The New York Jets are the most likely team to end a lengthy playoff drought in 2023, according to an NFL analyst.
New York holds the active longest playoff drought in the NFL by a wide margin (13 years), having last qualified in 2010. The Denver Broncos are a distant second at seven years, having not played in a postseason game since they won Super Bowl 50 in the 2015 season.
NFL.com columnist Adam Schein analyzed five teams with playoff droughts of last five years and ranked them based on how likely they were to enter the 14-team dance in 2023. Schein placed Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets atop his list:
“At 39 years old, Rodgers is no spring chicken. But don’t mistake his age for an expiration date. Rodgers is rejuvenated, with a chip on his shoulder to prove he can win outside of Green Bay. He can still spin it, and, most importantly, he’s a gargantuan upgrade over what the Jets had at the position last season. Furthermore, Rodgers has a fine supporting cast in New York. He raved to me about wide receiver Garrett Wilson, the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year whom Rodgers compared to Davante Adams. New York has quality depth in the receiving corps, too. If RB Breece Hall’s recovery from last October’s ACL tear goes swimmingly, the Jets boast explosive potential through the air and on the ground.
Defensively, New York finished last season ranked fourth in scoring defense and total D. Assuming the Jets are able to work things out with All-Pro game wrecker Quinnen Williams, the unit should be even better in 2023. Sauce Gardner, the reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year, might already be the best cornerback in football. And while trade acquisition Chuck Clark’s ACL tear is a hit to the safety position, Robert Saleh has assembled a bevy of talented players on all three levels who fit his scheme.”
The Jets managed to win seven games in a tough AFC East division last year despite finishing 29th in scoring (17.4 points per game). New York quarterbacks combined for a lousy 56.9 completion percentage and just 15 touchdown passes against 14 interceptions.
So adding a four-time MVP and future Hall of Famer in Rodgers certainly goes a long way in improving New York’s chances of making the postseason. And he won’t be short on playmakers around him with Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall, Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, Corey Davis and Mecole Hardman leading the way.
Rodgers and the Jets will kick off the 2023 season with a Monday night home game against the AFC East rival Buffalo Bills on Sept. 11.
