on the QB who is making the most guaranteed money in the NFL. And he hasn’t looked good in 8 contests in a Browns uniform.

15. Cincinnati Bengals (-3) For the fourth time in five years, the Bengals have started 0-2. I am not worried…yet. If this Burrow calf injury lingers, then yes, I will be officially worried.

16. Los Angeles Rams (-2) The Rams stayed competitive against San Francisco, but they did revert a little bit to 2022 Rams. We will see how things go on Monday against a desperate Bengals team who may or may not be without their star QB.

17. Green Bay Packers (-7) Jordan Love is playing well, but the accuracy is a clear issue. There is no doubt I think the Aaron Jones injury played a part in the loss on Sunday. But i’m fully blaming the defense for a 4th quarter collapse.

18. Seattle Seahawks (+7) In a game they had to win, Seattle walked into Detroit again and beat the Lions for the second straight season. Geno Smith was excellent, as was Tyler Lockett. The Hawks better figure out the defense though. Second week in a row they gave up 30+ points.

19. Tennessee Titans (+5) Is anyone surprised the Titans have played two games that came down to the wire? This time they came out on top, and Ryan Tannehill quelled the QB controversy talk for at least one week.

20. New York Jets (-11) Yes, they went against the vaunted Cowboys defense. But reality set in this week for the Jets. This is a vastly different team with Zach Wilson. They need to get the run game going, and the defense needs to step up in big games. A 14 game losing streak against the Patriots is on the line next week.

21. Indianapolis Colts (+6) We saw the full Anthony Richardson experience on display. He ran for two scores in the first quarter, but also got hurt for the second week in a row. This time, it was a concussion that took him out of the game and will reportedly miss week 3. The kid has to be able to protect himself.

22. Las Vegas Raiders (-4) Who are the real Raiders? We will find out Sunday Night as they host the Steelers. The offense hasn’t produced a 20 point game yet, and with Davante Adams and Josh Jacobs, you think that should be quite easy.

23. New York Giants (+7) Well, it took the Giants a massive second half comeback against the Arizona Cardinals to keep the NY fans from having a full blown panic attack. I wish we had a camera for Brian Daboll in that half time locker room.

24. Los Angeles Chargers (-9) I’m done with the Chargers. Is this team ever going to win a close game? Their season is on the line Sunday in Minnesota.

25. Minnesota Vikings (-2) After going 11-0 in one score games last year, the Vikes are now 0-2. The arrival of Cam Akers should help the run game, but they need a win Sunday at home to keep their season afloat.

26. Pittsburgh Steelers (+2) This is your yearly reminder to NEVER take pre-season to seriously.

27. New England Patriots (-5) It’s actually sad when you see a team playing hard and doing the best they can, but they’re just not good enough. That’s the reality in Foxborough. They just don’t have the horses. Bill always gets his guys up for Jets week though.

28. Denver Broncos (-7) Sean Payton has made this team more competent, sure. But they are still losing games. Two straight to start the year at home, and now they travel to Miami…

29. Houston Texans (-2) CJ Stroud hasn’t looked bad at all, but the team is just not good. Now we have injuries to Derek Stingley, Laremy Tunsil, Jalen Pitre and Jimmie Ward. Woof.

30. Carolina Panthers (+1) Yes, they moved up after a loss. But that is an indictment on the team behind them.

31. Chicago Bears (-2) Dumpster fire.

32. Arizona Cardinals (-) “Caleb Williams, no matter what” (Kevin Costner voice)

The Jets and Aaron Rodgers - A Love Story

March 17th. Yes, today is St. Patrick’s Day. And while those who celebrate will pack the bars and pubs and sing and dance, other individuals, those who are in lockstep with the football community, may remember this an as anniversary of some sorts. Five years ago today, the New York Jets traded up for the number three draft selection in the 2018 NFL Draft where they selected Sam Darnold. There is no reason to revisit those tumultuous years for the sake of Jets fans reading this, but it is important to note for the rest this love story. Fast forward to now, and the Jets organization are on their third head coach (Bowles, Case, Saleh), their second general manager (Maccagnan, Douglas) and have been through a litany of starting quarterbacks (too many to name).

This past season saw gang green finish 7-10, but also had the rookie of the year on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. How rare is that? It has only happened twice since the Super Bowl era (1967 Detroit Lions, 2017 New Orleans Saints). One would think that two rookies of the year, coupled with players like Quinnen Williams, CJ Mosley, and DJ Reed amongst some others would have finished above .500. Alas, the Jets did not, and their playoff-less streak extended to a league leading twelve years. And the only saving grace for the Jets fan was that they did not have the longest playoff drought within the four major sports. Well, that is going to end - the NBA’s Sacramento Kings are currently 42-27 and will end their sixteen year long playoff drought. Once that officially happens, the Jets (and the Buffalo Sabres) will own the longest droughts in sports.

The AFC is currently loaded with quarterback talent. Led by two time Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes, the conference also boasts Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, Trevor Lawrence, Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson. How in the world would the Jets be able to compete with that? Even the legendary Mike White only lasted two games before his ribs seemed to burst through his chest. But all love stories aren’t so black and white, right? It’s not like the Jets have been chasing for their franchise QB since Joe Namath retired, right? I digress, but seriously, HOW WOULD THEY BE ABLE TO COMPETE? Simple - four walls and no lights.

Last off-season the NFL went through this whole charade with Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers, the two lynchpins or our sport for the better part of the past 15 years. Brady retired, then unretired, and Rodgers seemed to do everything under the sun before coming back. Both of these icons struggled this past season with Rodgers Green Bay Packers being eliminated from playoff contention in front of the entire country, at home, in Week 18 against the already eliminated Detroit Lions. Brady won another division title, although it was at an embarrassing 8-9 record, and the Bucs promptly got stomped on by the Dallas Cowboys in the Wild Card round. Brady retired (again) and seemingly for good, while Rodgers noted he would take his time and talk to whoever he needed to, and take whatever drugs he needed to put him in the right “mental space”. But the Jets had been linked as a destination for a while if A-Rod would actually leave Green Bay. Things only grew when owner Woody Johnson said he would take whatever it took to get a QB to win some games. Even Douglas and Saleh admitted that a veteran presence was needed at the position - and no, not Joe Flacco.

The Jets had links though - to other free agent quarterbacks. Jimmy G for instance, played with Saleh while he was the defensive coordinator for San Francisco. Then the Jets brought Derek Carr in for a visit, where they told him he would be a hall of famer if he won in New York. The entire time though, Rodgers to the Jets had some sort of hope, some sort of glimmer. Kind of the like the girl or boy you watch from a distance and they have no idea how you really feel. And then the Jets hired the former disgraced Denver Broncos head coach Nathanial Hackett as their new offensive coordinator. His connection to Rodgers? Only the fact that he was his OC in Green Bay for a couple of NFC Championship appearances. He was also the OC for the Jacksonville Jaguars for their run in 2017 with Blake Bortles. But would that really lure Rodgers over to NYC?

Over the past couple of weeks, you couldn’t turn on a radio station in the city without the hosts talking about Rodgers and the Jets. It had already happened. They fell in love with the idea that this guy could come in and save them. But how many times have the Jets been burned before? The last time they got an aging Green Bay quarterback, he started off 9-2 only to get hurt and lose his last five games and miss the playoffs altogether. He then went to Minnesota the next year and took the Vikings to the NFC title game. His name shall remain nameless because we don’t want to take away the spotlight from Aaron.

His darkness retreat couldn’t have come at a better time (sarcasm, folks) as the other quarterbacks who would even sniff starting this year landed in other qb needy locations. So it’s Rodgers or bust for the Jets. They put their eggs all in one basket. He hadn’t said anything for more than a week after he came out of the box (literally), and then finally broke his silence where he said he had some things to say on the Pat McAfee show. He spoke about before going into the retreat, he was 90% retired. After he came out, his mind had changed. He stated his intentions to play for the Jets this upcoming season. Aaron Rodgers, who is a top ten QB of all-time, seemingly came out of retirement to come play for the New York Jets. But a trade still needed to happen between the two clubs, which as of this article has still not occurred yet.

The news of Rodgers wanting to play for the Jets nearly broke the internet, but in a very peculiar way. There are people who think it’s a bad move. There are Jets fans who want no part of Aaron Rodgers - because he may be a weird guy, because he’s going on his age 39 season, or because he can only give the Jets 1-2 years at the max. Let's go through a couple of things really quick here. First, and I can’t overstate this: Aaron Rodgers WANTS to play for the New York Jets. Can anyone reading this please tell me the last time a superstar player, specifically at the quarterback position, said publicly they want to play for the Jets? I can't. Second, who absolutely cares if he is only here for 1-2 years? When healthy, he very well may be the most talented thrower of the football I’ve ever seen. I say when healthy because he wasn’t fully healthy last season. Lastly, the Jets are ready to win right now.

With Rodgers at the helm, put the Jets in the same boat as the Bills, Dolphins, Jaguars and Chargers. We have to leave the Bengals and Chiefs in their own category for right now until one of these other teams proves they can beat them. But think about that. The J-E-T-S are in the conversation now. With a defense that finished in the top five last year, and not one, but two rookies of the year, this team is poised to end their playoff drought.

Now, can the Jets not make the playoffs? Yes. I counted seven teams in that last paragraph, but we did not mention the Ravens (assuming Lamar returns), the Browns - with a full year of DeShaun Watson, and the Broncos - with Sean Payton seemingly there to “fix” Russell Wilson. That’s ten teams potentially vying for seven spots. So can the Jets get unlucky and can guys get hurt? Of course. Can the Rodgers decline last year be absolutely real? Sure. But we aren’t here for that today. Every single Jets fan should be excited about this upcoming season. Aaron Rodgers will be your quarterback. He will be throwing the ball to Garrett Wilson. Breece Hall will be back. Sauce Gardner will be locking down the opponent’s number one receiver. Quinnen Williams will be saying “bless me” when he sacks the quarterback. The New York Jets will have as good as a chance as any team in the AFC to dethrone the Chiefs.

So on the five year anniversary of a trade that completely backfired, take your victory lap, Jets fans. Because in a love story, the guy always gets the girl in the end. And well, the Jets got the girl. Yea, you can say it again - The Jets got the girl.