Rising Stars Shine: Jets Fans Rejoice! 2 Rising Stars are Bringing Hope and Excitement to the…
We’re at the point of the season where the New York Jets’ win-loss results matter less than the long-term implications of how certain individual players are performing. And in that regard, Sunday’s outing was a tremendous one for New York despite the 26-21 loss.
The Jets’ defeat largely fell on the shoulders of then-40-year-old Aaron Rodgers, who crossed the bridge to 41 today. In the loss, Rodgers totaled -16.3 total EPA (Expected Points Added), the worst mark of any quarterback in Week 13 thus far.
That’s a good thing for New York’s long-term outlook. Rodgers likely won’t be back next year; it’s already been labeled a “long shot” by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, and it is only becoming increasingly unlikely as his performance continues dwindling. So, if the Jets lose because of him, it has no impact on their hopes of returning to contention in 2025 and beyond.
Rodgers sunk the Jets on Sunday, but they still nearly won the game thanks to dominant performances from two of their most important long-term players: Olu Fashanu and Will McDonald. If you are a pro-tank Jets fan, it was a perfect formula.
Against Seattle, Fashanu and McDonald were arguably the Jets’ best players on each side of the ball. The pair’s electric outing continues a run of success for both first-round picks, who are rapidly establishing themselves as reliable long-term building blocks for the organization.
Olu Fashanu vs. Seahawks
Going into Sunday, I labeled Fashanu as the “new star of the Jets’ show” over New York’s final six games. And, boy, did he live up to that billing.
According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Fashanu allowed zero pressures on 44 pass-blocking snaps against the Seahawks.
The film backed up the numbers. Fashanu looked incredible protecting Rodgers’ blind side. Whether it was a true one-on-one, passing off a stunt, or working a double-team, Fashanu looked like a brick wall out there.
