Back from a disappointing trip to London, the Green Bay Packers try to avoid back-to-back losses when they host the New York Jets on Sunday.
New York can jump to 4-2 by following the New York Giants’ lead and upsetting Green Bay.
The Packers (3-2) squandered a 20-10 halftime lead over the Giants and failed to score any offensive points in the second half. Saquon Barkley picked up 70 rushing yards and the go-ahead touchdown, while the Giants smothered Aaron Rodgers to hold on for a 27-22 win.
Down a touchdown, Rodgers’ pass on fourth-and-1 from the Giants’ 6-yard line was batted down by blitzing safety Xavier McKinney. After the Giants took an intentional safety, Rodgers was hit trying one last Hail Mary pass.
Rodgers was dealing with thumb soreness since the final hit and he sat out Wednesday’s practice, but coach Matt LaFleur said there was little concern that the star quarterback would miss Week 6.
More vital for the Packers is avoiding their first 3-3 start since 2012. They have competition in the NFC North from the Minnesota Vikings, who are 4-1 and beat them head-to-head in Week 1.
“We’ve had a lot of conversations,” LaFleur said of his team’s fourth-quarter offense. “Hindsight’s 20/20. When it works out, nobody says anything. When it doesn’t, then you get a bunch of questions … I totally trust what (Rodgers) sees out there and what he’s gonna do with it.”
Rodgers and the Packers are continuing to adjust without former receivers Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling in the fold. Rookie Romeo Doubs leads the team in targets (29) and receptions (22). But Rodgers has thrown for just 6.9 yards per attempt, eight touchdowns and three picks while taking 11 sacks.
LaFleur’s brother Mike LaFleur is the Jets’ offensive coordinator, and he is close friends and former roommates with Jets coach Robert Saleh as well. The Packers hosted the Jets for joint practices before a 2021 preseason game.
Saleh admitted he and Matt LaFleur talk “almost every day,” but not this week.
The Jets scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to run away from the Miami Dolphins, 40-17 in Week 5. New York’s offense flummoxed the Dolphins, and running backs Breece Hall and Michael Carter, wide receiver Braxton Berrios and quarterback Zach Wilson combined for five rushing touchdowns.
The win allowed the Jets to move over .500 for the first time since Week 1 of 2018. The last time they started a season with four wins in the first six games was 2015, when Ryan Fitzpatrick, Chris Ivory and Brandon Marshall were carrying the offense.
Saleh, in his second year in charge of the Jets, said after their season-opening loss that “we’re all taking receipts on all the people who continually mock and say that we ain’t gonna do anything.” Two straight wins have caught some fans’ attention, but a victory at Lambeau Field could confirm they are legitimate playoff contenders.
“I think confidence is contagious,” Saleh said. “I think our guys have deserved the right to feel good about themselves. But at the same time, this league is very humbling and it’ll take it away from you in a heartbeat. We still haven’t done anything yet.”
The Packers are on guard after the Jets won two road games at Cleveland and Pittsburgh in come-from-behind fashion.
“It’s a very young football team that we’re playing, but they’ve got a ton of talent,” Matt LaFleur said. “You can see it and I think it’s a matter of time before they really hit their stride.”
Jets defensive end Carl Lawson (ankle) and linebackers C.J. Mosley (hip) and Quincy Williams (ankle) will be limited in practice all week. Saleh said Lawson and Mosley will be able to play Sunday, but Williams is more of an unknown. Rookie defensive end Jermaine Johnson (ankle) missed practice.
Lawson — who missed his first season with the Jets after rupturing an Achilles tendon in those joint practices in Green Bay — ranks second in the NFL with 14 quarterback hits.
Green Bay rookie wide receiver Christian Watson (hamstring) missed Wednesday’s practice.
–Field Level Media