NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Aaron Rodgers will surely play better games this season than he did on Sunday.
He'll throw for more than the modest 176 yards he gained, he'll complete more than his 18 passes to seven different receivers, and he'll throw for more touchdowns than the two he had.
The Jets defeated the Titans 24-17 on Sunday at Nissan Stadium to improve to 1-1 heading into their home opener against the Patriots on Thursday night.
The win was Rodgers' first in a Jets uniform — except for the four games he played in last year's season-opening win over the Bills before rupturing his left Achilles tendon.
Considering it was a game the Jets should have won, with superior talent at quarterback and across their entire roster, this was hardly a work of art.
Aaron Rodgers or Will Revis?
Who will you take?
Of course, Rodgers. By a large margin.
But style issues aside, this may be one of the most read-between games Rodgers plays this season for the Jets because it epitomized the no-panic, calm, no-overreacting vibe he wants to permeate his locker room.
September 15, 2024. AP
This was a tough game. It was stressful. The offense faltered and stalled early. The defense was hurt at times by the Titans.
The Jets trailed 7-0 and 10-7 at the half, and eventually led 14-10 when a blocked punt by Irv Charles cost them the ball at the Tennessee 30-yard line, leaving them unable to mount an offensive drive and forced to settle for a field goal to hold the Titans to a one-point lead.
The team lost linebacker and captain CJ Mosley in the second quarter with a toe injury, and defensive end Jermaine Johnson also suffered a suspected torn Achilles in the third quarter and is likely out for the season.
Mix those things in and the Jets would have been guaranteed to lose in years past.
But that won't be the case with Rodgers, the calm, collected and composed center.
When it came time to win the game, Rodgers led the way, completing 5 of 5 passes for 60 yards on a game-winning drive in the fourth quarter that culminated with a 20-yard TD run by Braylon Allen with 4:31 left in the game.
There are a lot of tangible things Rodgers brings to the Jets, but the biggest intangible is the confidence he inspires in the players around him.
“The most important thing in football, but also in sports in general and in life, is confidence,” Jets head coach Robert Saleh said. “To have confidence in what you're doing, you need some affirmation to continually build that confidence.”
Rodgers has perhaps the most words of affirmation of any player in Jets memory.
“We're a young team, an organization that's struggled the last 13 years,” Saleh said, referring to the stretch without a playoff appearance, “and having a guy like Aaron gives us a calming presence at the quarterback position.”
Saleh called Rogers “irreplaceable.”
“It's a relief to have Aaron back and taking command,” tight end Tyler Conklin said.
“When Aaron's in the huddle, the way he talks, the cadence he has when he calls plays, you have to hear it and believe it,” receiver Allen Lazard said.
“You never have to panic when you have a Hall of Famer behind you,” defensive lineman Solomon Thomas said.
Among Rodgers' many talents, his ability to read the mood in a room and his teammates is especially noteworthy.
“When you find yourself in a situation like this [Sunday]”A lot of times, people panic,” Rogers said, “and you have to be the calming force.”
Rodgers' preaching of calm isn't just limited to game days.
“It's every day,” he said. “It's how do I stay relaxed and stay focused when I need to be. I think there were times last year when there were negative vibes. There were times when I felt like, 'Here we go again, we're not going to win this time.'”
“I just don't want us to get into that situation. So I think there are a few ways to achieve that. It can be through humor, it can be through stoicism, and sometimes you just need to take the initiative.”
“Just trying to gauge how my team is doing, what the energy is, and do the right things as a leader.”
