New Jets quarterback Justin Fields, a first-round pick of the Bears in 2021, started the first six games for Pittsburgh before being benched in favor of Russell Wilson last season.
Meanwhile, Rodgers threw for 3,897 yards and 28 touchdowns for New York but looked nothing like the player who previously won four NFL MVP Awards.
In reality, both teams are likely to struggle this season but it’s fun to imagine how Jets fans will react to Rodgers’ return to MetLife Stadium.
Week 6 vs. Denver Broncos
What a way to start the day. Die-hard football fans, especially those on the East Coast, will tell you there’s nothing better than an NFL game in mid-October. This year, the Jets will travel to play their fourth game in London and fifth international game overall.
This time they’ll play Denver, a team that may have found its answer at quarterback in Bo Nix, the 12th overall pick in last year’s draft. Nix finished his rookie season as the NFL’s 12th-leading passer with 3,775 yards and 29 touchdowns while leading the team to its first playoff berth since 2015.
Of course, Nix lost to Fields’ Steelers, 13-6, in his second NFL start, but pulled out a 10-9 victory over the Jets two weeks later despite completing just 12 passes for 60 yards. Fans should expect a better performance from both quarterbacks in London this year.
Week 15 at Jacksonville Jaguars
Consider this mid-December contest the rubber match as each team has nine wins (including playoffs) against the other, including a 32-25 road win for New York last season.
That game, which also fell on Week 15, helped lead to the firing of Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson and the hiring of Liam Coen in the offseason. Coen spent last season as an offensive coordinator with Tampa Bay, but he’s not the new addition Jaguars fans are so excited about.
That distinction goes to Travis Hunter, last year’s Heisman Trophy winner and someone first-year general manager James Gladstone had no problem trading up to get with the second pick in this year’s draft.
A dual-threat at wide receiver and cornerback, few players will receive more attention than Hunter in 2025. On defense, Hunter had 36 tackles, 11 passes defensed and four interceptions with Colorado last season. On offense, he made 96 catches for 1,258 yards and 15 scores, the second most in the FBS.
According to reports, Hunter has already shown significant improvement from the team’s rookie minicamp to recent OTAs. Jets fans hope he’ll be less productive when they visit Duval County, but even if he isn’t, Jets fans should see an exciting game.
