Aaron Rodgers reintroduced himself to New York Jets fans in stunning fashion on Thursday during their 24-3 win over the rival New England Patriots at MetLife Stadium.
The heralded quarterback who arrived in 2023 as a franchise savior only to suffer a season-ending injury within his first four snaps stood tall for Thursday’s home game, tearing apart a Patriots secondary and reminding Jets fans, teammates, coaches and executives why there was so much excitement surrounding his arrival a year ago.
The moment was almost too much for head coach Robert Saleh, who presumably wanted to hug Rodgers after the Jets’ second touchdown of the night, but was rudely rebuffed by the four-time MVP.
New York’s beefed-up offensive line held its own against New England’s improved pass rush, the Jets’ formidable defense crushed the Patriots’ outmatched offensive line, and Rodgers took care of the rest, completing 27 of 35 passes for 281 yards and two touchdowns.
Rodgers didn’t bother to repeat his 2023 entrance, when he triumphantly led his new Jets teammates into MetLife Stadium with an American flag in his hand. Nor did he suffer a torn Achilles tendon on his first offensive series, as he had 51 weeks earlier.
Jets QB Aaron Rodgers struggles against the New England Patriots during the second quarter
Saleh came on a little too strong in the second quarter when his hug was rejected by Rodgers
Instead of those dizzying highs and crushing lows, Rodgers simply shifted the chains on the opening snap, completing a five-yard pass to Garrett Wilson on the first play from scrimmage before eluding the Patriots pass rush for an easy five-yard scramble on second down.
Two snaps later, Rodgers grabbed another first down with an 11-yard strike to Allen Lazard, a receiver who transferred from Green Bay to Garden State as a quarterback in 2023.
Ultimately, a holding penalty forced the Jets into a clear passing situation, allowing the Patriots to focus their pass rush on Rodgers, resulting in an easy sack for Deatrich Wise Jr.
But unlike a year ago, when Rodgers’ season ended with his first-ever sack, the 40-year-old, playing his third game in 11 days, once again survived the series, which would end with a 10-yard scoring pass to Lazard.
It may have taken 514 days since he was signed, but Rodgers finally threw a touchdown in front of a home crowd that was all getting drunk on excitement.
Through the first two quarters, Rodgers had completed 15 of 20 passes — mostly through the Patriots’ porous coverage — for 170 yards and a touchdown.
And in the second round he may have been even better.
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