Since the Jets acquired Aaron Rodgers via trade earlier this year and now Dalvin Cook last week, many are already proclaiming the AFC East team to be the likely winner of the division and a Super Bowl favorite. At the same time, the Patriots are being labeled the complete opposite.
With the division becoming what appears to be the toughest in the entire league now, there isn't much optimism that the long-time AFC East Champions will be able to be successful against their division foes, especially the newly energized Jets.
But is it really that black and white?
Many teams at this point in the offseason look stacked on paper, and that's the thing, they look that good on paper. We are yet to see real NFL action; thus, determining who are the clear frontrunners months ahead of time is a bit pointless unless you're the Tom Brady-led Patriots, if we're being honest.
Although the Patriots didn't make any extraordinary moves in free agency, and there are still questions regarding their offensive line and receiving corps, it seems a bit premature to already conclude they will not only fall flat this upcoming season but be swept by their divisional rivals.
Because the Jets have appeared to leapfrog the Bills as the most likely winner out of the AFCE, much of the focus will be on them for the Patriots, much like the rest of the league.
Despite being predicted as the fourth-place team, there are a few reasons New England can maintain their winning streak over the Jets, even with the momentum overshadowing everything else.
The Patriots offensive line may be questionable, but the Jets' isn't any better
One of the biggest concerns for the Patriots' offense heading into this season is the state of their offensive line. Throughout training camp, several players have dealt with injuries that have kept them sidelined and unable to participate in the games as well.
It created an even more anxious environment for those watching the team's progress since there was a lot of hope that the unit would perform much better with Matt Patricia gone from his position as the coach.
Although that's not the case at the moment, the Jets are dealing with the same thing, if not worse.
It has remained an issue throughout training camp and preseason games, which is not what any team wants to see, especially a team that just put all their chips on a trade for Aaron Rodgers, hoping he will be the catalyst for turning the team around. Risking injury to your high-profile quarterback is unfavorable in any way, shape, or form.
The o-line's blocking became such an issue for the Jets recently that head coach Robert Saleh was seen on an episode of Hard Knocks ripping the players for their performances.
"You can have a Hall of Fame quarterback, you can have two $10 million-plus receivers, you can have the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year, you can have all kinds of skill in the running back room, but none of it f------ matters until the big boys up front change who the f--- we are. We as coaches -- we as an organization -- can't want it more than you do."
His approach may be harsh for some, but what Saleh said is 100% accurate. At the end of the day, it won't matter how good your quarterback, receivers, running backs, etc., are if your offensive line doesn't adequately do their job. Their the heart and soul of the offense in many ways, as their performance indicates how well the rest of the operation will work.
So if the offensive line fails, the offense probably will too.
Of course, this will work in the Patriots' favor, as they have a dominant defense overall, but especially their front seven. If they can manage to take over the game when Rodgers is on the field, it would make getting a win much easier.
New England's defense is even better than it was last year
Because the Patriots continue to be a team that succeeds on the back of their defense, it's fair to assume that will very much be the case in the games against the Jets this season. Their overall performance during 2022 was impressive yet underrated, and they'll probably fly under the radar again this year despite that fact.
Although both offenses look much different than just one year ago, one thing remains the same: the New England defense getting to the quarterback.
In their two matchups last season, Zach Wilson was sacked a total of six times for a loss of 52 yards. On top of that, they also recorded eight quarterback hits, making Wilson's life miserable in both games.
Even though he won't be the quarterback on the field, the Jets' offensive line is unremarkable and could be the leading factor in making the Patriots' defense's job much easier in getting to Rodgers. With the continued standout effort from Matthew Judon and the rise of Ja'Whaun Bentley and Josh Uche, the new quarterback in New York will most definitely be acquainted with them right away.
Then there are the takeaways. The Patriots have snagged ten total turnovers in their four matchups with the Jets since the 2021 season and could resume that come September.
With their most probable breakout star ready to prove he's worth a new deal in Kyle Dugger, plus rookie cornerback Christian Gonzalez joining an already above-average secondary consisting of Jonathan Jones and Jalen Mills, the Jets will be in a world of trouble against New England.
Aaron Rodgers isn't going to be the long-awaited savior of the Jets
The biggest talking point that has convinced people the Jets will somehow manage to overcome their mediocrity has overwhelmingly been the addition of almost 40-year-old Aaron Rodgers.
After the quarterback decided he no longer wanted to play for the Packers because they didn't want to do things the way he wanted, Green Bay was essentially forced to find a trade partner for him.
Since the Jets made the mistake of drafting Zach Wilson in the 2021 draft and were looking for a replacement, they went all in on the one-time Super Bowl Champion, assuming he would catapult them to incredible success in 2023.
Typically, a team that traded for a player of Rogers' magnitude would certainly move them up the totem pole in the league. But this is Rodgers we're talking about, a guy who has an impressive resume for himself but not for what he did for the Packers.
His final season in Green Bay was underwhelming, especially for a player coming off his second MVP award in back-to-back seasons. But before that, he would have stand-out statistics and, in most cases, be the clear favorite in several games, only to choke in some of the biggest games of his career, hence why he has only won a single Super Bowl in his 18-year career.
Now that he will have a fresh start elsewhere this season, it may ultimately prove to be worth it for him and the Jets. But expecting Rodgers to be the sole reason why the Jets will be far more successful than they have been in decades seems foolish, particularly in a division that has only gotten stronger.
Will Rodgers inevitably be an upgrade over Zach Wilson? Probably, but that's not saying much.
Can his addition to the team be the missing piece the Jets need in order to become a Super Bowl frontrunner? Unlikely. But already naming them the very clear favorites to win the division and a championship? Slow your horses, New York.