NY Jets defensive meltdown spoils Aaron Rodgers return on MNF

The Jets' defense is a real problem

Justin Fried

Aaron Rodgers / Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

NY Jets fans eagerly awaiting the return of Aaron Rodgers were met with the bitter taste of reality on Monday Night Football. Rodgers' return to the gridiron was spoiled, and it wasn't even necessarily his fault.

The vaunted Jets defense which was widely seen as one of the best in the NFL entering the season suffered through an embarrassing meltdown of a performance under the bright lights of primetime.

The 49ers put up 32 points and scored on eight consecutive drives to finish what was an utter domination of their opponents, winning by a final score of 32-19. The Jets' pass rush was nonexistent and their run defense was even worse.

Who is to blame? Is it Robert Saleh? Is it Joe Douglas? Is it Haason Reddick? The unfortunate reality is that there isn't one individual to blame. The Jets were out-coached, out-played, and out-executed.

They were second best by a long margin, and the final score reflects that. The Jets proved that they don't belong to be in the conversation of the NFL's elite. Right now, they don't even deserve to be in playoff consideration.

The NY Jets defense is a problem, but Aaron Rodgers still looks like Aaron Rodgers

A 49ers team without Christian McCaffrey rushed for just shy of 200 yards with former undrafted free agent Jordan Mason as the primary running back. Mason rushed for a career-high 147 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries — the most he's had in a game since high school.

The Jets' questionable defensive line moves this offseason were put under a microscope for not only Jets fans to see, but for the entire NFL world to witness. This defense is a problem, and Reddick doesn't fix things.

Perhaps the only saving grace for the Jets is that Rodgers still looks like Rodgers, albeit with less mobility. The four-time MVP finished 13-of-21 for 167 yards, a touchdown, and a tipped interception.

The final stat line might look great, but Rodgers' performance was one of the only encouraging takeaways from an otherwise dismal day for Gang Green. The team's lack of a running game ultimately tanked the offense.

The Jets will turn their attention to a hopefully easier matchup against the Tennessee Titans in Week 2. The sky isn't falling after this disappointing Jets loss, but it's safe to say this isn't how anyone in the organization hoped to start their season.

The Jets have some work to do.

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Justin Fried

Justin Fried is an editor for FanSided who has over seven years of experience covering the NFL and various other sports. A diehard Jets fan since birth, Justin has served as the editor for The Jet Press since 2019, interviewing athletes such as Sauce Gardner, Curtis Martin, LaDainian Tomlinson, Joe Klecko, and many others. Justin has also worked closely with brands like Red Bull to help highlight the niche sectors of the sporting world. His four-part series on the sport of breaking remains one of his proudest pieces of work. In his spare time, Justin is an avid pro wrestling fan who is fortunate enough to have traveled to nearly 30 different countries.