The New York Jets have the longest active playoff drought in the NFL, having not made the playoffs since 2010. However, if the Jets can keep future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers healthy this upcoming season, a deep postseason run is a legitimate possibility.
Rodgers and New York's 2023 Super Bowl aspirations ended prematurely a year ago after just four plays into the season-opening matchup. A torn Achilles delayed the fortysomething signal-caller pursuit of another Vince Lombardi Trophy, while a dud at backup quarterback helped extend the Jets' playoff absence to 14 seasons.
Although the "Gang Green" will battle the Buffalo Bills and the Miami Dolphins for supremacy in a rugged AFC East division, Rodgers & Co. have their sights on the ultimate prize and the franchises' first home postseason game in 21 years.
The Jets passing attack finished near the bottom of the league in 2023 with 172 yards per game. Rodgers failed to attempt a pass last season, which resulted in Zach Wilson leading the team with 2,271 passing yards and eight touchdowns. Against all odds, Garrett Wilson caught 95 balls for 1,042 yards and three scores, while tight end Tyler Conklin had 61 catches for 621 yards.
Rodgers, who has thrown for more than 4,000 yards on 10 different occasions, will be slinging the ball to an impressive cast of pass-catchers. Wilson has tallied back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons despite catching passes from Wilson, Trevor Siemian, Mike White, Tim Boyle, and Joe Flacco. The 2022 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year is excited to catch passes from an all-time great.
"When you got him in front of you and all of a sudden, you're like, this dude can throw anything, he can throw it anywhere," Wilson said. "For me, it feels like pure football. It feels like I'm a kid again. I can kind of believe what I see, is the best way to put it.
"It's kind of just spending time together and playing, you know, you start to build this chemistry, this understanding for how he goes about his and how I go about mine. Right. It happens naturally. So, you know, I wouldn't say we were putting like, extra thought into it. At this point, we feel like we're in a good spot. You know, we definitely had to make up some time to start, but we feel like we've picked up kind of where we left off and now it's just about stacking days and finding a way to, to get better in little ways."
Veteran quarterback Tyrod Taylor provides New York with a proven backup in case Rodgers is sidelined again. The 35-year-old has posted a 29-28-1 record over 58 starts and is a massive upgrade over last year's carousel of passers.
Besides Wilson and Conklin, former Los Angeles Chargers' standout Mike Williams, Allen Lazard, and rookie Malachai Corley are the top receiving options. Williams played in only three games last season but is an elite WR2 when healthy.
The Jets also upgraded a porous offensive line that surrendered a whopping 64 sacks a year ago. Five-time All-Pro Tyron Smith joins ex-Raven John Simpson, Morgan Moses, Alijah Vera-Tucker, and center Joe Tippmann. While the men in the trenches boast much-needed experience, a lack of quality depth remains a concern.
New York has one of the league's premier running backs in Breece Hall. The former collegiate All-American compiled 994 rushing yards last season despite the Jets' lackluster passing game and could become New York's first 1,000-yard rusher since Chris Ivory in 2015. The 23-year-old is also a capable receiver who caught 76 passes for 591 yards and four touchdowns in 2023.
Rookie Braelon Allen is set to backup Hall and has a physical running style that netted nearly 3,500 rushing yards at Wisconsin. Other rookie running backs fighting for a few carries include 2023 fifth-rounder Israel Abanikanda and 2024 fifth-rounder Isaiah Davis.
The Jets calling card for the past few seasons has been one of the NFL's top-rated pass defenses. New York ranked third against the pass (via DVOA) last year and has surrendered only 34 passing touchdowns over the previous two seasons.
First-team All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner headlines a talented defensive secondary that has picked off 32 passes in their last 34 regular season games. Gardner has allowed just two scoring passes since debuting in 2022 while limiting quarterbacks to a 54.6% completion percentage. Other elite cornerbacks include DJ Reed and Michael Carter II. Chuck Clark and Tony Adams are the two starting safeties for a unit that should be in the running for the best defensive backfield in the NFL.
Pro Bowl defensive tackle Quinnen Williams anchors the line of one of the league's top defensive groups. The 26-year-old has 33 sacks in five seasons and notched his first interception last season. The status of holdout edge rusher Haason Reddick remains a mystery, which puts the focus on linemen Jermaine Johnson, Will McDonald, and Michael Clemons.
Johnson tallied 7.5 sacks last year en route to his first Pro Bowl in 2023. The former first-round pick led the ACC with 18 tackles for loss and 12 sacks during his final season at Florida State. McDonald and Clemons are set to be rotation fixtures for the Jets this season.
Linebackers C.J. Mosely and Quincy Williams are the main architects of the NFL's 14th-ranked Run Defense DVOA. Mosely has posted 150-plus tackles in each of the previous three seasons, while Williams finished with 15 tackles for losses. The defensive line also welcomes Javon Kinlaw, who tallied 3.5 sacks last year with the San Francisco 49ers.
Kicker Greg Zuerlein and punter Thomas Morstead are both veterans who enjoyed success in 2023. Zuerlein converted 92.1% of his field goals last season, while Morstead topped the league with 99 punts. Second-year return man Xavier Gipson, who averaged 23.2 yards per kick return and had a 65-yard game-winning return against the Bills, adds another layer of excitement. These reliable special teams players could be key factors to consider when betting on NFL games this season.
PREDICTION: 11-6
As the 2024 NFL season unfolds, the New York Jets present a fascinating case for bettors. With Aaron Rodgers at the helm and a roster full of potential, the Jets could finally end their playoff drought and make a deep postseason run.
Whether you're betting on a Super Bowl appearance or simply a winning season, legal NY sportsbooks offer a variety of options to wager on the Jets' success. Keep an eye on key matchups and player performances, as the odds could shift rapidly throughout the season.
