Wednesday Stat Day: The numbers that led to Pats' upset win over Bills
Whenever he makes his weekly appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers always seems to make headlines across the nation. While nothing too controversial escaped his lips this week from the recovery couch or wherever he’s doing his advanced Achilles rehab, he did offer some words of praise for a local footballer that resonated quite nicely in Patriots Nation.
Speaking to the reactionary nature of fans and media covering the NFL, Rodgers discussed the turnaround of the Pats as a prime example after their big 29-25 win over the Buffalo Bills just as they were being criticized heavily for their sluggish start.
“Look at what’s going on in New England,” Rodgers said. “Bill’s gonna be out and Mac’s the problem. Then Mac goes out and balls out…and now it’s like Mac was never the problem.”
Oh how quickly things can change. Even in New England.
Rodgers has always had a healthy amount of respect for Bill Belichick, and the feeling is mutual to say the least. And while it’s Rodgers’ dream to be back in time to play against both Belichick and Jones at season’s end (the Jets play at New England Jan. 6/7 to close the season), his complimentary words mirror those of many league-wide.
The Patriots were deserving of all the criticism they received, and equally deserving of the praise after their best game in years at Gillette Stadium Sunday. Par for the course in this, perhaps the most Any Given Sunday season the NFL has experienced in ages.
Rodgers garnered headlines for calling Travis Kelce “Mr. Pfizer” in one of his Pat McAfee sponsored appearances earlier this season. Maybe if Mac Jones can do it again Sunday vs. the Dolphins in Miami, Rodgers will dub him Mr. Turnaround. For now at least, after a dreadful start to the 2023 season, he’s hearing good noise, even from a QB of the rival Jets, and hopefully he’s not ignoring it.