The Jets and Payments have all the time had an intense rivalry courting again to 1960 after they had been AFL foes.
However Payments left deal with Dion Dawkins poured gasoline on the already heated friction between the 2 groups final offseason.
In February, Dawkins appeared on VladTV and mentioned the Jets, particularly defensive lineman Micheal Clemons.
“I hate them, all of them, bro,” Dawkins mentioned. “When it comes to sports, there are people that play the sport because they love the sport. And then there’s people that play the sport just to try to be cool.
“I feel like they play the sport to try to be cool. Those are a bunch of dudes that just want to take pictures on Instagram. That’s whack.”
Dawkins additionally mentioned the Jets had been “very disrespectful” after final 12 months’s postgame altercation within the Highmark Stadium tunnel following the Payments drubbing of the Jets in Orchard Park.
This week, when requested in regards to the rivalry, Dawkins was extra diplomatic. He mentioned he expects the Jets to convey their A-game of their second showdown of the season.
“I approach it more so like it’s a division game,” Dawkins instructed the Buffalo media on Thursday. “It’s an in-conference game. In-conference games are the hardest. I don’t care what the records are, I don’t care if none of us have a win, these are some of the hardest games of the season.
“The Jets, Patriots, Dolphins, no matter when it is, what order it is, they are the hardest games of our season every single year. It’s always great in competition, the rivalry is great, the intensity is up. I like to think and live in the aura that we hate each other. That’s what keeps us going.
“When it comes down to it, everyone wants a job. To be in the NFL, it is hard, to stay on the same team, it’s hard. I don’t think anyone over there is just like, ‘Let’s tank so they can cut me.’ No, these guys are playing because they love ball and they have an emotional feel to it. We’re athletes. The records don’t tell the truth and we know what’s coming.”
Jets proper deal with Morgan Moses echoed Dawkins’ ideas and mentioned the 2 sides are feisty due to what’s at stake annually.
“We know we are going to get their best shot. For us to go out there and put our best foot forward to compete and go out there and bust some ass.”
When the schedule was launched in Might, many thought Sunday’s sport between the Jets and the Payments might assist determine who wins the division. The Jets had been preseason favorites to win the AFC East, and the Payments had been thought to have taken a step again after the departure of huge receiver Stefon Diggs.
Not solely did that not occur, however the Payments (12-3) wrapped up the division title on Dec. 1 and might clinch the second seed within the AFC with a win on Sunday in opposition to the Jets. The play of quarterback Josh Allen is the large motive Buffalo is having an impressive season.
In 15 video games, Allen has thrown for 3,549 yards, 26 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. Nonetheless, Allen’s decision-making and command of the Payments offense have stood out this season. That is regardless of Allen coping with a hand harm.
“They are playing elite football right now across the board,” Moses mentioned in regards to the Payments. “Obviously, 17 [Allen] on offense has been playing phenomenal football, and as he goes, they go.
“From a defensive standpoint, they are flying around, making plays. They’re healthier, they got a lot of guys back. Always, Von Miller is always a key emphasis on the defensive line. But they are a team that’s proven themselves year in and year out and are playing for a lot of great things ahead of them.”
In the meantime, the Jets (4-11) have endured one other nightmare season. The final time Gang Inexperienced performed Buffalo on Oct. 14, Jeff Ulbrich had simply been named interim coach of a then 2-3 group, Davante Adams was nonetheless a Raider, and the group nonetheless had playoff and Tremendous Bowl aspirations. However these desires evaporated rapidly following the loss to the Payments.
The Jets acquired Adams the day after the loss to the Payments however have misplaced seven of their final 9 video games since Week 6. They had been eradicated from playoff rivalry after the a loss at Miami earlier this month.
Aaron Rodgers is probably going enjoying within the last two video games in a Jets uniform and possibly his profession. After struggling an MCL harm to his left knee in opposition to the Rams final week, Rodgers instructed reporters, “There is no way I’m not playing.”
After he had battled a number of accidents this season, Jets proprietor Woody Johnson prompt that Rodgers be benched following the Jets’ Week 4 loss to the Broncos, sources say. However Rodgers continued to play by way of hamstring, ankle and knee accidents.
Rodgers mentioned he’s undecided about enjoying past this season. On “The Pat McAfee Show” this week, he additionally prompt that the Jets might launch him on Jan. 6, the day after the common season concludes.
“I just think anything is possible,” Rodgers mentioned. “I think anything is truly possible. Whether it happens or not, I’m sure that there will be decisions that, I don’t think there will be surprises where there’s like, ‘Oh, I don’t know what we want to do with certain people.’ I think there’s going to be some decisions that want to be made the day after the season or a couple days after the season.
“I’m just not naive. There’s not zero percent in my mind. I don’t think it’s a high percentage. I think there’s probably a conversation to be had, but I’m just not naive to that being a zero percent chance. I think it’s more than a zero percent chance and less than a certainty, so somewhere in the middle.”
