Rodgers has helped fuel Jets' success on third down and now they face a tough test against Broncos

Updated Sep. 26, 2024 5:32 p.m. ET

Associated Press

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Joe Tippmann offered a simple explanation for why the New York Jets have been the NFL's best team in third down situations this season.

“Aaron Rodgers,” the center said with a laugh.

It certainly appears the veteran quarterback's presence has made all the difference as the Jets converted 21 of 37 opportunities (56.8%) in the first three games. That's a far cry from last year, when New York was the worst in the league with a 26% third down conversion rate.

“He’s a guy that’s out there communicating, getting us to kind of the right call, right play,” Tippmann said of Rodgers. "He’s breaking down the defense before they’re even showing what they have. So for him to be able to do that and get us on the same page, and then he just gets time to work and make something happen.

“And that’s what he’s phenomenal at doing.”

Rodgers and the Jets (2-1) will try to keep that third down success going Sunday at MetLife Stadium when they take on star cornerback Patrick Surtain II and the third-ranked defense of the Denver Broncos (1-2). They've held opponents to a 30.6% conversion rate on third down, eighth best in the NFL.

“The front’s really good,” Rodgers said. “The backers are athletic and sideline-to-sideline players. Pat is one of the best players in the league at any position and the back end is playing well. I mean, they’ve played three games, they’ve played solid on defense, so it’s going to be a good test for us.”

The same could be said for rookie quarterback Bo Nix and the Broncos' offense, which will face the Jets' seventh-ranked defense.

Nix, the 12th overall pick in this year’s draft, still hasn't thrown a touchdown pass. But he joined Tim Tebow (2010) and Marlon Briscoe (twice in 1968) as the only Broncos to throw for 200 yards and run for 40 in a game, doing so in Denver's 26-7 victory over Tampa Bay last week for the team's first win.

“We handled it well, just moving forward, going to the next practice, going to the next game,” Nix said. "We’ve got a new opponent, and that’s what we’re worried about.”

Hitting the road

After beating Tampa Bay, the Broncos stayed on the East Coast and spent the week preparing for the Jets at The Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia.

Coach Sean Payton said the Broncos requested the NFL schedule two of their games this season in the Eastern Time Zone in consecutive weeks so they could stay in that part of the country rather than have the players and coaches bouncing back and forth between time zones.

“We’re growing a bond here,” Surtain said. “You could tell the level of chemistry is building and building each and every day while we’re in this place.”

Within reach

Rodgers is close to another major milestone in a career filled with them.

The Jets quarterback needs 321 yards passing to become the ninth player in NFL history with 60,000. Rodgers joked earlier in the week that it would be a nice achievement, but it also means he has been around a while.

But if the 40-year-old Rodgers accomplishes the feat, it would also end a dubious drought. He hasn't passed for 300 or more yards in 25 regular-season games — 26, including the playoffs.

Lost leader

The Broncos defense took a hit when it lost defensive captain Alex Singleton for the season with a torn ACL.

The inside linebacker who directed Denver’s defense was injured in the first quarter at Tampa Bay last week, but stayed in and played all 57 defensive snaps. Singleton led the team in tackles in 2022 and ’23 and was their leading tackler this season with 31 stops through three weeks.

“We’re going to miss him,” Surtain said.

No added fuel

Payton made some headlines before last season when he said former Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett did “one of the worst coaching jobs in the history of the NFL” during a 4-11 stint in Denver in 2022.

At that time, Rodgers came to the defense of Hackett, now New York's offensive coordinator, saying the comments were “inappropriate.” More than a year later, Rodgers isn't holding a grudge when he plays against Payton and the Broncos for the first time.

“Nah, that’s old news, you know?” Rodgers said. “We’ve all said things that we’d like to take back. Some things have been said and taken out of context, I’m sure, from time to time. But I honestly haven’t thought about it until you just brought it up.”

Same for Hackett, who coached against Denver in New York's win without the injured Rodgers last season.

“Yeah, I mean, last Thursday was a long time ago for us as coaches,” Hackett said. “And we’re just getting ready to win a football game.”

Running free

Tyler Badie, the Broncos’ third running back, figures to get more carries with Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin struggling to break out for big runs.

Badie — who recently said he wants his surname pronounced Buh-DAY instead of BAY-dee — ran for 70 yards on just nine carries last week and is averaging 8.6 yards per carry.

"He’s been real decisive, he’s had some big runs for us,” Payton said. “He’s smart, he knows the system, he’s good in the passing game. He brings a lot."

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AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Stapleton contributed.

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