Packers say they don't seem to be apprehensive. If they do not beat the Jets, that can change

By Martin Rogers
FOX Sports activities Columnist

Does anybody have options on what nickname to provide this week within the Nationwide Soccer League, which quantities to professional soccer's equal of shifting day in golf or perhaps a untimely model of Choice Sunday?

A worthy title could possibly be Shuffling Sunday, a day-long window that can etch in most minds a stable concept about who's most dominant current pressure within the NFL, in addition to who's greatest positioned to emerge on the prime of its strongest (sure, actually) division, the NFC East.

But whereas the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and the Buffalo Payments — in addition to the Dallas Cowboys and the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles — shall be attempting to land haymakers and settle scores, the Inexperienced Bay Packers shall be merely looking for to settle their season down.

The Packers, on account of some debilitating inconsistency to start the marketing campaign and all types of not-quite-right hints seeping out of Lambeau, may use a weekend the place the noise is coming from elsewhere, and when their very own enterprise passes, boring and with out incident.

Aaron Rodgers and Co. tackle the New York Jets (1:00 p.m. ET on FOX) following a stuttering stretch that has the MVP quarterback noticeably disgruntled, even when he's anticipated to beat a thumb harm that stored him out of midweek apply.

Rodgers hasn't loved a lot of what he has seen, felt, heard from and realized about this present Packers squad. As a result of he is Aaron Rodgers and talking with unabashed frankness is virtually a part of his identification at this level, he is let all these issues be recognized.

"Frankly, I do not like all this dialog about shedding subsequent week," Rodgers instructed reporters. "I am a agency believer within the energy of phrases and manifestation. We have to examine ourselves on that, as a result of speaking about that isn't profitable soccer. There was dialog about it within the locker room, and I do not prefer it."

Are Packers nonetheless Tremendous Bowl contenders regardless of early struggles?

The Inexperienced Bay Packers are 3-2 after a Week 5 loss to the New York Giants in London. Colin Cowherd reveals his Tremendous Bowl Bowl picks heading into Week 6, and the Packers aren't concerned.

Rodgers was discussing feedback from cornerback Jaire Alexander, through which he stated he would not "be apprehensive" until the Packers misplaced "subsequent week," which is now this week, to the Jets. It got here following a defeat to the New York Giants in London, a visit to the UK that Rodgers enthusiastically embraced. He was royally peeved {that a} 10-point halftime lead changed into a 27-22 defeat and a 3-2 file.

Rodgers had already stated that profitable within the method of the Packers' additional time nailbiter over the New England Patriots in Week 4 was "not sustainable" and he was rapidly confirmed right. With no settled state of affairs at broad receiver after the offseason departure of Davante Adams, questions stay, not helped any by the Minnesota Vikings' blistering surge to the highest of the NFC North.

"What are we panicking for?" former Packers All-Professional receiver Greg Jennings stated on FS1's "The Carton Present." "Are we involved they don't seem to be going to make the playoffs?

"This staff has considerations however there is no such thing as a purpose to panic. When you've got top-of-the-line QBs within the league you count on him to determine it out. That offense will get higher because the season progresses."

To this point, the Packers offense ranks twenty second within the NFL at 19.4 factors per sport, whereas Rodgers has thrown for 1,157 yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions. Two years in the past, the squad racked up a league-high 31.8 factors per sport, earlier than dipping to 26.5 in 2021.

As we've seen, when Rodgers hits optimum type, Inexperienced Bay turns into virtually untouchable. Every of the final three seasons beneath Matt La Fleur have resulted in 13 wins, and do not forget that final season noticed some early teething troubles earlier than a reasonably routine clinching of the No. 1 seed.

"There's loads that we have to clear up," LaFleur stated in a information convention this week. "First is simply the urgency to get lined up and prepare to play."

To perform one thing extra dynamic, nonetheless, the Packers first want stability and smoothness. One thing extra mundane than memorable. On a weekend, paradoxically, that would scarcely be any extra juicy.

That is once we will get an concept of whether or not it's the Chiefs or the Buffalo Payments which are the feistiest of the Tremendous Bowl favorites on the finish of the season's autumn third. And when the NFC East's resurgence finds its most vital crossroad, with the truth that it is going to be Cooper Rush and Jalen Hurts firmly within the highlight providing complete proof that issues can shift rapidly within the NFL.

But whereas the main focus is shared elsewhere, the Packers will attempt to keep beneath the radar. Realizing full nicely they if they do not, their season can have formally changed into a muddle.

Martin Rogers is a columnist for FOX Sports activities and the creator of the FOX Sports activities Insider publication. Observe him on Twitter @MRogersFOX and subscribe to the every day publication.

Get extra from Nationwide Soccer League Observe your favorites to get details about video games, information and extra