Aaron Rodgers’ return home for the New York Jets went exactly how fans wanted it to: healthy and dominant.
The Jets took down their AFC East-rival New England Patriots, 24-3, to move to 2-1 on the season, while the Pats are now 1-2.
Rodgers might not have gotten any points with the offense on the Jets’ first drive of the game, but fans will still count this as a victory after what occurred in Week 1 last year. He infamously tore his Achilles on just the fourth snap of the game against the Buffalo Bills, ending his 2023 campaign before it could truly get started.
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New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) looks to pass against the New England Patriots during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium. (Brad Penner-Imagn Images)
But the four-time MVP looked spry on Thursday night, roaming around confidently in the pocket, and shockingly enough, taking off to run for first downs.
He was hit, he was sprinting, and Jets fans were likely holding his breath every single time he had to run outside the pocket, but Rodgers looked like his old self all night long and the numbers proved it.
AARON RODGERS FINALLY NOTCHES JETS MILESTONE IN FIRST GAME AT METLIFE STADIUM SINCE ACHILLES TEAR
Rodgers finished the game with 281 yards on 27-of-35 through the air with two touchdown passes and no interceptions thrown on his best night as a Jet thus far.
He was finally able to throw his first MetLife Stadium touchdown as a Jet on the team’s second drive, marching down the field and finding his old Green Bay Packers teammate, Allen Lazard, for a screen that he took 10 yards to go up 7-0.
Then, after forcing another punt, the Jets went a total 91 yards on 13 plays where running back Breece Hall punched it in from the goal line for a decisive 14-0 lead.
Jacoby Brissett and the Patriots’ offense finally got something going on its third drive, cashing in on a 44-yard field goal by veteran kicker Joey Slye. But those were the only points this group could muster all game long, as the vintage Jets defense we’ve seen the past couple seasons was swarming all around the field.
New York Jets tight end Tyler Conklin (83) signals first down after a catch against the New England Patriots during the second quarter at MetLife Stadium. (Brad Penner-Imagn Images)
The Jets, knowing they hadn’t beaten the Patriots at home since 2015 when Ryan Fitzpatrick was leading the way at quarterback, wanted to bury their rival and Rodgers knew just how to do that on their opening drive of the second half.
Once again, Rodgers was mobile outside the pocket, extending plays and killing the clock as he found open receivers for first downs and drove all the way down the field for a first-and-goal look from the two-yard line.
Instead of another Hall run up the gut for the score, Rodgers rolled out right and flicked a pass to Garrett Wilson for the nifty completion and touchdown to make it 21-3. It was the first of what Jets fans hope is many Rodgers-to-Wilson touchdowns at MetLife.
While Wilson might be Rodgers’ top target on paper, it was veteran tight end Tyler Conklin, who had been silent in the two previous games for New York, leading the way in the receiving game on Thursday night.
Conklin finished the game with a team-high five catches and 93 yards to help those sustained touchdown drives.
In the run game, it appears the Jets really have a two-headed monster at the moment with Hall and rookie Braelon Allen, who became the youngest player in the Super Bowl era to score a touchdown last week.
The Jets’ defense was able to collect six sacks on the night, and it was Will McDonald IV, the team’s first-round pick a year ago, who had two on the night. That marks five on the season already after having just three last year.
The Patriots sent No. 3 overall pick Drake Maye into the game late in the fourth quarter after Brissett threw for just 98 yards on 12-of-18 passing. He went 4-of-8 through the air for 22 yards in his first regular-season game action of his young career.
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) spins the ball on his finger during warmups before a game against the New England Patriots at MetLife Stadium. (Brad Penner-Imagn Images)
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To put the Jets’ domination into a team perspective, they held the Patriots’ offense to just 139 total yards, while Rodgers and the offense put together a whopping 400 on the night.
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