Sometimes it only takes a spark to start a fire. And for the New York Jets (3-6), they hope that a dominant second half against the Texans can ignite something much bigger as they head into another clash with a division leader, the NFC West's Arizona Cardinals (5-4).
While the Jets' 21-13 win over Houston snapped a five-game losing streak; the Cardinals are seeking their fourth consecutive win. The two teams will tussle in an interconference contest Sunday in Glendale, AZ.
"I think there was a weight lifted off," QB Aaron Rodgers said about last Thursday's victory. "There's a baseline level of energy and enthusiasm that we held ourselves to in training camp, and we haven't necessarily been there the entire time. We've got to find a way to bring it every single day. The key for young players is that consistency starts the minute you walk into the building, and everything you do needs to be intentional. And that starts with the conversation you're having, the time you get to work, the way you take notes."
Pick Your Poison
From an offensive standpoint, Aaron Rodgers & Co. played their most efficient half of the season against the Texans while totaling 3 TDs and 224 yards in the third and fourth quarters.
The future Hall of Fame signal-caller, who has dealt with hamstring, knee and ankle ailments, pointed to feeling better physically and the protection up front for the surge. Both will be key again vs. Arizona.
In the second half, Rodgers completed 15-of-18 pass attempts for 179 yards and 3 touchdowns. The last two weeks, he has thrown for 444 yards, 5 touchdowns, zero interceptions and posted a 114.6 passer rating.
"It starts with protection," Rodgers said. "So, we got to be able to protect it up, but once we do that, teams got to figure out what they want to do. It's hard to double both guys, but if you do, that's opportunities for everyone else, in the middle or on the outside, so we need our tight ends to step up, we need our young guys to step up. We've obviously used both our backs and some of those personnel with them on the field at the same time, so we'll keep mixing things up with that, but yeah, those guys are dynamic players, and it's pick your poison."
Rodgers, who needs 200 yards to pass Dan Marino (61,361) for 8th-most pass yards in NFL history, could again find success against an Arizona defense that has allowed 245.5 pass yards during its three-game win streak. The Cards have yielded the eighth-most passing yards (228.6) in the NFL this season.
"[Last week is] probably the best I've played," Rodgers said, referring to the current season. "I felt good about my play. Obviously, couldn't go anywhere but up in the second half. When we're all on the same page, which we were so many times, I've been saying that same thing almost every single week, 'What's the issue?' Well, 10 guys are on the same page and one guy isn't. Second half of that game we had a lot of guys on the same page the entire time."
WRs Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams combined for 16 receptions, 181 yards and 3 touchdowns against the Texans. Wilson has recorded 60 receptions, the most in the NFL, and 663 receiving yards, the third-most league-wide. In the last 5 weeks, he has 40 catches (8 per game) for 472 yards (94.4) and 4 TDs. The catches and yards, over that stretch, lead the NFL. They will both have an opportunity to flourish again versus Arizona, who have allowed 1,427 yards to wide receivers (158.6 per game), the sixth most.
Containing Kyler Murray
The Jets defense will be challenged by Arizona's ground game. The Cardinals are in sole possession of first place in the NFC West for the first time since 2022 and are averaging 158.7 yards on the ground during their three-game win streak.
RB James Conner leads the team with 664 yards on the ground (No. 6) and 4 TDs. QB Kyler Murray, the No. 1 overall pick in 2019, is fourth among QBs in rushing yards this season (350) and averages 8.1 yards per attempt but has fumbled 5 times.
"[Murray] does great things with his legs especially when he takes off to run," LB Jamien Sherwood said. "He does tend to take off, but he can also scramble really well. He rolls out and he throws it deep. He seems to find people downfield that are open because people are afraid of him running. That's where he makes his money.
"[Conner] is big and he's strong and great at getting yards after contact. He is very patient in his runs and good behind the blocks. We just are going to have to have good pad level ready for his stiff arm."
Edge Haason Reddick played his best game with the Jets vs. Houston with a half-sack, 8 hurries and 4 pressures. In addition, DL Quinnen Williams has gotten going with 8 pressures and 3 sacks the last two weeks.
"Do not look back at the quarterback," Sherwood said. "We just got to depend on everybody to do their jobs. And we got to depend on other people to do theirs well. Keep good edges. Try our best to contain them."
The Jets will also need to keep a keen eye on Arizona's talented and young receiving corps, headlined by the No. 4 pick in April's NFL Draft, Marvin Harrison Jr. (28 receptions for 445 yards and 5 TDs), and an athletic TE in Trey McBride (45 receptions for 481 yards).
Fired Up
The Jets are dealing with multiple injuries along their interior of the offensive line and rookie Olu Fashanu could get his first RG start. But the Green & White plan to limit any pressure on Rodgers and keep a clear focus on leaving Arizona with the flames of a second-half rally fire still burning bright.
"This league is anything but linear, the only thing linear about it is it keeps going," Rodgers said. "It doesn't wait for you. When you're done, it doesn't stop for you, so, we just got to build off the momentum."
