Green Bay Packers Not Sleeping on Jets
By Jamie Wright
It is only week two in the 2014 NFL season, but already fans of the Green Bay Packers have begun to worry.
This offseason cemented such hope and promise in our hearts and minds — four preseason games later, and we were very excited about the direction that this team was headed in, especially on defense.
Finishing 25th overall in defense last season was embarrassing.
Finishing 25th overall in defense last season was embarrassing. The secondary and run defense woes were devastating. With the addition of Julius Peppers and a healthy complement of starters back in the ranks, things were looking up.
Cue last Thursday night, the kickoff to the 2014 season.
What Packers fans gathered from that night’s showing?
This team is nowhere near ready to contend with the NFC powerhouses like Seattle and San Francisco. The true power football teams have been and will continue to be our Achilles heel if we can’t shore up some key aspects of our defense, starting up front on the defensive line.
New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith. Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
It is this revelation that has Packers Nation saying an extra prayer each night.
Next up on the schedule?
The New York Jets will open the Packers season at Lambeau field.
Formerly an AFC powerhouse battling with the likes of the New England Patriots each year for the title game, the Jets have fallen off in recent memory and become a mediocre team in a mediocre division.
With past “circus” acts like the handling of Darrelle Revis, Rex Ryan’s pre- and post-game antics and the addition and subtraction of Tim Tebow, the Jets have been the laughing stock across the media and the league. The Jets have a pretty good cast of characters but not enough good sense to know how to use them.
Those days may be well behind us, however, and the Green Bay Packers would do well to remember that.
Last week, the Jets came back to beat the sub-par Oakland Raiders, yes, but showed some promise for days to come as well.
Mistake-prone Geno Smith was near perfect, hitting on 23-of-28 passes for 221 yards and a touchdown. Not too shabby for a second year guy surrounded by distractions.
Their power running game was non-existent last year but they seem to be getting back to business in 2014. With the addition of Chris Johnson, the Jets now have Chris Ivory and Johnson as their power running duo. Ivory broke free for a 71-yard touchdown run last week, racking up 102 yards on the day.
With the way the Packers run defense looked Thursday night, they could be in for another long night if we can’t put a lockdown on Ivory and Johnson and make Geno Smith prove himself through the air.
Yes, the Raiders were testing out a brand new QB in rookie Derek Carr and the Packers have the best QB in the game in Aaron Rodgers, so the Jets defense will have is hands full with the Packers in a way they weren’t tested by the Raiders.
But Rodgers and Co. need to find their stride again following a poor showing in Seattle. Granted, they won’t be playing scared or timid because of anyone in New York’s secondary but an injury-plagued offensive line will need to find a way to give Rodgers time in the pocket to get the magic back.
I’m not sleeping on the New York Jets and neither should the Green Bay Packers.
This league is about parity and things have a way of equalizing themselves in the offseason. With the Lions and the Vikings out to a strong start, the Packers can’t afford to underestimate an opponent and let the lead get too far out ahead of them.