Aaron Rodgers‘ return dwelling for the New York Jets went precisely how followers needed it to: wholesome and dominant.
The Jets took down their AFC East-rival New England Patriots, 24-3, to maneuver to 2-1 on the season, whereas the Pats are actually 1-2.
Rodgers won’t have gotten any factors with the offense on the Jets’ first drive of the sport, however followers will nonetheless rely this as a victory after what occurred in Week 1 final yr. He infamously tore his Achilles on simply the fourth snap of the sport towards the Buffalo Payments, ending his 2023 marketing campaign earlier than it might actually get began.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) appears to go towards the New England Patriots through the first quarter at MetLife Stadium. (Brad Penner-Imagn Photos)
However the four-time MVP appeared spry on Thursday evening, roaming round confidently within the pocket, and shockingly sufficient, taking off to run for first downs.
He was hit, he was sprinting, and Jets followers have been doubtless holding his breath each single time he needed to run outdoors the pocket, however Rodgers appeared like his previous self all evening lengthy and the numbers proved it.
AARON RODGERS FINALLY NOTCHES JETS MILESTONE IN FIRST GAME AT METLIFE STADIUM SINCE ACHILLES TEAR
Rodgers completed the sport with 281 yards on 27-of-35 via the air with two landing passes and no interceptions thrown on his greatest evening as a Jet to this point.
He was lastly in a position to throw his first MetLife Stadium landing as a Jet on the staff’s second drive, marching down the sector and discovering his previous Inexperienced Bay Packers teammate, Allen Lazard, for a display that he took 10 yards to go up 7-0.
Then, after forcing one other punt, the Jets went a complete 91 yards on 13 performs the place working again Breece Corridor punched it in from the aim line for a decisive 14-0 lead.
Jacoby Brissett and the Patriots’ offense lastly acquired one thing happening its third drive, cashing in on a 44-yard area aim by veteran kicker Joey Slye. However these have been the one factors this group might muster all sport lengthy, because the classic Jets protection we have seen the previous couple seasons was swarming throughout the sector.
New York Jets tight finish Tyler Conklin (83) indicators first down after a catch towards the New England Patriots through the second quarter at MetLife Stadium. (Brad Penner-Imagn Photos)
The Jets, understanding they hadn’t crushed the Patriots at dwelling since 2015 when Ryan Fitzpatrick was main the way in which at quarterback, needed to bury their rival and Rodgers knew simply how to try this on their opening drive of the second half.
As soon as once more, Rodgers was cellular outdoors the pocket, extending performs and killing the clock as he discovered open receivers for first downs and drove all the way in which down the sector for a first-and-goal look from the two-yard line.
As an alternative of one other Corridor run up the intestine for the rating, Rodgers rolled out proper and flicked a go to Garrett Wilson for the nifty completion and landing to make it 21-3. It was the primary of what Jets followers hope is many Rodgers-to-Wilson touchdowns at MetLife.
Whereas Wilson may be Rodgers’ prime goal on paper, it was veteran tight finish Tyler Conklin, who had been silent within the two earlier video games for New York, main the way in which within the receiving sport on Thursday evening.
Conklin completed the sport with a team-high 5 catches and 93 yards to assist these sustained landing drives.
Within the run sport, it seems the Jets actually have a two-headed monster in the intervening time with Corridor and rookie Braelon Allen, who grew to become the youngest participant within the Tremendous Bowl period to attain a landing final week.
The Jets’ protection was in a position to accumulate six sacks on the evening, and it was Will McDonald IV, the staff’s first-round decide a yr in the past, who had two on the evening. That marks 5 on the season already after having simply three final yr.
The Patriots despatched No. 3 total decide Drake Maye into the sport late within the fourth quarter after Brissett threw for simply 98 yards on 12-of-18 passing. He went 4-of-8 via the air for 22 yards in his first regular-season sport motion of his younger profession.
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) spins the ball on his finger throughout warmups earlier than a sport towards the New England Patriots at MetLife Stadium. (Brad Penner-Imagn Photos)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
To place the Jets’ domination right into a staff perspective, they held the Patriots’ offense to simply 139 whole yards, whereas Rodgers and the offense put collectively a whopping 400 on the evening.
Observe Fox Information Digital’s sports activities protection on X, and subscribe to the Fox Information Sports activities Huddle e-newsletter.
