Aaron Rodgers threw two touchdown passes in a great home game, New York’s defense was dominant and the Jets beat the New England Patriots 24-3 at home on Thursday night.
Rodgers was starting his first game at MetLife Stadium since leaving the field with a torn Achilles tendon in New York’s season opener a little over a year ago. The 40-year-old quarterback showed no signs of the injury — or playing in his third game in 11 days — as he made multiple scrambles and off-balance throws throughout the night, slicing through New England’s defense with surgical precision.
Rodgers completed 27 of 35 for 281 yards with TD throws to Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard and was met with chants of “Aa-ron! Rod-gers!” throughout as the Jets (2-1) ended an eight-game home loss streak to the Patriots (1-2).
New York, which snapped a 15-game losing streak against New England in Bill Belichick’s final game as coach of the Patriots, tackled Jacoby Brissett five times. Drake Maye, the No. 3 overall pick in April, made his NFL debut when he replaced Brissett with 4:24 left in the game.
Breece Hall scored a point for the Jets, who also ended a six-game losing streak on Thursday night.
And there was never any doubt in this matchup between the AFC East rivals.
Rodgers ran onto the field to thunderous applause, and shortly afterwards he had the crowd in raptures again.
After the Jets’ first drive stalled, Rodgers guided them down the field, aided by a mental lapse from the Patriots.
A first-down pass from Rodgers to Hall was stopped for no gain, but Jahlani Tavai lifted the Jets running back and slammed him to the turf with a move more suited to the wrestling ring. The 15-yard penalty put the ball at New England’s 31.
Four plays later, Rodgers threw a quick out to Lazard on his left. The receiver made a move and Alex Austin reached out to stop him, but instead got only a handful of Lazard’s undershirt that stretched like a rubber band before Lazard broke away and shot into the end zone for a 13-yard touchdown.
Lazard immediately ran to his quarterback and handed the ball to Rodgers, who threw his first touchdown pass for the Jets.
Rodgers and the Jets kept the game alive on their next offense, capping a 13-play, 91-yard drive with a one-yard run by Hall, which was overturned on video review after it was initially ruled that he had not crossed the goal line.
Joey Slye’s 44-yard field goal cut the Patriots’ lead to 14-3 with 3:56 left in the first half.
Greg Zuerlein fired a 45-yard ball wide of the left side shortly before half-time.
New York made it 21-3 with 6:18 left in the third quarter when Rodgers threw a pass to his right and found Wilson, who toe-tipped the ball into the front corner of the end zone for a 2-yard touchdown.
It was the third straight game that the Jets scored at least three touchdowns on offense.
After Chuck Clark forced and recovered a fumble by Rhamondre Stevenson, the Jets extended their lead on a 28-yard field goal by Zuerlein.