Tag: Aaron Rodgers

Jayden Daniels, Caleb Williams, Aaron Rodgers (!) and the grossest NFL quarterbacks of Week 10

Rodgers stared down a bottom five pass defense… and did nothing. Daniels went flat when the Commanders needed him most.

Aaron Rodgers was riding high after beating the Houston Texans in Week 9. He’d unlocked the full capability of Garrett Wilson and had thrown a season-high three touchdown passes in an upset primetime win. It was only one game, but it showcased the promise the New York Jets had seen when they traded for a quarterback about to hit his fifth decade on this planet back in 2023.

This high did not last. Rodgers and the Jets were kept out of the end zone entirely in Week 10 against an underwhelming Arizona Cardinals defense. This was a major disappointment. But was Rodgers the most disappointing quarterback of Week 10?

Fortunately, we’ve got a metric that can help figure that out.

Using the advanced stat expected points added (EPA) can gauge how much a quarterback brings to the table compared to a typical player. By comparing each passer’s Week 10 EPA against their 2024 average to date we get a better picture of just how frustrating their performances were. And we can find both of those thanks to The Athletic’s Ben Baldwin and his incredibly useful stats sites RBSDM.com and HabitatRing.com.

This is a metric that gauges disappointment based on what we’d typically expect. Daniel Jones had a negative EPA in Week 10 while losing to the Carolina Panthers, but his -4.4 was still better than his season-long average of -5.0 EPA per game, so he missed the list. Who was the worst? There were several candidates but only one man can truly call himself the grossest quarterback of Week 10.

Please bear with me for any Twitter embed issues. Our editing software has become a whole problem on that front the past few weeks. Rest assured, if there’s a play alluded to in the text it’s worth clicking through to see if it didn’t make it into the article itself.

5. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions

Thomas B. Shea-Imagn Images

2024 expected points added (EPA) per game: 4.8

Week 10 EPA: -1.5

Difference: 6.3 points worse

Goff completed 10 passes in his first half against the Houston Texans. Three were to guys wearing Battle Red uniforms.

In fairness, one came on a last second Hail Mary and the other two were deflected. This still showed an uncharacteristic lack of pocket awareness from the veteran quarterback who’d thrown 11 touchdowns without an interception over his previous five games.

The fresh start of the second half lasted less than two minutes before pick No. 4 — this one from the red zone to wipe out a scoring opportunity. A fifth interception followed.

Then the Lions came back from a 16-point halftime deficit anyway. I’m not sure exactly how you stop Detroit if five interceptions can’t do it.

4. Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets

Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

2024 expected points added (EPA) per game: -1.3

Week 10 EPA: -8.4

Difference: 7.1 points worse

Rodgers had a tremendous opportunity against a bottom five passing defense. Instead, he failed to find the end zone, falling 31-6 to the Arizona Cardinals and leaving the Jets one defeat away from a ninth-straight losing record.

Rodgers gained a net 128 yards on 38 dropbacks. He completed a single pass that traveled more than 10 yards downfield. Behold, the pass chart of a game manager!

via nextgenstats.nfl.com

New York traded away multiple high value draft picks, then spent two seasons adding former Rodgers teammates of varying ability just to wind up with Davis Mills behind center in Arizona.

3. Joe Flacco, Indianapolis Colts

Grace Smith/IndyStar

2024 expected points added (EPA) per game: 0.9

Week 10 EPA: -11.9

Difference: 12.8 points worse

The Flacco of 2023, who launched bombs and propelled the Cleveland Browns to the playoffs, is dead. The Flacco of 2024 looks much more like the fading veteran to whom we’d come accustomed as a New York Jet and Denver Bronco.

His very first play of the game saw him blank Taron Johnson, sitting underneath in coverage waiting to turn Flacco’s mistake into six hard-fought points.

One drive later, Flacco threw another interception — this time in Buffalo territory to snuff out a potential scoring drive. Things improved from there, but the 39-year-old couldn’t complete a Colts comeback, taking a brutal sack on fourth down in the red zone in what was a 20-13 game, then effectively sealing this one with his third pick of the day. After churning this game film, it may be Anthony Richardson’s turn in the starting lineup once more.

2. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears

David Banks-Imagn Images

2024 expected points added (EPA) per game: -3.9

Week 10 EPA: -18.2

Difference: 14.3 points worse

The New England Patriots and a bottom 10 defense allowed Williams a wonderful opportunity to throw his first touchdown pass since October 13. Instead, the Bears were held out of the end zone altogether thanks to an offensive line that allowed its young quarterback to be sacked nine times.

Williams had little room to operate against a bottom 10 pass rush. D’Andre Swift couldn’t find lanes because his blockers were getting smothered by a defense that had given up 100-plus rushing yards each of the last seven games. The end result was 39 dropbacks and 69 net passing yards. Each time Matt Eberflus dialed up a passing play, it averaged fewer than two yards of forward progress.

Williams didn’t complete a single pass that traveled more than 10 yards downfield. He only attempted four.

1. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders

Amber Searls-Imagn Images

2024 expected points added (EPA) per game: 9.3

Week 10 EPA: -7.2

Difference: 16.5 points worse

Daniels wasn’t the worst quarterback of Week 10, but his incredible start left him with more room to fall than any other passer in the league. While he was able to spread the field and made Terry McLaurin look great once more:

The accuracy and efficiency that defined his rise to rookie of the year frontrunner washed away with the game on the line. Daniels had three drives in the final 17 minutes in which any points would have pushed the Commanders’ lead to two possessions and made a Pittsburgh Steelers comeback very unlikely. He gained two first downs between them (though a third was negated by a genuinely baffling fourth down spot in his final snap of the afternoon).

Daniels’s line over those final three drives? Nine attempts, four completions, 49 passing yards, one rushing yard and a sack for a loss of 11. 11 plays and 39 net yards with the game on the line. Rough scene.

Still, it’s merely a speed bump against a veteran-laden top 10 defense. Daniels will be back. Sunday’s setback just gives him a lower perch from which he’ll fall if he donks up again next week.

3 keys to a Jets victory vs. the Cardinals in Week 10

3 keys to a Jets victory vs. the Cardinals in Week 10:

The New York Jets will hope to add a win to their record in 2024 in Week 10. The team will face the Arizona Cardinals on the road.

As usual, it will never be a walk in the park in the NFL. If the Jets (3-6) expect to beat the Cards (5-4), there will be a few key things New York will have to focus on against Arizona.

It will have to be a full-team effort, make no mistake. But these factors could weigh heavy on whether or not New York leave with a win or loss.

Here are three keys to the Jets pulling out a victory against the Cardinals:

Contain Kyler

(Imagn)

The Cardinals have plenty of threats on offense such as running back James Conner and rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. However, the dual-threat that Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray is always the real concern when facing the Cards. The Jets defense has to contain him.

Start fast and clean

(Imagn)

A problem the Jets have had in recent weeks is starting a game slow and penalties are a big reason why that has happened. Many will point toward interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich as the person who has to put his best foot forward to make sure everything goes according to plan in this area.

Give Aaron time

(USAT)

As we’ve seen time and time again, when the Jets’ offensive line gives quarterback Aaron Rodgers time to get the ball out, New York sees successes. Keep Rodgers upright, especially considering the Cardinals just tried to add to their pass rush (Baron Browning) at the 2024 NFL trade deadline.

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WR Mike Williams feels ready to make big time plays for Pittsburgh

WR Mike Williams let Pittsburgh fans know exactly who he is and what he’s capable of—a playmaker who will earn the right to be on the field.

The Pittsburgh Steelers winning culture has clearly resonated with WR Mike Williams, who has shown nothing less than the heart of a champion since his arrival.

In an article titled “Week 10 Blog: Focus still on stopping the run” on the Steelers’ official website, fans can find Williams’ comments about what he brings to the Steel City, stating: “I’m a playmaker. I want to make plays. I want to get the ops. I’m going to go out and work and show that I deserve to be on the field.”

Williams’ passion and desire are completely understandable, as the WR seemingly fell out of favor with Jets QB Aaron Rodgers, which Williams summarized as the beginning of the end of his time in New York.

Will Steelers fans be able to witness the Russell Wilson-Williams combination begin as early as Week 10’s game against the 7-2 Washington Commanders? Fans can look forward to this matchup, which can only be described as a battle of the behemoths, on November 10th at 1:00 PM EST.

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Steelers WR Mike Williams believes Aaron Rodgers to blame for trade

Newest Steelers receiver Mike Williams theorized that it was his slow return to action that led to him falling out of favor Aaron Rodgers.

The newest Pittsburgh Steelers receiver, Mike Williams, has no ill will toward his former New York Jets team or their quarterback, Aaron Rodgers.

However, Williams theorized that it was his slow return to action that led to him falling out of favor with the future Hall of Famer and, ultimately, being traded.

“Going there after the ACL, not having OTAs or training camp to get the chemistry right … [Rodgers] is real detailed. He likes what he likes. Me not being able to transition in as quick is probably what went wrong,” Williams said in a Wednesday press conference.

Rodgers responded to the trade news during Tuesday’s The Pat McAfee Show appearance. “Mike’s a good guy. He’ll be good in that locker room… He’s had a nice career. Sometimes a change of scenery is great for certain guys.”

Williams appeared in nine games with three starts and had 12 receptions on 21 targets for 166 yards.

Before landing with the Jets, Williams spent seven seasons with the L.A. Chargers, who took him 7th overall in the 2017 NFL draft.

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Jets WR Davante Adams has to dust the Cardinals in the desert

Jets WR Davante Adams has to dust the Cardinals in the desert

New York Jets wide receiver Davante Adams needs a repeat performance from week nine if his team is going to beat the Arizona Cardinals in Week 10. Adams will have opportunities to win versus man coverage and must be a serviceable target for quarterback Aaron Rodgers to target on the outside.

Adams tallied seven receptions, 91 yards, and a touchdown in a win versus the Houston Texans last Thursday night. With a time of possession total of just 26:18, the Jets yielded three passing touchdowns and Rodgers only failed on 10 of his 32 pass attempts.

 

However, five punts were the result of stalled drives and a third-down conversion rate of just 41 percent. Adams and the Jets offense can’t get caught up in the same lack of execution versus the Cardinals (5-4). Instead, the Jets (3-6) must neutralize the blitz by opting for the quick pass, and this means using three-step drops where Rodgers has struggled this season.

If the Jets are going to win, Adams or teammate Garrett Wilson will need to keep the offense ahead of the chains. A reliance on the Jets wide receivers to win at the line of scrimmage and produce yards after the catch will be pivotal.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DCCHtJyp5m3/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

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Jets’ Aaron Rodgers describes himself as a ‘jackrabbit’ currently

Jets’ Aaron Rodgers describes himself as a ‘jackrabbit’ currently

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers certainly sounds like he’s feeling pretty fresh currently.

The Jets (3-6) will visit the Arizona Cardinals (5-4) in their next outing in Week 10. Prior to that, Rodgers and the rest of New York’s locker room had an extended period off because their last game, a 21-13 win over the Houston Texans, was back on “Thursday Night Football.”

Because of that, you can see the 40-year-old QB feels a bit more pep in his step.

“I’m feeling good,” Rodgers said. “I feel like a jackrabbit, I got all this energy.”

And there was some proof in that as well via interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich.

Over the last several weeks of the season, Rodgers has only been a limited participant in some practices for rest purposes. Typically some of that time off has been on Wednesdays, but this week, the coach announced that Rodgers was a full participant.

“Fired up to get those guys back in the mix,” Ulbrich said via video conference. “Especially for a Wednesday practice which they’ve obviously missed the past couple of weeks.”

With some long, cross-country travel ahead for the Jets as they head out to Arizona for their next matchup… Rodgers’ energy being up can only be a good thing.

For more from Rodgers, see the attached clip below:

Baldy’s Breakdowns: Aaron Rodgers just trusted Jets’ Garrett Wilson (video)

Baldy’s Breakdowns: Aaron Rodgers just trusted Jets’ Garrett Wilson (video)

Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson scored a pair of one-handed catches against the Texans.

NFL Network’s Brian Baldinger did not overthink those plays.

The Jets won 21-13 in Week 9 and it was pretty simple in Baldinger’s mind.

“He just trusted him,” Baldinger said speaking about quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Baldinger’s breakdown on both scores can be found below:

New York Jets’ QB Aaron Rodgers reacts to WR Mike Williams trade

While appearing on the Pat McAfee Show, New York Jets’ QB Aaron Rodgers reacts live to the news of WR Mike Williams trade to Pittsburgh.

Former Indianapolis Colts’ All-Pro punter Pat McAfee brought on his guest, New York Jets’ QB Aaron Rodgers, in the truly the right place and time, as Rodgers was able to react live to insider Adam Schefter’s report that the Pittsburgh Steelers acquiring his former Jets’ teammate, WR Mike Williams, via trade.

McAfee asked Rodgers for his intitial reaction and what Williams meant to the 2024 New York Jets’ team.  While Rodgers could have taken this opportunity to make Williams position on the team seem replaceable, Rodgers took the opportunity to relate with Williams’ struggles with injuries and amazing recovery, stating that “I felt like he was getting better throughout the early part of the season.  I feel like his speed was getting better.  That’s a tough injury, I had that injury.”

The injury Rodgers referenced is one in which Williams tore his ACL during his 2023 season with the Los Angeles Chargers.

While Williams would surely appreciate the kind words from his former QB on the Jets, he is no doubt looking forward to getting the opportunity to show the NFL exactly what he is capable of with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024.

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Aaron Rodgers comments on Jets trading Mike Williams to Steelers

Aaron Rodgers comments on Jets trading Mike Williams to Steelers

Almost as quickly as the trade went down, Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers made it thoughts known.

That thanks to the “Pat McAfee Show.”

Rodgers, who made his weekly appearance on the ESPN program, did so again on Tuesday. That day of the week happened to be the 2024 NFL trade deadline and Rodgers’ team was involved in a move.

At least on camera, Rodgers was supportive of Mike Williams, who was shipped out by the Jets.

The 30-year-old receiver was sent to the Pittsburgh Steelers just ahead of the trade deadline at 4 p.m. on Nov. 5. He fetched New York a 2025 fifth-round pick in the deal.

“We knew with Davante (Adams) coming in there would be less targets for everybody,” Rodgers said. “If this gives Mike more opportunities, that’s awesome. We wish Mike well.”

Returning from an ACL injury in 2023, Williams never hit his stride with the Jets. In nine games this year with New York, he only had 12 catches for 166.

Williams’ numbers are reflective of both his health and evident lack of chemistry with Rodgers under center.

At one point just before Adams was traded to New York, it appeared the Jets QB threw Williams under the bus for running a route wrong leading to a game-ending interception against the Buffalo Bills. Williams then took a few personal days and did not practice with his team before returning for the past two weeks… only to now be traded.

For more from Rodgers on the trade, see the attached clip below:

Aaron Rodgers wished the traded Mike Williams well just weeks after throwing him under the bus

Aaron Rodgers was oddly nice about Mike Williams after his trade.

In mid-October, Aaron Rodgers threw Mike Williams under the bus for his apparent role in a game-losing interception against the Buffalo Bills. (Never mind that Rodgers underthrew the ball and was late on the pass.)

Now, Rodgers seemingly has nothing but kind words to say about the veteran receiver as the New York Jets officially traded the veteran to the Pittsburgh Steelers at the NFL trade deadline. Huh?

During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, Rodgers graciously wished Williams well for getting another “change of scenery” in Pittsburgh. The quarterback expressed sympathy and appreciation for the 30-year-old playmaker working his way back into top form, especially after Williams tore his ACL during the early portions of the 2023 season.

It’s just a little too convenient that Rodgers is now singing the praises of a savvy ex-teammate after he blamed him for one of his clear mistakes in front of a national audience:

While I have no doubt that Rodgers probably does mean some of his well-wishes for Williams, I’m also not going to discount the possibility that the veteran quarterback was being as cynical as possible in this public appearance. There are, after all, likely few things Rodgers loves more than his public image.