Changes!

Edition #520

Good morning. ☕

I got some good feedback on the style of yesterday’s post, so we’re going to stick to a similar format today. I’ll still do longer opinion pieces, but shorter and sharper newsletters will be the focus throughout the week.

We’re going to start this week with some power rankings and then we have a few more things to discuss, including the Jets division rivals deciding enough was enough with their offensive coordinator.

The Jets offence held a players-only meeting yesterday, in an effort to clear the air and get the season back on track: "The guys talked, and we had the floor," wide receiver Garrett Wilson said during his weekly spot on the "Bart & Hahn Show" on ESPN New York radio. "It was just us. We got to make sure we're all on the same page about where we're at and how the hell we get out of this funk, man. That was really the message. When it comes from one of your teammates, it always hits different. It always resonates a little bit more."

Aaron Rodgers came out to defend friend Nathaniel Hackett during his weekly appearance on the Pat McAfee show: "Yeah, yeah, I see it," Rodgers said of the criticism. "I won MVP twice in the same offense, so I'm a believer. I'm a believer in the offense. There are a lot of positions, you have to play better. But, yeah, it's easy right now to throw it at the usual suspects, Zach [Wilson] and Nathaniel, but there's a lot of positions that need to play better."

He also briefly spoke about his return after it was reported he is targeting the middle of December "There's no set date," he said. "I mean, it could change. If I have a great week this week and next week, that could be accelerated. If we're not in [contention] in three or four weeks, that could take it a different way. But I expect us to be in it and I expect to come back."

POWER RANKINGS

NFL - 22nd - Last Week 18th: “The criticism Zach Wilson received for his late interception against the Raiders was warranted. It was a poor decision and throw, and it ended the Jets’ best chance to take the lead late. The lack of offensive progress has been disappointing, but Wilson has made strides, even if the red-zone struggles and late-game mistakes are a big part of his story. He is taking fewer sacks, cutting back on turnovers, using his legs more and starting to gain confidence with big throws. He helped deliver the Eagles’ only loss. Wilson also played well against the Chiefs, with only the late giveaway (sound familiar?) marring his performance. Another problem is that the Jets aren’t disciplined around Wilson. C.J. Uzomah had two penalties in Sunday's loss, including one that called back a TD, and the Jets had eight total (seven on offense). That part gets put to the side too often.”

ESPN - 23rd -Last Week 18th: “Look, when you've gone 11 straight quarters without a touchdown, the next game is the biggest game. QB Zach Wilson needs to get the offense into the end zone, pronto, or it could be curtains for him. It's not all his fault, but something has to change if the drought continues, and the quickest fix is benching the quarterback. That it's a division opponent makes the game more important. A third straight loss would all but kill the Jets' faint playoff hopes.”

The Athletic - 27th - Last Week 24th - “The Aaron Rodgers injury was a tough break. The defense, which is Robert Saleh’s speciality, is great. But Saleh is now 15-28 in his third year in New York. The Jets may be forcing quarterback Zach Wilson on Saleh, but having the third-fewest rushing attempts in the league (198) while Wilson is at quarterback and Breece Hall is on the team does fall at Saleh’s feet.”

NBC - 23rd - Last Week 19th - “Soon, any talk of Aaron Rodgers returning this year will be moot.”

CBS - 21st - Last Week 20th - “They just don't score enough. That begs this question: Should they have made a move for a veteran quarterback after Aaron Rodgers went down?”

Yahoo Sports - 23rd - “Imagine being a member of the Jets' front office watching Josh Dobbs ball out while you publicly support Zach Wilson. Embarrassing way to flush a season with a championship defense down the drain.”

Bleacher Report - 22nd - Last Week 17th - “If only Aaron Rodgers hadn't gotten hurt. With each successive week, that sentence echoes louder and louder in the ears of Jets fans who have seen a summer of excitement and anticipation turn into a fall of watching Greg Zuerlein kick field goals. The Jets have an excellent defense. Skill-position talent. But as Moton wrote, with Zach "Wormburner" Wilson at quarterback, the one thing these Jets don't have is any real chance of making the postseason.”

Jets release Michael Carter & Craig James