Sunday's game between the Jets and Rams will feature a typical NFC North atmosphere as it pits an AFC East team against an NFC West team.
First, the maximum temperature at MetLife Stadium is expected to be 25 degrees. Next, we look at the starting quarterback.
Aaron Rodgers vs. Matthew Stafford is a matchup we've seen before.
Rodgers, the longtime quarterback for the Packers, and Stafford, the longtime quarterback for the Lions, have had some battles over the years.
This will be the 18th time the two have faced each other. Rodgers has won 13 of those games, but Stafford enters this battle as the favorite between the 8-6 Rams competing for the district title and the 4-10 Jets counting down to the offseason.
Stafford, 36, was the No. 1 overall pick in 2009, a year after Rodgers, 41, became Green Bay's starter. As a result, there were many head-to-head battles between the quarterbacks.
“I love Matt. He's one of my favorite players to watch and play against over the years,” Rodgers said. “It's because of the way he plays, the way he fights – his toughness, his grit, his arm strength, his competitiveness. He's always been one of my favorites. We're not close friends, but my I know there's a lot of respect on the side. It was fun playing against him. I think he's a great player and has had a great career.”
Stafford told reporters in Los Angeles that he is looking forward to another matchup with Rodgers.
“It's always a good fight,” Stafford said. “I have a lot of respect for him. [A] A great player in this league, an all-time great, an unbelievable talent and accomplished so much. It's always a challenge to play against him. ”
Rodgers enters this game with 498 career touchdowns.
He needs two more to become the fifth player in NFL history to reach 500 touchdowns.
He's thrown for 628 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions over the past two games.
Rodgers said he is finally healthy after dealing with a foot injury midway through the season.
The Jets' offense has racked up 58 points and 802 yards in the past two games.
The Rams are tied for first in the division with 7 wins and 2 losses in their last nine games. Stafford was a major contributor to the Rams' success. He hasn't thrown an interception in five games.
“They're two great guys, and they're two guys that I consider Hall of Famers,” Rams manager Sean McVay said.
