Totaling 393 yards against the Bills, the Jets recorded 8 plays of 20-plus yards as the offense showed explosive ability. But it will need to quickly turn the page with a trip to Pittsburgh and a Sunday night contest with the Steelers.
“I have gotten to grow up and meet a lot those legends that have played in Pittsburgh and it is a special, special place,” Rodgers said. “You think about the cornerstones of the NFL, and obviously a Green Bay and Chicago and how far they go back. But you can’t write the history of the NFL without the Pittsburgh Steelers. They have a great fan base and homefield advantage. They have one of my favorite coaches and people in the league in Mike Tomlin and they play that ‘Renegade’ in the fourth quarter, and you know what is coming. It is loud and it is a tough place to play.”
During their 4-2 start, the Steelers rank No. 2 in points allowed (14.3 pts/g), No. 8 in total defense (294.2 yds/g) and No. 4 against the run (85.5 yds/g).
“They are playing pretty well and obviously T.J. [Watt] is a game-wrecker,” Rodgers said. “What he did last week punching the ball out twice, you don’t see that. You see it from guys like Fred Warner, that guy is incredible, but a D-lineman who can lead the league in sacks and be in the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year conversation when he is healthy, and knocks the ball out twice? That is just not normal. He is in a league by himself.”
In a bit of an early-season hole, Rodgers believes the Jets, bolstered by the Adams acquisition, can start turning the tide under interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich.
“The way Brick [interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich] handled everything with class and good leadership and now this move lets everyone know it’s on us now because we’re going all in,” Rodgers said. “And it’s our time to go out there and win games and get on a run, which we all feel deep down is going to happen.”
