NFL analyst says ‘don’t sleep on’ this AFC East team winning Super Bowl LIX

Which AFC team will get in the way of a Kansas City Chiefs reaching their third consecutive Super Bowl in 2024?  After Patrick Mahomes and crew won Super Bowl LVIII to secure their dynasty, NFL.com analyst Bucky Books looked at teams that will have a legitimate title run in the 2024 NFL season.  The list is topped by the reigning champs, but one AFC East team will surprise you.  That team is the New York Jets.

In ranking the eight teams he feels likely to hoist the Lombardi after winning Super Bowl LIX, the fact that the Jets even made the list is a bold prediction, but what is even more surprising is that the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills are not on that list.

New York Jets are a veteran quarterback away from making a run and that QB is in the house

Now, that doesn’t mean they aren’t favorites, it just means Brooks believes the Jets may have a bigger Super Bowl window based on their complete team roster, which includes who will be returning in 2024.

While the Chiefs, Detroit Lions, Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns and Green Bay Packers at least had a taste of the playoffs in 2023, what would put the Jets in that category? 

His name is Aaron Rodgers.

Brooks writes:

“Though the team's success hinges on a 40-year-old signal-caller attempting to bounce back from a season-ending Achilles injury, the veteran's experience and expertise should give New York an edge in close contests down the stretch. If Joe Douglas and Robert Saleh can repair the Jets' abysmal O-line, Gang Green has enough firepower to win high-scoring affairs, but the offense could also operate as a ball-control machine built to complement an elite defense.”

Before Rodgers went down with a season-ending Achilles injury at the start of the 2023 NFL season, the Jets were a team picked as a challenger in the AFC East, and it was because of that elite defense Brooks speaks off.  Now, the Jets have some tough decisions to make on pending free agents like defensive ends Bryce Huff, Carl Lawson and safeties Jordan Whitehead and Chuck Clark, but they have elite defenders in Quinnen Williams and Sauce Gardner anchoring the defense.

With those players to re-tool around defensively, the Jets can set their attention on offense where Rodgers will be an upgrade over Zach Wilson just by stepping on the field.  If they can strengthen the offensive line and add another playmaker to go along with wide receiver Garrett Wilson and running back Breece Hall, the Jets are a team not to sleep on as Brooks put it. 

In all, the Jets still managed a record of 7-10 despite the ineptitude on offense.  Not only did the defense keep them in games, but the Robert Saleh’s team remained competitive with big wins over the Bills, Philadelphia Eagles and Houston Texans.  They also played the Chiefs tough in a 23-20 loss in Week 4.  With Rodgers under center and some tinkering with the roster, Brooks may be the one laughing if the Jets do indeed look like a contender in 2024. 

As far as green and white confetti falling next February?  That would seem like a dream for Jets fans at this point.