The AFC East is shaping up to be one of the more interesting divisions in the NFL this upcoming season.
There are the New York Jets, who certainly have the talent to win the division, not to mention a quarterback in Aaron Rodgers who may be aging and coming off a torn Achilles but seems eager to silence his critics.
The Miami Dolphins are explosive and looking to take the next step, and the Buffalo Bills, winners of the AFC East last season, are looking to prove they will still be contenders without wide receiver Stefon Diggs.
On “First Things First,” Chris Broussard emphatically picked the Jets to win the division in 2024, and he said he believes Rodgers will have a strong bounce-back season.
“If he’s a top-10-ish quarterback, with that defense, with those weapons,” Broussard said. “You gotta admit, on paper, they’re nice.”
“J-E-T-S Jets! Jets! Jets!”
— @Chris_Broussard is taking NYJ to win the AFC East — assuming they’re healthy 😬 pic.twitter.com/hFLAtRjjql
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) July 18, 2024
Rodgers won NFL MVP in 2020 and 2021 but saw his production dip in 2022, which was his final season with the Green Bay Packers. Broussard said he believes the 40-year-old will fall somewhere between his old MVP self and his 2022 iteration.
The pundit also pointed to New York’s defense, and its skill players on offense, as reasons it will have a strong year.
Rodgers has wide receivers Garrett Wilson and Mike Williams to throw to, and running back Breece Hall is a young and healthy dual-threat player.
New York’s defense has been very strong over the past couple of years, and this offseason they added two-time Pro Bowl linebacker Haason Reddick.
The Jets offensive line was very porous in 2023, but Tyron Smith, an offensive tackle who has made the Pro Bowl eight times in his 13 NFL seasons, is now on their side.
A lot could go wrong for the Jets, but if enough goes right, they will definitely have a shot at the AFC East title, not to mention a chance to go deep in the playoffs.
