It’s a reminder that not everything online can be trusted. New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers and The Pat McAfee Show learned this lesson on Tuesday after believing a false statistic shared by an X account during Week 10’s Sunday Night Football.
“This is now Jared Goff’s 7TH career game with at least 4 interceptions,” posted Civ, before the Detroit Lions overcame the Houston Texans with a dramatic 26-23 overtime win. “His record in those games? 6-0. Does Goff have the Texans right where he wants them?”
Rodgers mentioned this stat on his usual appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, seeking verification from the host and crew, who agreed, assuming it was true. Civ’s fictional stat deceived them all live on-air, a victory for the prankster.
“If you’ve ever wondered how easy it is to spread fake information,” Civ wrote, “I made this stat up while lying in bed at halftime.” Next time, Rodgers, McAfee, and the rest will likely think twice before trusting an unusual fact.
if you’ve ever wondered how easy it is to spread fake information
i made this stat up while laying in bed at halftime of the game😭 https://t.co/4m2NnSgyAJ pic.twitter.com/RmQKEqKPtG
— Civ (@MisterCiv) November 12, 2024
The Lions’ feat at NRG Stadium was remarkable on its own. Despite Goff’s five interceptions, the defense made key plays, and he found his rhythm late in the game. Pulling off a win after such a rough game is rare once, let alone six times.
Sometimes, a desire to believe in something incredible lowers our guard. Ironically, Rodgers, after brief skepticism, trusted Civ’s made-up stat, fitting for a season where the Jets have been the NFL’s biggest wild card.
Aaron Rodgers’ Jets Have Fallen Short This Season
BNew York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers passes during the second half against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Joe Camporeale – Imagn Images
The Jets started the season with high hopes and enough talent to draw predictions of an AFC East title. However, a devastating 31-6 loss to the surging Arizona Cardinals has left their playoff dreams in tatters, dropping them to 3-7.
Although the conference is generally weak, with five straight games against sub-.500 teams, there are too many obstacles for New York to realistically make a deep run. Rodgers is completing only 62.4 percent of his passes, and the offense has struggled all year.
For the sake of their emotionally drained fans, Jets Nation may need to temper its optimism a bit—perhaps learning from Rodgers and The Pat McAfee Show’s brush with a too-good-to-be-true scenario.
