On Football: Midweek Takeaways

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Robert Saleh got to coach just five full games with Aaron Rodgers before New York Jets owner Woody Johnson decided to make a change.

Johnson fired Saleh on Tuesday in a desperate effort to reinvigorate a talented 2-3 team that has underachieved, especially on offense where Rodgers and coordinator Nathaniel Hackett have struggled to duplicate the success they had in Green Bay.

New York’s offense is 25th in points (18.6) per game and 27th in yards (286.6). The defense is fifth in points (17.0) allowed and second in yards (255.8).

But Johnson couldn’t fire Hackett — that probably wouldn’t sit well with Rodgers — so Saleh is out and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich takes over as interim coach for a team that’s trying to end the NFL’s longest active playoff drought at 13 seasons.

Only the 2021 Raiders with Rich Bisaccia and the 1961 Oilers with Wally Lemm made the playoffs after switching coaches during the season.

But the Jets aren’t on the verge of rebuilding. They were two plays away from being 4-1.

If Greg Zuerlein made a 50-yard field goal in the final minute of a 10-9 loss to Denver in Week 4 and Rodgers hadn’t thrown a terrible pick-6 in a 23-17 loss to Minnesota on Sunday, it would be a different vibe in New York.

The Jets have a stout defense that would be even better if they could get edge rusher Haason Reddick to end his holdout. They just need Rodgers and an offense that also features wide receivers Garrett Wilson and Mike Williams, and running backs Breece Hall and Braelon Allen to get going.

A victory on Monday night at home against Buffalo (3-2) gives the Jets a share of first place in the AFC East.

Saleh isn’t getting a chance to finish what he started, however. He moves on after going 20-36, mostly with mediocre quarterbacks.

Saleh finished 3-3 with Rodgers, including a win in the season opener last year in which the four-time NFL MVP tore an Achilles tendon on the fourth snap.

He was 12-21 with Zach Wilson, 1-4 with Joe Flacco, 2-5 with Mike White, 2-1 with Trevor Siemian and 0-2 with Tim Boyle.

Oh, he was 1-0 in games that include awkward sideline hugs and 0-1 following a cadence controversy.

Maye’s mayhem

Rookie quarterback Drake Maye is preparing for his first start for the New England Patriots against the Houston Texans on Sunday.

He’s set up for failure behind a woeful offensive line.

Jacoby Brissett was pressured on 47% on his drop-backs so Maye could be under heavy duress against Houston, which is tied for sixth in sacks per pass attempt.

Hurricane prep

The NFL and FEMA entered into a strategic partnership last month, designating several NFL stadiums, including Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, as mission-capable venues that can be used during emergency response and recovery efforts.

With Hurricane Milton set to hit Tampa Bay, Raymond James Stadium has been bringing in first responders since Saturday and will have approximately 1,000 of them and other staff to support throughout the storm and ready to deploy after it passes. The stadium was also used for Hurricanes Helene and Ian.

Pittsburgh’s Acrisure Stadium, Seattle’s Lumen Field, MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium along with the Buccaneers’ home are the designated stadiums.

These venues can be used for staging areas (first responders, electrical trucks, etc.), commodity distribution (water, food, blankets, sandbags, etc.), disaster recovery centers where people can come and sign up for loans, etc. They are not designed to shelter citizens.

“Stadiums are valuable community assets that are often used in times of disasters,” NFL chief security officer Cathy Lanier said. “This designation reflects the role that many stadiums play, not only on Sundays, but especially in times of need. We are proud to work with FEMA and first responders at the local and state level to ensure disaster response agencies have the information and tools they need to help a community recover when disaster strikes.”

(Associated Press)