Can the Jets and 49ers get back on track after 2-3 starts? - ESPN

When the Jets traveled West to play the 49ers on "Monday Night Football" to close out Week 1, there were real questions about whether we were seeing a Super Bowl preview. After a hot start by Aaron Rodgers & Co., the San Francisco offense took over and pulled away for a comfortable victory.

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Now, after five weeks, it feels like both of these teams are lost. The Jets traveled to London and became the latest in a series of teams to fall behind early to the Vikings, allowing defensive coordinator Brian Flores to put on his mad genius hat and torment Rodgers. The 49ers were able to ride a kick return to the end zone for a score and a lead at home against Arizona. Again, though, they weren't able to seal the game and hold off the Cardinals, who scored 14 unanswered points in the second half to win.

Let's evaluate these disappointing 2-3 teams. Could we have seen their struggles coming? What has gone wrong, and can these issues be fixed? I'll start with the morning game, where the Jets looked bereft of ideas in a loss that only poured more fuel on the Davante Adams fire:

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Week 5 result: Lost 23-17 to the Minnesota Vikings

For Jets fans, the best-case scenario of the dream they had in the spring of 2023 is gone. The idea that adding Rodgers to a dominant defense would immediately elevate New York into the ranks of football's elite teams, a dream deferred for a year by the veteran quarterback's torn Achilles last season, is not being realized. At 2-3, the Jets have the same record after five games that they had in 2023 with Zach Wilson under center. They were 3-2 with Wilson and Joe Flacco through five games in 2022. The relief and certainty that Rodgers was