When the Aaron Rodgers trade between the Green Bay Packers and New York Jets was finalized, many believed that it made the Jets an instant Super Bowl contender. Numerous former Packers players followed him, including Allen Lazard, Billy Turner, and Randall Cobb.
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However, not every NFL free agent is so keen on the Jets’ Super Bowl chances. Ndamukong Suh, who has become a perennial ring chaser, has a pretty good eye when it comes to predicting Super Bowl teams. In the past four years, he has played for three teams and each of them made it to the Super Bowl at least once.
Related: Green Bay Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur Reveals Just How Much Power Aaron Rodgers Had Over the Offense
Ndamukong Suh Does Not Believe Aaron Rodgers Will Take the New York Jets to the Super Bowl
For their part, the New York Jets believe they will have an improved Aaron Rodgers in 2023 because (according to them) Rodgers was not completely engaged in Green Bay last season. Even if that is true, Suh is not convinced that a Rodgers who is still playing on a high level is enough to push the Jets into the Super Bowl conversation. Earlier this offseason, he appeared on The Rich Eisen Show to explain his stance:
“Do I believe they will be a Super Bowl contender [with Rodgers]? No.
“I think Aaron Rodgers is amazing and I think he is a great quarterback. But there are a lot of things that have to transpire to be able to become Super Bowl contenders. I understand that they have an elite defense, but I’m not sure where their overall offense is right now, and adding just one particular piece, it’s a little bit different.”
While the Jets have a good core of wide receivers led by Lazard and NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson, they do not have a strong offensive line. Indeed, the Jets had the third worst pass blocking grade in the NFL last year per PFF (the Packers were third best), and they did little to address that position in the offseason.
The offensive line, though, is not the only reason Suh does not believe Rodgers can lead the Jets to the Super Bowl. He also identifies the AFC East division as a big hinderance to those aspirations: “That division is very, very difficult. I don’t even think they’ll be the top team in that division,” he said.
The New York Jets’ Weaknesses Are the Green Bay Packers’ Strengths
As noted above, the Packers’ pass blocking received the third highest PFF grade in 2022. What’s more, the entire unit is back in 2023 and is, presumably, more healthy with David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins fully recovered from their torn ACL’s.
Whereas the AFC East is stacked with the Jets, Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, and New England Patriots, the NFC North could be the worst division in the NFL this year. Remember, the Minnesota Vikings won the division last year with a negative point differential. They also did little to get better in 2023.
The Detroit Lions could be a team on the rise, but like the Packers will be relying on young internal talent to take them to the next level. Detroit and Green Bay finished with identical 8-9 records last year.
The Chicago Bears finished 3-14, the worst record in the NFL in 2022. They spent more money than any team during free agency and have a good young group of draft picks. The Bears should be better in 2023, but one has to realistically doubt they can go from worst (in the NFL) to first (in the NFC North) in just one season.
No one is saying that the Packers are Super Bowl favorites or contenders this year, but they have more going for them than a lot of people are willing to admit.
Who knows? Perhaps they will make a better run in the NFL Playoffs than Rodgers will with the Jets.
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1 Comment
You need to look at the record and see detroit finished 9-8 and greenbay finished 8’9
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