Jets Don't Sweat Rodgers, But Know Only A Superb Effort Beats Packers
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The Jets respect the great Aaron Rodgers, but they're not about to go cower in a corner.
Stopping the Green Bay Packers' all-world quarterback will be the focal point of Gang Green's approach Sunday when they travel to Lambeau Field looking to go 2-0.
Rodgers, who has thrown for more than 4,000 yards in his career four times and led the Packers to a win in Super Bowl XLV, is largely considered one of the elite signal-callers in all the land. He has the highest passer rating in league history (104.7), tossing 189 touchdowns and just 53 interceptions since becoming Green Bay's full-time starter in 2008.
His numbers at Lambeau are utterly spectacular -- a 28-2 record, 112.4 rating, 75 TDs and just 17 picks in his last 30 games.
But he is occasionally human, as the nation found out last Thursday night in the NFL season opener in Seattle. The defending champion Seahawks limited Rodgers to just 189 yards and a touchdown, while picking him off once, in a 20-point victory.
Now, of course, the Jets aren't the Seahawks, but that didn't stop players like rookie safety Calvin Pryor and second-year defensive end Sheldon Richardson from speaking their minds this week.
"He's considered one of the best quarterbacks in the National Football League, so going against him is going to be very difficult," Pryor told the NY Post. "But he has to understand we're no slouches. He's going against a great defense as well. When everybody thinks about Aaron Rodgers, they have to think about the New York Jets' defense as well. We're playing on an even playing field."
That's pretty tough talk from a first-year player who is at the back end of a secondary that on paper leaves a lot to be desired. The Jets could get their best corner, Dee Milliner, back from a high ankle sprain that cost basically all of training camp and the preseason, and will likely have converted safety Antonio Allen, and perhaps Darrin Walls a bit, on the other side. Allen and Walls put on a tackling clinic during the Jets' 19-14 win over Oakland last week, but really weren't tested by Raiders rookie quarterback Derek Carr because he was under duress all game long.
The Packers are loaded at wide receiver, with Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb able to play it any way head coach Mike McCarthy wants, including stretching the field. Both were held under wraps by the Seahawks, as were depth wideouts Jarrett Boykin and Davante Adams, but the unit stands to give the Jets' secondary problems, especially if New York's stout front seven struggles to put pressure on Rodgers.
"It's a big challenge, but they've got a few weaknesses," Richardson told the Post. "We're going to exploit that as much as possible. Get 'em unsettled.
"He's a great quarterback, but no one likes pressure," Richardson added.
Walls said a strong effort Sunday will send a message to the entire league and give the Jets added confidence going forward.
"Being that it's Aaron Rodgers and he's one of the most talked about quarterbacks in the league," Walls said, "it will say a lot about our defense and who we are."
The Jets may catch one break. Packers running back Eddie Lacy is still going through concussion protocol and is questionable for Sunday.
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