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New York Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett has addressed the notion that this weekend’s game against the Denver Broncos is a grudge match.
Prior to the start of the season, current Broncos head coach Sean Payton made some disparaging comments about Hackett, which prompted Aaron Rodgers to reply and stick up for his OC.
Now that Rodgers is out with an Achilles injury, though, Hackett is left as the one he needs to answer the media’s questions about this weekend being a grudge match.
“We gotta go win a football game,” Hackett told reporters on Thursday, largely sidestepping the question. Hackett also added that the two haven’t spoken since the controversy.
“This game is about those guys out on that field,” Hackett said. “It’s not about me.”
Hackett certainly took the high road there, as Payton’s Broncos, who sit at 1-3, have struggled mightily this year.
The team has been historically awful on defense, giving up 150 points across four games, including a Week 4 matchup against the Dolphins that saw them concede 70 points.
In fact, it could be argued that the only reason the Broncos gave a win is because the Chicago Bears, the team they beat for their lone victory so far this year, are considered to be the NFL’s worst team.
Hackett hasn’t fared all that better this year, either, as the Jets have largely struggled to score touchdowns without Aaron Rodgers.
He was, however, able to coax a career-best performance out of Zach Wilson against the Chiefs over the weekend, so the hope is obviously that the third-year QB will be able to build on it.