Aaron Rodgers still isn't giving up on NY Jets playoff hopes (but he should)

The greatest enemy of a NY Jets fan has always been hope — an optimism that clings to life when reality has already painted a bleak picture. In that respect, Aaron Rodgers might know something about what it's like to be a Jets fan.

Maybe it's because Rodgers hasn't been subject to the same levels of false hope and delusion that Jets fans have been forced to endure. Maybe it's because he's built a career out of winning at the highest level of the sport and still doesn't fully acknowledge the situation he finds himself in.

Whatever the case, Rodgers is still a believer. Despite the Jets' humiliating 31-6 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, a loss that sent the Jets plummeting to a 3-7 record, Rodgers believes his team can still make the playoffs.

Accomplishing such a feat would be downright historic, especially since the Jets haven't reached the postseason in 13 years. They would essentially have to win their final seven games of the season to solidify a playoff spot. But Rodgers (foolishly) isn't giving up yet.

Aaron Rodgers believes the NY Jets can still make the playoffs in 2024

When asked about his team's postseason hopes following yet another embarrassing loss, Rodgers told reporters that "there’s a lot still in front of us." He isn't counting the Jets out, even if everyone else already is.

The Jets' odds of reaching the playoffs have shrunken below 10 percent following Sunday's games, and that includes favorable results in the Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts games. The Jets received help from other teams, only to fall flat on their face in their own matchup.

Anyone who has watched the Jets this season would tell you this is not a playoff team. Heck, they're one loss away from having the worst record in the NFL. Not only is this not a playoff team — this is one of the worst teams in football.

Rodgers finished Sunday's game 22-of-35 for 151 yards and zero touchdowns. It was only the second time in Rodgers' 20-year career that he attempted 30+ passes and finished with fewer than 160 passing yards.

Even if the offense wasn't the most prominent concern on Sunday, and even if Rodgers has provided competent quarterback play at times this season, it's become increasingly apparent that father time has taken its toll on the four-time MVP.

Rodgers is a shell of his former self, not helped by the torn Achilles that caused him to miss the entire 2023 season. This version of Rodgers with this Jets team and these Jets coaches is not enough to reach the playoffs — not even close.

In the end, Rodgers' refusal to let go is admirable, but at some point, it’s clear that hope alone won’t save this season. The Jets’ issues run far deeper than any motivational speech or lingering belief. Sometimes, the hardest part is knowing when to let go and accept what’s already lost.

It's never been more over, folks.

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