Gang Green Can Join 'Worst to First' Club

Rodgers' highly-anticipated arrival boosts Jets' outlook to contend for AFC East title

The Jacksonville Jaguars did it last year, and at least one writer thinks the New York Jets have a legitimate chance to pull off the feat in 2023.

Athlon Sports' Cameron Flynn identified three last-place teams from 2022 who could be division title contenders in 2023.

The Jets along with the Atlanta Falcons and Denver Broncos landed on Flynn's list of "the three NFL teams most likely to go from worst to first in 2023."

In 2022, head coach Doug Pederson guided the Jaguars from the 3-14 mess that Urban Meyer left behind to AFC South champions. Jacksonville finished 9-8 overall before winning an AFC Wildcard game against the Los Angeles Chargers.

The key to the Jaguars' turnaround was Pederson's ability to stabilize the quarterback position and coach up the highly-heralded Trevor Lawrence.

With the eventual acquisition of Aaron Rodgers, the Jets would immediately increase their potential production at QB1.

Boasting the NFL's fourth-ranked defense, Gang Green appeared poised for a playoff run midway through the 2022 campaign. The Jets won seven of the season’s first 11 games prior to ending with six consecutive losses.

Excerpt from "Meet The 3 NFL Teams Most Likely To Go From Worst To First In 2023":

“Picking the Jets to win the AFC East in 2023 is solely predicated on the notion that they acquire Aaron Rodgers from the Packers this offseason. No Rodgers, no division title for Gang Green. But if Rodgers, who's made it clear he intends to play for the Jets this season, ultimately does end up in New York, the entire AFC East should be on notice.

While he may not be the back-to-back MVP-winning quarterback he was a few seasons ago, Rodgers is still a clear upgrade at the position and should allow an already-competitive Jets roster from a season ago to take the next step this fall. The Bills and Dolphins are the two most likely obstacles in New York's path to a division crown, but armed with Rodgers and both rookie of the year winners from 2022, the Jets should certainly be a contender to win the AFC East this season.”
- Cameron Flynn, Athlon Sports

Rodgers, a four-time NFL Most Valuable Player, accounted for one of his more modest statistical seasons in 2022, but offered substantially more production than the Jets’ quarterbacks’ room. 

Averaging 6.8 yards per attempt, the 39-year old quarterback completed 64.6 percent of passes for 3,695 yards and 26 touchdowns to 12 interceptions.

Gang Green ranked 27th out of 32 NFL teams in yards per pass attempt (6.45) last year.

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