### Struggles Persist for Aaron Rodgers and the Jets Offense

The stats suggest that Aaron Rodgers' performance woes are far from over. Rodgers currently ranks fifth worst in Completion Percentage Over Expectation (CPOE) with a disappointing -7%, a stark decline from his top 10 finishes during his MVP years in 2020 and 2021. Moreover, he stands 11th in the league for the highest off-target rate, indicating accuracy issues that cannot be merely attributed to his Achilles injury. Kirk Cousins, who suffered a similar injury after Rodgers and is now with the Atlanta Falcons, has managed a seventh-best CPOE (+4%) and boasts the lowest off-target rate, underscoring that Rodgers' struggles are unique.

Even when Rodgers has a clean pocket, he averages only 5.9 yards per attempt, placing him fourth worst in the NFL. To put this into perspective, during his MVP seasons, Rodgers thrived by averaging 8.5 yards per attempt with ample time to throw. This sharp decline highlights a significant drop in efficiency. Additionally, Rodgers' ability to extend plays has diminished, as he now averages a mere 5.0 yards per attempt with three-plus seconds to throw, outdone only by Deshaun Watson’s 3.7 yards.

A prominent issue has been Rodgers' lack of chemistry with wide receiver Garrett Wilson. The duo has attempted the most passes in the league this year, yet Rodgers averages only 5.2 yards per attempt targeting Wilson. Remarkably, Bryce Young averages 5.4 yards per attempt in his career. Their connection has been suboptimal; for instance, despite 23 targets to Wilson in Week 5, they fetched merely 101 yards. The timing on back-shoulder throws, a Rodgers specialty, has been inconsistent. This raises questions about whether the Jets should push for a trade for Davante Adams to bolster their receiving corps.

Play action, once a crucial element of Rodgers’ game, has similarly faltered. He is last in the league in yards per attempt on play-action plays (3.7) and employs it only 21% of the time. This is a significant drop from his MVP years, where he had 31 touchdowns and no interceptions using play-action at a top-10 rate of 27%.

The Jets’ ground game has been equally ineffective, ranking last in the NFL in rushing yards per game (80.4) and third worst in yards per carry (3.6). Running back Breece Hall has struggled, with just 19 carries for 27 yards over the last two weeks. The offensive line has failed to provide necessary assistance, as Hall is hit in the backfield on 40% of his carries, resulting in a meager 0.1 yards before contact per rush.

A small silver lining has been the difficult defenses the Jets have faced, including the top two teams in defensive Expected Points Added (EPA) in their last games: the Vikings and Broncos. Future opponents like the Bills and Steelers also present defensive challenges, indicating tough sledding ahead before the schedule eases up.

With Nathaniel Hackett out and Todd Downing stepping in as offensive coordinator, there could be more balance in the Jets' offensive approach. Downing's tenure with the Titans saw a top-six rushing offense from 2020-21, suggesting a likely shift towards a more physical game plan that could benefit Hall and rookie Braelon Allen. The Jets presently have the third-highest dropback rate in the NFL (67%), but could see a shift closer to Tennessee's lowest league dropback rate (53%) under Downing.

Additionally, more pre-snap motion is anticipated, given Tennessee's ninth rank in usage under Downing compared to the Jets' current 28th position. Whether these strategic changes bring about immediate improvement remains to be seen in a season where the Jets’ offense has been subpar in all aspects.