Phillip Maxwell
In what was widely hyped during the offseason as a heavy weight bout between two of the most talented QBs in the NFL, the upcoming game this Sunday between the Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs and the New York Jets had “marquis friggin’ game” written all
over it. NFL fans thought they were finally going to see Aaron Rodgers match up against Patrick Mahomes who are arguably two of the best arms and minds in football.
As reoccurring fate would have it, once again an injury will prevent the fans from being able to witness these two legends square off due to Rodgers tearing his achilles on the fourth play of the first game of the 2023 season. That is a pretty short 2023 highlight reel…..even the USFL lasted longer than that.
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Greater forces unbeknownst to us must be at work here, because every time these two greats are set to match up, an injury to either one or the other throws a wrench in everything. A knee Patella Dislocation injury to Mahomes in 2019 and a Pedal Toe Fracture injury to
Rodgers in 2021 were the other two matchups that were thwarted due to flukey injuries. Now, I am afraid with Rodgers age — 39 — and the very difficult and very long task of coming back from an Achilles tear just might insure that we never get to see it happen… at least not in the regular season anyway.
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My nice way of saying Rodgers is an old man, in football years.
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Who knows, if Rodgers manages to get himself back into NFL shape after his rehab, a near future playoff game between the two could happen. I wouldn’t bet the farm on it though.
So it turns out that this Sundays matchup will feature Patrick Mahomes vs Zack Willson. Not exactly Ali vs Foreman Eh? Despite the phenomenal efforts by the Jets Defense in the first 3 games of the season, they are a disappointing 1-2. Mostly due to the erratic play of the offense. There is an enormous amount of tension in the Jets locker room as some of their defensive players have been
unable to withhold their frustration due to the dysfunctional play coming from the other side of the isle. From an article by BleacherReport called, “Robert Saleh’s Zach Wilson Support Has Defense ‘Not Happy” Scott Polacek quotes Rich Cimini as saying:
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“This defense knows that if any other player were performing his job the way Wilson is performing his, that player would be benched. Trust me, there’s tension in that locker room. I get the sense that this team could be ready to implode.”
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With the recent signing of veteran QB Trevor Siemian, New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh is finding himself having to answer a lot of questions in regards to his QB situation, he recently had this to say about Wilson, “We see on a day in and day out basis is a young man who is much improved from a year ago.” From SI.com Robert Saleh went on to say:
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“He’s much more confident, he’s much more accurate, he’s got much more command of the huddle, he looks better in the pocket. Could have been better yesterday, but he’s improved, and he’s getting better. He’s going through his progressions, and when he is hitting his back foot with his timing and rhythm, he looks fantastic, and you just don’t throw people away man. You just have to continue to work with him. He’s here, he gives us our best chance to win, and as coaches, we’re going to do everything we can to help him.”
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So for now, Wilson is still Saleh’s guy. I wouldn’t want to be Zach Wilson this Sunday. Here he is, the poor guy is hanging on to his starting role for dear life as Trevor Siemian hovers on the sidelines, salivating to take the reins and the man has the unfortunate task of facing Chris Jones in that situation?!! Having to face Trent McDuffie?!! And in general… having to face a Chiefs Defense that has just been stellar in the first 3 games thus far?
Sometimes when life gives you lemons, you are just stuck with lemons. The Jets 32nd ranked offense is about to face the 6th ranked defense of the Kansas City Chiefs. All I have to say is, good luck with that. As good as the Jets 20th ranked defense has looked at times, they have the inauspicious endeavor of taking on the 5th ranked Chiefs offense that is starting to find their legs.
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My Prediction?
Chiefs 34 – Jets 10
“You better cut the Pizza in 4 pieces,
because I’m not hungry enough to eat 6.
-Yogi Berra
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Phillip Maxwell — ArrowheadOne
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