The New York Jets finally landed standout receiver Davante Adams to reunite with Aaron Rodgers, and two words come to mind.
No, not “Super Bowl.” But how does “playoff bound” sound?
Sure, the Jets fell to 2-4 following their 23-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football. But, then they acquired Adams from the Las Vegas Raiders on Tuesday, one week after firing coach Robert Saleh.
So, the Jets will make the postseason in 2024 – kicking off USA TODAY Sports’ NFL overreactions after Week 6. It might be difficult for overstimulated Jets fans coping with recent events to buy into this notion, but it’s time to get excited all over again.
If you thought Rodgers’ chemistry in New York has been impressive with Allen Lazard (another former Packers receiver with the Jets), you can only imagine how Rodgers will thrive with Adams again.
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Rodgers and Adams reached the postseason six times with the Green Bay Packers, with four of those playoff trips ending in the NFC championship game.
With a respectable defense and standouts like Breece Hall, Garrett Wilson and Lazard as his top weapons, the Jets could be a 2-4 team to make the playoffs this season. At least one 2-4 team has made the playoffs in each of the last three seasons: the Patriots, Eagles and 49ers in 2021; the Jaguars in 2022; and the Packers last year.
But keep this in mind: Only 24 teams (9.3%) of the 224 that started 2-4 from 1990-2023 made the playoffs, and none of them have won the Super Bowl.
Lions’ Super Bowl chance dashed with Aidan Hutchinson’s injury
Aidan Hutchinson’s broken leg was sad and gruesome. The Detroit Lions’ young defender was on his way to a breakout season worthy of NFL defensive player of the year recognition. And the Lions appear as an early Super Bowl contender.
However, any chances of Detroit winning the Super Bowl are effectively over after his season ended.
This isn’t a slight to Dan Campbell and the Lions, who have transformed Detroit from NFL laughingstock to one of the most exciting teams to watch. There will be several times when the Lions will need a crucial sack on defense to either swing a game in their favor or seal a victory. But their star defender, who will be one of the young faces of the league for years to come, won’t be able to make it while sidelined.
Hutchinson’s loss certainly opens the window again in the NFC playoff picture.
The Ravens will go undefeated for the rest of regular season
This is Baltimore’s year. Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry are the NFL’s best 1-2 punch. And the Ravens are soaring after their fourth straight win, beating one of the best teams in the league – yes, the Washington Commanders – last week.
Baltimore is going to be favored in every game they play the rest of the way, and we’re going to overreact and say they finish 14-2 this season.
Sunday’s game against the 5-1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers is going to be an enticing matchup. After that, only the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 13 and Houston Texans in Week 17 strike as formidable opponents. The Ravens are gritty enough to gut out wins in the AFC North against the Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers, and every other team on their schedule.
Baltimore has found its mojo, playing complementary football. Jackson leads the offense, Henry punishes opposing defenses, and their defense takes care of the rest. And don’t forget Justin Tucker, the best kicker in the league.
At season’s end, Baltimore should have the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage in the playoffs. And they’ll be kicking themselves for losing to the Chiefs and underestimating the Raiders in the first two weeks of the season.
