Aaron Rodgers explains the core issue holding the NY Jets back this season

The NY Jets have been a massive disappointment so far in 2024. The Aaron Rodgers experiment is on life support as the Jets sit at 2-5 through seven games in desperate need of a winning streak.

Rodgers hasn't been the only issue with the Jets — far from it — but it's undeniable that he's lost a few steps over the last few years. He's also coming off one of his worst performances of the season in a 37-15 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football.

But if it's not just Rodgers, what is it? In reality, the issues with this Jets team extend far beyond their quarterback even their roster. Rodgers, however, offered up his own opinion as to what the biggest issue plaguing the team has been through seven games.

During his weekly appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, Rodgers insisted that the Jets have been playing "too angry" and that they need to start having "more fun" on the field. This comes days after he criticized the team's energy both before and during Sunday night's loss.

"We just need to have a little more fun, smile more to enjoy each other. It's fun when you win, of course, but I think there are ways of taking some of the pressure off, and it's got to start with me this week with my energy and my approach."

- Aaron Rodgers

Aaron Rodgers believes the solution to the NY Jets' problems is to have more fun

Rodgers is off to what is likely the worst start of his professional career. The 40-year-old has thrown seven interceptions, his most through the first seven games of a season since 2010, his third year as a starter in Green Bay.

Some of those interceptions haven't been his fault, but his performance has still been lackluster at times. Rodgers seems hesitant to throw downfield and looks uncomfortable in the pocket. Perhaps that's a product of his Achilles injury or perhaps it's a product of his age. Whatever the case, it's been a problem,

Rodgers previously placed part of the blame for the Jets' struggles on the media following Sunday night's loss, insisting his team needs to pay less attention to what the media says about them. This time, Rodgers took a more introspective approach.

The Jets have lost four consecutive games, including their last two since firing former head coach Robert Saleh, and are in danger of falling out of playoff contention before we even reach November.

A loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday would not only represent a new low for the organization, but it would effectively end any hopes the Jets have of reaching the postseason this year.

Analytics models still give the Jets a respectable chance to make the playoffs, but the games aren't played by algorithms. The team's performance on the field tells a much different story, one plagued by inconsistency and self-inflicted mistakes that no model can predict or compensate for.

Maybe Rodgers is right, though. Maybe the Jets are pressing and the solution is to lighten. Maybe the Jets should have more fun. Either way, the Jets need to figure it out in a hurry.

More NY Jets news and analysis: