“How much blame you got? A lot.” That’d be Aaron Rodgers’ remix of 21 Savage’s track ‘A Lot’, and honestly, it still wouldn’t cover the whole mess. Once Robert Saleh’s domino fell, it was like watching the entire Jets setup collapse. And yep, Rodgers got caught in the middle of the fallout. Now, with Nathaniel Hackett getting bumped for Todd Downing, the so-called diva quarterback has stepped up and taken the hit.

“The idea of manifestation involves attention and intention. The word that goes along with that is accountability… If I play better, this doesn’t happen,” Rodgers said, keeping it real while reflecting on Saleh’s exit and Hackett’s demotion. But he did not stop there. A-Rod also lent a strong support to the new HC Jeff Ulbrich saying, “I told him I’d back him up wherever he was headed.” That’s a mark of a veteran who’s observed the shift in reins many a time.

But with Rodgers’ and Hackett, it runs deep. Do not forget that Hackett was the mastermind behind Rodgers’ back-to-back MVP seasons in Green Bay. No wonder the 40-year-old QB said this about Hackett in 2023: “Arguably my favorite coach I’ve ever had in the NFL.”

But let’s face it—the results in New York haven’t been pretty. Hackett’s offense, especially with Zach Wilson at QB after Rodgers’ injury, sputtered badly last season. The Jets finished near the bottom in offensive rankings.

And even now, with Rodgers back, they’re still struggling. How bad is it? Well, they’re sitting 27th in yards per game and 25th in points per game heading into week 6. That’s not the kind of stat sheet you want to see when you’ve got A-Rod under center. It felt like the Hackett-Rodgers magic from Green Bay just wasn’t translating to the Big Apple. Hence why Ulbrich wanted Todd for play-calling.

See, the thing is, so many changes could have severe consequences. Or, it could turn out surprisingly well. I mean, the Gang Green had nothing to lose. So, they went for it. With a 2-3 record, it was now or never. But will this be enough to force a turnaround?

Todd Downing-Aaron Rodgers to the rescue?

Before we answer that. You should know that Hackett only got demoted. Not fired, unlike Saleh. He’d still be there as a staff. But Todd would have the onus of making the final offensive calls.

Now, his resume might not scream ‘wizard’ off the bat. But he’s been around long enough to know a thing or two about turning things around. Todd’s recent stint with the Titans saw him lean heavily on the run game, which worked wonders with Derrick Henry in the backfield.

That run-heavy mentality could be just what the Jets need. After all, how are you last in rushing with backs like Breece Hall and Braelon Allen? Crazy! Downing’s challenge now is to reignite the ground game and give Aaron Rodgers the support he’s been missing. You might be thinking, “But what about Rodgers?” Well, sure, he might miss having his buddy Hackett calling plays. But this shift could actually play to his strengths.

When the Jets have leaned on the run, like in their wins against the Titans and Patriots, they’ve found success. But when they got pass-happy—like against the Broncos and Vikings—it was a disaster. A balanced attack is exactly what Rodgers needs to keep defenses honest and unleash his arm when it counts.

Downing’s real test will be against the Bills, a team vulnerable to running backs. If he can get Hall and Allen pounding the rock, with some short passes to backs and tight ends like Tyler Conklin, the Jets could finally find their groove.

More balance, more control, and fewer mistakes will put Aaron Rodgers in a better spot to make big plays. But that’s all on paper. It’d be interesting to see how all of this would really translate on gridiron, come game day.