Sunday’s game between the Jets and the Rams is an AFC East team vs. an NFC West team that is going to have a distinct NFC North feel to it.
For starters, the high temperature at MetLife Stadium is forecast to be 25 degrees. Then, you look at the starting quarterbacks.
Aaron Rodgers vs. Matthew Stafford is a matchup we have seen before.
Rodgers, the longtime Packers quarterback, and Stafford, the longtime Lions quarterback, had some battles over the years.
This is the 18th time they will face off. Rodgers has won 13 of those battles, but Stafford enters this one as the favorite with the 8-6 Rams fighting for a division title and the 4-10 Jets counting down the days to the offseason.
Stafford, 36, was the No. 1-overall pick in 2009, one year after Rodgers, 41, became the starter in Green Bay. That led to plenty of head-to-head matchups between the quarterbacks.
“I love Matt. He’s been one of my favorite players to watch over the years and compete against,” Rodgers said. “Just because of the way he plays, the way he competes — toughness, grit, arm strength, competitiveness. He’s always been one of my favorites. We’re not like close friends, but I know on my side there’s a ton of respect. I’ve enjoyed competing against him. I think he’s a great player and has had a great career.”
Stafford told reporters in Los Angeles that he is looking forward to another matchup with Rodgers.
“It’s always a good battle,” Stafford said. “A ton of respect for him. [A] great player in this league, an all-time great, has unbelievable talent and has accomplished a bunch. It’s always a challenge going against him.”
Rodgers enters this game with 498 career touchdowns.
He needs two more to become the fifth player in NFL history with 500 touchdowns.
He’s been on a tear over his past two games — throwing for 628 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions.
Rodgers has said he finally feels healthy after dealing with leg injuries in the middle of the season.
The Jets offense has put up 58 points and 802 yards in the past two games.
The Rams are 7-2 over their past nine and are tied for first place in their division. Stafford has been a huge part of the Rams’ success. He has not thrown an interception in five games.
“It’s two greats,” Rams coach Sean McVay said, “and two guys that I look at as Hall of Famers.”