Jets’ Saleh – 0-1 with Aaron Rodgers feels better than 1-0 in 23

A year ago, the New York Jets were leading 1-0 but were battling quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ season-ending Achilles injury. All in all, their current 0-1 start feels even better than last season, according to coach Robert Saleh.

“You know what? Unfortunately, that’s the way it is,” Saleh said Tuesday, several hours after being dominated 32-19 by the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium.

The 40-year-old Rodgers emerged unscathed from his first extended appearance in 20 months, perhaps the only bright spot in a loss that wide receiver Garrett Wilson best described as, “They kicked our asses, that’s the reality.”

After being outclassed by his previous team, the 49ers, Saleh tried to put a positive spin on the Jets’ situation, emphasizing that the offense was better than it looked and vowing to turn around the defense, the team’s flagship unit.

“It will definitely be fixed,” Saleh said. “I’m not discouraged in any way. Obviously they’ve done a lot better than we have and that will benefit us.”

The Jets, who next face the Tennessee Titans (0-1) on the road, allowed eight consecutive scoring drives – a stunning collapse for a proud defensive unit that ranked third in yards allowed in 2023. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it has been at least 45 years since they allowed that many consecutive scoring drives.

The Jets were thrown off balance by the 49ers’ pre-snap movement and misdirection, and were blown away by Christian McCaffrey’s backup Jordan Mason for 147 rushing yards. Saleh and the players were quick to praise the 49ers and their strategy afterward.

“They’re a good football team,” said cornerback Sauce Gardner, who missed nine snaps because he ran out of steam. “You know, they just played in the Super Bowl.”

The Jets, playing with eight returning starters on defense, entered the season with Super Bowl aspirations. Aside from a seven-minute touchdown drive in the first quarter, they were clearly outmatched – a wake-up call, some players said. They missed 18 tackles, according to Pro Football Focus, and were barely able to pass rush without edge rusher Haason Reddick.

The offense was also to blame for their inability to sustain offense. They held the ball for just 21 minutes and 20 seconds, the lowest time of possession in Rodgers’ 225 career appearances. Rodgers threw an interception, Breece Hall lost a fumble, and Allen Lazard dropped a pass on third down – some of the biggest mistakes.

The Jets looked out of sync, perhaps because none of their starters had played in the preseason. Saleh stressed that “there’s a lot of confidence on that side of the ball,” adding, “Our offense can be really good this year.”

After last season, when they scored a league-low 18 touchdowns, things can only get better. On Monday night, the starting lineup scored just two touchdowns, including a 12-play, 70-yard drive that lasted longer (7:07) than any drive last season.

“I think our offense is really well-positioned,” Saleh said. “I thought it was a good first outing since the quarterback hadn’t played in so long. But there were a lot of encouraging things and I know it’s going to be a lot better once we get this team evened out.”

Rodgers (13 of 21, 167 yards, one touchdown) was not happy with his performance but was grateful to be back on the field, a sentiment shared by the team, especially after last season’s devastating injury.

“He definitely didn’t panic,” Saleh said of the future Hall of Famer. “He was a quiet force on the sideline and I think (Monday) night gave him a lot of closure as far as finishing the game and getting out.”

In fact, Rodgers was taken out of the game late in the fourth quarter when the game was already unwinnable, but at least he was able to leave the field.