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Rodgers, Jets offense looking to start faster against Pats
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Rodgers, Jets offense looking to start faster against Pats

Aaron Rodgers will be feeling all sorts of emotions as he leads the Jets offense onto the field to a deafening roar at MetLife Stadium. Shortly after, he hopes to feel the joy of leading a touchdown drive on that first series Thursday night.

Despite all the talk that the Jets offense is off to a hot start this season, Rodgers said they need to improve on a few things and start games better, starting with this showdown with AFC East rival New England.

“It would be a shame to keep doing the same thing and expecting different results,” Rodgers said. “We’ve got to change a few things. We’ve got to get a little sharper. We’ve got to start quicker. We’ve started really slow the first two weeks. We’ve got to start quick, get something going in the first 15 (plays) and give our defense a chance to lead the way.”

The first 15 plays are scripted, so you can expect Rodgers’ fingerprints to be all over whatever the Jets play against New England in their home game.

Rodgers laid out the personnel alignment and play design for the Jets’ first touchdown in Tennessee on Sunday. Running backs Breece Hall and Braelon Allen were both in the game. Rodgers faked a pass to Hall, threw a screen to Allen, and he scored.

Overall, the Jets (1-1) have run three plays or fewer on seven of their 10 possessions in the first half. They scored touchdowns on their third series in Week 1 and fourth in the last game. By contrast, the Jets have four touchdowns and a field goal on 10 series in the second half.

“We just have to figure out what we have to do in the first 15 to go ahead and execute a little bit early,” Rodgers said. “I feel like we do a pretty good job once we get a first down. We’ve had too many three-and-outs so far.”

This will be Rodgers’ first game in what he calls “JetLife” Stadium since tearing his left Achilles tendon four snaps into last year’s season opener. Rodgers, 40, expects to feel “a lot of emotions.”

It also marks the first time since 1999 that the Jets will face the Patriots coached by someone other than Bill Belichick. Jerod Mayo replaced Belichick and uses some of his defensive principles.

The Jets are still growing offensively and working out some kinks. They are playing behind a new and much-improved offensive line and the addition of Rodgers for the first time. But the Jets have shown encouraging signs.

They’ve been in the end zone three times in every game. The Jets scored three TDs twice last season. The last time their offense scored at least three touchdowns in back-to-back games was Oct. 2-9, 2022. They haven’t scored three in a row since 2019.

The Jets could become a defensive nightmare if Garrett Wilson (10 catches, no touchdowns) and Mike Williams (one reception) get involved.

“It’s a funny feeling in the sense that we recognize we can be better, but we’re still scoring,” Robert Saleh said. “It’s back-to-back three-touchdown games, which hasn’t happened here in a long time. And we still look at it like, ‘Man, we’ve got so much more left in the tank.’

“Ultimately, we’re looking at an offense that’s still trying to learn itself, find itself and still be able to generate more scoring drives than most teams in the past in this organization.”

Rodgers and other Jets are impatient. They want this offense to take off as quickly as possible.

“I don’t even want to wait a couple weeks,” tight end Tyler Conklin said. “I’m excited to see where this offense can be on Thursday with a short week. We have all the pieces. We have the ability to be a really, really, really, really good offense. It’s up to us to continue to do what we can every day to be that.”

The difference maker is Rodgers. His ability to read defenses and change plays at the line of scrimmage is invaluable. Rodgers checked in an Allen run for the winning score in Tennessee.

Rodgers’ body is holding up in this tough opening stretch. The Jets are playing their third game in 11 days. It’s a grind for everyone, especially the NFL’s oldest player.

“It’s definitely a test for the body,” Rodgers said. “But we love playing, so having less time between games is great. It’s definitely tough on the body, tough on the week. Easier on a 20-year-old than a 40-year-old, but I’m ready to go Thursday night and looking forward to three days off.”

Two minutes of exercise

Linebacker CJ Mosley (toe) is officially questionable after missing practice this week. Jamien Sherwood would start if Mosley is unable to play.