3 Takeaways from Jets' Week 13 Loss vs. Falcons
The New York Jets failed to get back in the win column on Sunday, despite giving the Atlanta Falcons a fight in a 13-8 defensive battle.
New York started backup quarterback Tim Boyle in place of Zach Wilson for the second straight week. However, the Jets didn't let him finish the game, instead pulling him for journeyman Trevor Siemian following a third-quarter interception.
The tinkering at quarterback didn't give the Jets enough of a spark, and New York finished with only a pair of Greg Zuerlein field goals to go with a safety.
At 4-8, the Jets are all but out of the playoff mix, and they should already be looking ahead to 2024. All that remains is to play out the final five games and see if Aaron Rodgers makes a late-season appearance along the way.
Quarterback Isn't the Only Offensive Issue
Since losing Rodgers in Week 1, the Jets have now tried Wilson, Boyle and Siemian—who was added to the practice squad in late September—and gotten similar results.
Boyle was 14-of-25 for 148 yards and the pick when he was pulled. Siemian finished just 5-of-13 for 66 yards. It's entirely fair to wonder if New York would have had a better chance of winning had Wilson gotten another start.
The reality is that it doesn't much matter who is under center for the Jets, their offensive issues have been a constant. Coordinator Nathaniel Hackett has struggled to scheme receivers open and give his quarterbacks easy completions. The running game—which averaged a mere 2.5 yards per carry on Sunday—has failed to find consistent running room.
Hackett's offense has looked a lot like the mess it was with the Denver Broncos in 2022. He was hired, of course, as part of New York's attempt to lure Rodgers away from the Green Bay Packers, and with Rodgers out, Hackett has failed to adjust.
Wilson has rightfully taken criticism for his poor play over the last three seasons, but he's been far from New York's only problem this year.
There's No Reason for Rodgers to Return in 2023
Ever since he underwent a novel "speed bridge" procedure to repair his torn Achilles, Rodgers has flirted with the idea of returning before the end of the season. During the week, the Jets opened Rodgers' 21-day window for returning from injured reserve. However, NFL Media's Ian Rapoport reported on Sunday that a 2023 return was unlikely:
"After talking to sources throughout the week about Rodgers' situation, here's the summation of where it all stands: It's appearing unlikely that Rodgers plays in a game at all this season."
After watching New York crawl through another poor offensive showing, it's clear that Rodgers shouldn't return. The only argument for doing so now would be to create a little momentum and chemistry before the offseason.
However, the potential value of that isn't worth the risk of Rodgers suffering another injury. The Jets couldn't support him with a strong ground game or dependable pass protection—the Falcons recorded four sacks on Sunday—which would be a problem.
Rodgers is now a 40-year-old quarterback coming off of a very serious injury, He shouldn't be back on the field until New York has a better game plan and a superior supporting cast.
Changes Must Be Made in the Offseason
When a defense holds the opposition to 13 points, 194 net yards and 4-of-14 on third down, that team should have a chance to win. However, it never felt like the Jets—who had just one red-zone trip against Atlanta—were really capable of threatening.
The reality is that these Jets aren't very good, and they're somehow worse than last season.
The offensive line has now surrendered 32 sacks on the season. The offense has struggled to find consistent playmakers and has relied on the occasional big play from Breece Hall or Garrett Wilson. A defense that ranked fourth in both yards and points allowed in 2022 came into Sunday ranked 15th and 18th in those categories, respectively.
Hackett may stick around because of Rodgers, but the Jets have to make big changes to the roster and their approach to games. A good start may be moving on from players Rodgers wanted but who have contributed infrequently, like Randall Cobb, who wasn't even active on Sunday.
And if the Jets continue to flounder over the final five weeks, New York might have to consider moving on from Hackett or even head coach Robert Saleh, even if Rodgers isn't thrilled with the decision.
Not even Rodgers can make the team we saw on Sunday into a title contender.