Jet Leg

September 14, 2023

By: Carlos Alvarez

Good Morning

It’s been confirmed. Aaron Rodgers’ season is done. The Jets are officially the most unlucky franchise in sports. If you know a Jets fan, check on them today. But just because Rodgers is out doesn’t mean they’re finished. That roster is loaded. And quarterback is a question that can be answered.

Tom Brady, anyone?

Letter Rip!

NFL

Jet Leg: Rodgers Ruled Out for Season

MRI Confirms Jets QB Aaron Rodgers Out for Season With Torn Achilles… Now What for New York?

Bad news, confirmed. The talk of the sports world the last 24 hours — and for the foreseeable future — is the biggest injury of Week 1. An MRI on Tuesday morning confirmed Jets QB Aaron Rodgers suffered a torn Achilles and will miss the rest of the 2023 season. The 39-year-old quarterback famously went through an offseason of trade demands, contract negotiations and recruiting teammates to New York for one big Super Bowl run. It all ended on his fourth snap. The Jets still won Monday Night Football against the Bills (22-16, OT) thanks to defense, special teams and the run game, but demoralized Jets fans have questions moving forward.

Who’s Up: Zach Wilson or Veteran FA?

The Jets spent a fortune to go all-in for this season (and next) with Rodgers on the roster, signing RB Dalvin Cook, WR Allen Lazard and WR Randall Cobb all to short-term deals. Even with Rodgers out, the rest of the roster is still talented enough to win. So, should Zach Wilson get another shot to run this team? Or do the Jets look elsewhere for another veteran? Options include: Carson Wentz, Colt McCoy, Nick Foles, Joe Flacco, Matt Ryan, and yes, even Tom Brady. The Jets could also trade for a backup like Jameis Winston or Drew Lock.

Poll: What Do You Think? (click to vote)

Give Zach Wilson A Shot

Pick Up Veteran Quarterback

Packers Lose 1st-Round Pick

New York isn’t the only team who suffered on Monday Night. The Packers lost a conditional first-round draft pick that was tied to Rodgers playing 65 percent of New York’s offensive snaps. That draft pick from the Jets will now be a second-rounder.

SBLVIII Odds Shift

The Jets opened the season with +2500 odds to win Super Bowl LVIII (tied for 8th-best). After yesterday’s confirmed injury report, they’re now +6500. The Dolphins (+3000 → +1600) saw the biggest upward movement in their SBLVIII odds.

Aaron Rodgers brought us an offseason of headlines unlike any other, and it’s all over after four snaps. Sorry, Jets fans. The next big question: Is his career over?

SI: 10 Options at Quarterback for the Jets After Aaron Rodgers Tears Achilles

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NFL

Week 2 Power Rankings: NFC Rises

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NFC Conquers AFC in Week 1 as 49ers, Lions & Cowboys Rise

The first of 18 NFL weekends is in the books! We learned a lot about who’s ready to play at the start of 2023, but one game is just a starting point. After Week 1, the top-3 “big dogs” in the AFC were all losers — Chiefs, Bills and Bengals. We had all three in our top-five before kickoff last week. The result is a major early shift at the top. And with all the talk about how difficult the AFC has been, it was the NFC who shined in Week 1 head-to-head games (4-0).

Head-to-Head: NFC beats AFC (4-0)

Eagles def. Patriots (25-20)

49ers def. Steelers (30-7)

Saints def. Titans (16-15)

Lions def. Chiefs (21-20)

NFC teams were the beneficiaries of Week 1, and we have three taking the top-3 spots in this week’s power rankings. The Rams (No. 15) were the biggest risers after trouncing the Seahawks by three scores without WR Cooper Kupp. The Giants (No. 27), Bengals (No. 11) and Steelers (No. 29) were the biggest fallers. Expect plenty of movement as we speed forward, but here’s how we see it after one weekend.

NFL Power Rankings (Week 2)

1. 49ers (1-0) | ↑3

2. Cowboys (1-0) | ↑4

3. Eagles (1-0) | ↓1

4. Chiefs (0-1) | ↓3

5. Dolphins (1-0) | ↑4

6. Lions (1-0) | ↑4

7. Ravens (1-0) | ↑1

8. Browns (1-0) | ↑6

9. Bills (0-1) | ↓5

10. Jets (1-0) | ↓3

Teams 11-20

11. Bengals (0-1) | ↓8

12. Jaguars (1-0) | —

13. Chargers (0-1) | ↓2

14. Saints (1-0) | ↑2

15. Rams (1-0) | ↑14

16. Packers (1-0) | ↑9

17. Seahawks (0-1) | ↓4

18. Falcons (1-0) | ↑3

19. Vikings (0-1) | ↓3

20. Patriots (0-1) | —

Teams 21-32

21. Raiders (1-0) | ↑5

22. Broncos (0-1) | ↓3

23. Commanders (1-0) | —

24. Buccaneers (1-0) | ↑3

25. Bears (0-1) | ↓7

26. Titans (0-1) | ↓2

27. Giants (0-1) | ↓10

28. Panthers (0-1) | —

29. Steelers (0-1) | ↓7

30. Colts (0-1) | —

31. Texans (0-1) | —

32. Cardinals (0-1) | —

Disagree with our Week 2 NFL Power Rankings?

Reply to today’s newsletter and chat with our editor.

PFN: Week 2 Power Rankings: Jets, Dolphins Secure Impressive Wins, Bills & Bengals Falter

USA Today: NFL Power Rankings Week 2: Are Jets Cooked After Aaron Rodgers’ Injury?

Sporting News: NFL Power Rankings: 49ers, Cowboys, Packers Romp to Top as Chiefs, Bengals Fade

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WNBA

The \’W\’ Playoffs Have Arrived

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WNBA Playoffs Begin Tonight With Aces & Liberty on Collision Course for Finals

After 40 games and a record-breaking season, the WNBA Playoffs are ready for tipoff. The ‘W’ regular season concluded on Sunday with the Chicago Sky nabbing the final unclaimed playoff spot, and the field of eight is set for the postseason. It’s a two-team race, as it has been all year, with the Aces (34-6) and Liberty (32-8) destined for a finals pairing. They had record-setting years in tandem and a montage of exciting head-to-head battles. Not to mention, they have the most loaded rosters by a long shot. Can anyone stand in the way? The Sun (27-13) and Wings (22-18) have pulled off upsets this season, but it’ll take a monumental effort to down Vegas or New York in a playoff series.

WNBA Playoff Picture

1. Las Vegas Aces (34-6)

2. New York Liberty (32-8)

3. Connecticut Sun (27-13)

4. Dallas Wings (22-18)

5. Atlanta Dream (19-21)

6. Minnesota Lynx (19-21)

7. Washington Mystics (19-21)

8. Chicago Sky (18-22)

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E – Los Angeles Sparks (17-23)

E – Indiana Fever (13-27)

E – Seattle Storm (11-29)

E – Phoenix Mercury (9-31)

The WNBA postseason format consist of four best-of-3 series in Round 1 before a best-of-5 in the semifinals and finals. The opening round is essentially the quarterfinals with just eight playoff teams, matched up 1-vs-8, 2-vs-7, 3-vs-6 and 4-vs-5. It all starts tonight!

Tonight\’s Schedule

Gm 1: #6 Lynx at #3 Sun (8:00 pm ET)

Gm 1: #8 Sky at #1 Aces (10:00 pm ET)

ESPN: Breanna Stewart Edges A’ja Wilson for AP’s WNBA Player of the Year Award

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MLB

MLB Quick-Hitters

Olson Hits 51st HR: The Braves earned an extra-inning win against the Phillies on Tuesday night (7-6, 10 innings) after Matt Olson bashed his franchise record-tying 51st home run (Andruw Jones, 2005). Olson is now seven HRs ahead of the field and on pace to finish just below 60. As a team, Atlanta is on pace for 311 HRs. The all-time team record was 307 set by the Twins in 2019.

AL Wild Card Shuffle: The Mariners, Rangers, and Blue Jays are cycling through hot and cold streaks to determine the final two AL Wild Card spots. After a strong weekend from Toronto, Max Scherzer and the Rangers handed the Blue Jays a 6-3 loss on Tuesday while the Mariners blanked the Angels (8-0). All three teams are deadlocked at (80-64 or 80-65) for the final two spots.

Freddie’s Big B-Day: The Dodgers ran roughshod over the Padres last night at home (11-2) thanks to Freddie Freeman, the birthday boy! Freddie had four hits and his 26th home run of the year to lift L.A. out of a mini-slump. The Dodgers were just 4-6 in September. Now, they can clinch the second NL playoff spot as early as Friday.

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STORYLINES

Lillard Lifts the Miami Demand

With NBA training camps set to open later this month, one major domino has yet to fall. Damian Lillard, who requested a trade from the Blazers this offseason, has now said he’ll honor his contract with whatever team he ends up on. Not just the Miami Heat. (SI)

Prime Effect: Deion Sanders’ Success

Across college football, coaches far and wide are coming to realize there’s a different kind of pressure on them now. That would be the intertwined man and myth named Deion Sanders, who has shifted the narrative and changed the very definition of expectations. (FOX Sports)

Potential MLB Wild Card Matchups

Before the 2023 MLB Playoffs get underway, we’re going to be treated to a furious few weeks of jockeying in the standings. The MLB wild-card races have plenty of intrigue, but what would be the tastiest first-round matchups? (CBS Sports)

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NEWS

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SCHEDULE

The Must-Watch List

WNBA Playoffs (Round 1)

Gm 1: Lynx at Sun (8:00 pm ET)

Gm 1: Sky at Aces (10:00 pm ET)

MLB

Rays at Twins (1:10 pm ET)
Guardians at Giants (3:45 pm ET)

Braves at Phillies (6:40 pm ET)

Rangers at Blue Jays (7:07 pm ET)

Yankees at Red Sox (7:10 pm ET)

Marlins at Brewers (7:40 pm ET)

Padres at Dodgers (10:10 pm ET)

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