Jets’ line is aware of it could actually’t let Aaron Rodgers get uncovered once more

It’s becoming that the Jets are headed to London to play the Vikings on Sunday, as a result of their No. 1 goal completely, positively should be defending their crown jewel.

Aaron Rodgers, the 40-year-old franchise, was abused by the Denver protection in final Sunday’s 10-9 loss at MetLife Stadium.

There have been a number of disturbing moments late in that loss when Rodgers needed to peel himself off the stadium turf after being hit and seemed like he may need been achieved for the day or — heaven forbid — longer.

After the scene that unfolded 4 performs into final season on that exact same Meadowlands carpet, Rodgers rupturing his left Achilles, each time he will get up slowly after successful it triggers terrifying PTSD reminiscences.

Rodgers isn’t scheduled to talk to reporters till Friday, however Tuesday, in his weekly look on “The Pat McAfee Present,” Rodgers acknowledged having knee soreness from the 15 hits he took by Broncos defenders, which included 5 sacks.

The mugging Rodgers endured is one thing that has weighed closely on minds of the Jets offensive linemen all week earlier than the staff departed for England on Thursday afternoon.

“Proper after the [Broncos] sport, we have been telling him, ‘Hey, that wasn’t us. You understand we received your again. We’re gonna do what we will to repair it and make it not occur once more,’ ” middle Joe Tippmann instructed The Put up. “We all know we’ve received to be higher, and it begins up entrance with us. That’s an emphasis this week — having the ability to go off these pressures, be capable of take them on, hold [Rodgers] upright and let him go to work again there.”

That is the 2-2 Jets’ solely path to survival towards the 4-0 Vikings.

In the event that they thought the Broncos protection was aggressive with its blitzing and its go dashing video games up entrance, the Vikings’ scheme might make Denver’s appear like a preseason sport by comparability.

Minnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flores has an affinity for blitzing the best way Rodgers has an affinity for ayahuasca.

Flores’ protection led the NFL in blitz fee at 50.7 % in 2023. By means of the primary three video games this season, he known as essentially the most blitzes (50) on drop-backs of any protection. The Vikings protection leads the NFL with 17 sacks and is second in takeaways with 10. They’ve 37 quarterback hits in 4 video games, a median of almost 10 per sport.

Because the Dolphins head coach from 2019-21, Flores guided defenses that have been first in blitz fee in 2021 and second in 2020.

You get the image: The Vikings are going to return after Rodgers and his sore knees.

“The scheme, man,” befuddled 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy stated after a 23-17 loss to the Vikings in Week 2, “it’s loopy.”

The next week, Flores’ protection routed the Texans and their top-tier quarterback, C.J. Stroud, 34-7. Final week, the Vikings have been up 28-0 at Inexperienced Bay earlier than the primary half was full.

The NFL, as you could have heard, is a copycat league. When one thing works for one staff towards one other, that staff ought to anticipate one other dose of it from its subsequent opponent.

Due to the best way the Broncos blitzing entrance flummoxed the Jets offensive line final Sunday, the Jets anticipate extra of it Sunday, notably given the opponent.

“We have been anticipating plenty of strain, however they introduced it nearly as a lot as they may,” Tippmann stated of the Broncos.

“They only introduced somewhat greater than we in all probability anticipated,” left guard John Simpson stated.

“Denver in all probability had a special sport plan for us than others,” proper guard Alijah Vera-Tucker stated. “Total, [Flores] does a superb job at bringing guys up and dropping individuals again. For us, [Denver] was a sport we have been disenchanted in ourselves. Everyone knows that we will be higher and should be extra locked in with it and preserving Aaron upright. That’s one thing we undoubtedly mentioned as an O-line and all people else concerned previously projection.”

Simpson stated of the Vikings, “I’m positive they’re going to throw issues that we haven’t seen but, however it’s simply constructing off of these issues and getting higher on the issues that we do see.”

Tippmann stated he expects extra strain from Flores, “particularly after how we dealt with it final week,” including, “We’re getting ready for it on each play.”

It’s the Jets’ solely path to survival: Shield the crown jewel carrying the No. 8 jersey.