Jet Lag: Can Patriots Continue Streak Against New York With Aaron Rodgers at QB?
Even through the departure of Tom Brady and the arrival of a quarterback controversy involving Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe, the New England Patriots could always count on one thing:
Beating the New York Jets.
The Pats own a 14-game winning streak over the Jets, having not lost to them since December 2015. But this season - twice - they'll now have to play the Jets with ... Aaron Rodgers.
The four-time MVP's long-awaited trade from the Packers to the Big Apple was finally consummated Monday afternoon, drastically changing the landscape of the AFC East. In a division that now includes Josh Allen throwing to Stefon Diggs in Buffalo, Tua Tagovailoa throwing to Tyreek Hill/Jaylen Waddle in Miami and Rodgers throwing to 2022 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson in New York, Jones tossing passes to JuJu Smith-Schuster starts to ring hollow.
Going into Thursday's draft, in fact, the Patriots are widely considered the worst team in the AFC East.
Patriots' defensive tackle Davon Godchaux reacted with the understatement of the offseason, predicting New England's division will be "great."
In the trade - which Rodgers agreed to more than a month ago - the Jets get a new starting quarterback plus the 15th overall pick and a fifth-rounder in the draft, in exchange for pick No. 13 in the first round, a second-round pick (No. 42), a sixth-round pick (No. 207) and - most key - a conditional 2024 second-round pick that becomes a first if Rodgers plays 65 percent of the plays.
The Jets, who essentially boast Joe Namath's Super Bowl III guarantee as their only franchise highlight, are counting on as their savior a 39-year-old quarterback who has played in only one Super Bowl 12 years ago. New York last season sported a Top 5 defense, but now believes Rodgers can do for it what Brady did for the Buccaneers the season after leaving Foxboro.
If Rodgers has any gas left in his Hall-of-Fame tank, the Patriots are facing a harsh reality in 2023: They could improve from last season and still not be competitive in the AFC East.
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