One of the things that makes the NFL the most popular sports league in our nation is the storylines that come with each new season.
This year, there is one unmistakable storyline above all else: the new-look New York Jets.
They have future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, four-time Pro Bowler Dalvin Cook at running back, and a talented group of stars and difference-makers on both sides of the football.
Analyst Mina Kimes talked about the immense hype surrounding the Jets and the pressure that has created for them.
The biggest storyline heading into the 2023 #NFL season is too big too ignore — @minakimes explained with us today:#NFLKickoff pic.twitter.com/YMXFk8TWja
— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) September 1, 2023
Kimes, along with Rich Eisen, said that the first six games of the regular season will likely determine how the rest of the year will go for New York.
The team will have a tough schedule during that stretch, as it will face the Buffalo Bills in Week 1 on Monday Night Football, the Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos, and Philadelphia Eagles.
Luckily, four of those games will take place at MetLife Stadium, but if the Jets don’t win at least four of those first six contests, there will likely be a lot of negative noise directed at them by the national media.
Kimes also mentioned the fact that Rodgers has to play better than he did in 2022 when he experienced a significant dip in his production.
Rodgers is 39 years of age, and there is a good chance the dip in his production last year is the start of a permanent decline due to wear and tear.
Kimes did say that Rodgers won’t have to be great thanks to New York’s strong defense, but if the team reaches the AFC Championship Game, he’ll likely have to at least approach the level he played at as recently as 2021 when he won his second straight league MVP.
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