EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The Atlanta Falcons have had quarterback trouble, a three-game losing streak and a record under .500.
And after all that, they’re tied for first place in the NFC South Division.
The New York Jets have had a season filled with similar struggles — and they’re in danger of falling out of the AFC playoff hunt completely.
It’s all a matter of circumstances for the teams that meet Sunday at MetLife Stadium, where the Jets (4-7) will continue a three-game homestand by welcoming the Falcons (5-6).
“Consistency, right?” Atlanta third-year head coach Arthur Smith said. “That’s the biggest challenge week to week. For us to take the next step, we need to do that with being consistent and playing with the same focus and energy that we had going into last week.”
The Falcons showed they could take advantage of an open date after three straight losses to return for an inspired, high-energy rivalry win over the New Orleans Saints at home. The bigger test might be proving they can win back-to-back games for the first time since their 2-0 start.
“It goes back to consistency,” said Smith, who had 7-10 records his first two years and is trying to help the Falcons return to the playoffs for the first time since the 2017 season. “Shouldn’t take a loss or feel like your back is against the wall to have that level of focus and intensity.”
The Jets know the feeling. They have dropped four games in a row, with the most recent a 34-13 loss to the Miami Dolphins in the first Black Friday game in NFL history. That dropped them to 1-3 in the AFC East, and the only thing between New York and the division and conference cellar is the hapless New England Patriots.
The skid, which has included a quarterback change from Zach Wilson to Tim Boyle, has New York’s postseason hopes sinking fast. Robert Saleh, in his third year as head coach, challenged his assistants and players to be better and focus on controlling what they can.
“There’s a lot of frustration all over the place, especially on the offensive side of the ball,” Saleh said. “Guys are searching, they’re reaching, and sometimes you’ve just got to go back to understanding who you are and what your style of play is.”
Meanwhile, Aaron Rodgers’ potential comeback this season after tearing his Achilles’ tendon in the opener remains a major source of intrigue around the Jets. The four-time NFL MVP was back at practice this past week, the next step in his stunningly rapid rehabilitation.
Rodgers remains intent on playing at the end of the season, as long as the doctors clear him and the Jets stay in the playoff hunt.
“I don’t think it adds a level of pressure or stress to us,” said Boyle, who will make his second straight start. “We’re trying to win every football game we play in, so hopefully we can keep him in contention.”
In his first start since the 2021 season, the 29-year-old veteran backup was unable to spark New York’s struggling offense against the Dolphins, completing 27 of 38 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions — including a Hail Mary that was returned 99 yards for a score to end the first half. He was also sacked seven times.
“They have a really good defense, the Falcons,” Boyle said. “But I think it’s continuing to just build on the run game and just getting the ball out of my hands and getting it into the playmakers’ hands so they can make a move or two.”
It will take more than Boyle being better.
Jets running back Breece Hall got off to a terrific start this year in his return from a torn knee ligament that ended his rookie season after seven games, but as the offense has stagnated lately, so has Hall. He has just 76 yards on 27 carries in his past three games. After running for a career-high 177 yards against the Denver Broncos, Hall has not run for more than 50 yards in six games since.
“Breece is a special talent, and we all agree when the ball is in his hands, we’re better, but there’s grimy yards that a back has to understand he has to get,” Saleh said. “When you press, you’re going to try to create an explosive every single play, and you’re going to lose that style of play that makes you special.”
As for Atlanta’s backfield, Cordarrelle Patterson has joined Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier to give Atlanta three options at running back. Each had at least eight carries last week against New Orleans, and each averaged at least 5.4 yards per carry.
Atlanta quarterback Desmond Ridder, who returned to the top job last week after Taylor Heinicke started the previous two games, said Patterson’s physical runs at the middle of the Saints’ defensive front was a crucial addition to the offense.
“Oh, it’s huge,” Ridder said. “You know, any time you give the guy the ball, you want to see a physical, tough runner. I mean, all three of the guys that we have back there in the backfield, you know, can get that done. So to be able to just kind of rotate them in and let them get in a groove and run how they run, it’s hard to stop.”
Ridder and Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner were college teammates with the Cincinnati Bearcats, and now the second-year pros are about to face each other as opponents in the NFL for the first time.
“There was a lot of talking going on, a lot of chirping back and forth,” Ridder said of his past competitions with Gardner in practice. “But, you know, at the end of the day, it was just making each other better. … It was just constant competition.”
Ridder had a quick answer when asked if the old buddies would place a wager on the game.
“No, we don’t bet,” Ridder said. “No, I don’t think any of us will touch that any time soon.”