Offseason drama makes Jets-Broncos Week 5 matchup a must-watch game

Fox News Flash top sports headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.

As Week 5 of the 2023 NFL season approaches, a much-anticipated game between two teams with just two combined wins will receive some attention. 

The New York Jets head to Colorado to take on the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High for a 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff. 

Jets fly over prior to a game between the Denver Broncos and the Washington Commanders at Empower Field at Mile High on September 17, 2023, in Denver. (Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)

Prior to the season, the game was billed as Aaron Rodgers vs. Russell Wilson, two strong defenses against offenses that struggled in 2022, and Nathaniel Hackett’s return to Denver after a disastrous tenure as head coach last season.

And then Broncos head coach Sean Payton stirred the pot with his comments to USA Today in the summer and the game took on a new edge. 

AARON RODGERS CALLS TRAVIS KELCE 'MR PFIZER' WHILE TALKING ABOUT JETS' PERFORMANCE AGAINST CHIEFS

While Rodgers’ season-ending injury caused some steam to leak out of Sunday’s matchup, the bad blood from the summer has not been forgotten by fans of the NFL, no matter how much the two teams will try to downplay it.

"In football life, that was like 20 years ago, so that's a non-topic," Jets head coach Robert Saleh said Monday of Payton's July bombshell, according to ESPN. "But for Hackett, obviously, it's going to be a personal feel to go back. But I think he understands just living as a coach’s kid, understanding the process, he'll know how to handle himself. He'll know exactly how to keep his emotions in check and make sure we do what's best for this organization and this team as it stands now. I fully expect him to be