EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Aaron Rodgers took the sphere on Thursday night time and the group at MetLife Stadium roared, their conquering hero arriving at his coliseum. It didn’t go so effectively final time, however there wasn’t a touch of “right here we go once more,” no reintroduction to the Identical Outdated Jets.
Take into consideration what this fan base has been by way of over time, lengthy earlier than Rodgers tore his Achilles 4 performs into his Jets debut, when all hope was misplaced. The sensation final September — disappointment — wasn’t overseas to this fanbase, even when shedding Rodgers so early harm greater than normal. Hope has been briefly provide round right here over the previous few many years.
The Jets haven’t made the playoffs since 2010. Some years, most followers would cease displaying up for dwelling video games round November, if not earlier, and it was laborious guilty them. By December final yr, tickets value lower than $10. On a Thursday night time late in 2022, the Jets offense had turn out to be so laborious to observe that when a practice-squad quarterback (Chris Streveler) underthrew a wide-open receiver for what ought to’ve been a protracted landing, followers cheered the missed alternative just like the group simply gained the Tremendous Bowl, just because he accomplished a go. Play-calling was boring. The offensive line struggled to guard. And the quarterbacks have been, largely, insufficient.
Rodgers gave the Jets hope main as much as the season final yr, after which it died on the MetLife turf minutes after the season started. However this isn’t that — not anymore.
These are the Higher Days, or no less than it feels that means after Thursday night time. The Jets are 2-1 for the primary time since 2015. Rodgers is 40, however on Thursday he was transferring like he did in his 20s. He scrambled for first downs, bought out of the pocket, made throws on the transfer and accomplished passes with stress bearing down on him. The Jets jumped out to a 14-3 lead that would have — or ought to have — been even larger. They ultimately gained 24-3 towards a New England Patriots group that, earlier than Week 18 of final yr, had gained 15 straight video games towards them.
This can be a totally different offense, led by an ideal quarterback. Within the third quarter, the group chanted: “AA-ron ROD-gers!”
“AARON RODGERS!” @Nyjets followers get the mantra going 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/uljQlvE2O9
— NFL (@NFL) September 20, 2024
Higher Days.
On the finish of the sport, Rodgers stood on the sideline, hoping for a defensive cease so he may get again onto the sphere for the victory formation. He didn’t get it, nevertheless it nonetheless felt good to win.
“It was a extremely particular night time,” Rodgers stated. “All these chants are actually significant.”
Rodgers was hit a number of occasions however popped again up with out concern. He scrambled 3 times, twice for first downs.
“I ain’t gonna lie, the primary time he ran I began laughing,” working again Breece Corridor stated. “I used to be identical to: He’s loopy. However 40 years outdated, the Achilles is nice, it was good to see him run.”
Rodgers accomplished all 5 of his passes whereas on the transfer, per NextGen: 11 yards to Jeremy Ruckert within the first quarter, 27 yards to Allen Lazard within the second, 4 to Ruckert within the third, one other 18 to Ruckert within the third and most impressively, a side-arm two-yard landing throw to Garrett Wilson within the third.
“It felt nice. I used to be feeling actually good on the market,” Rodgers stated. “I felt good pregame and I’ve been progressing. I stated after Week 1 it’s going to be a course of, I’ll proceed to increase performs as I really feel extra snug and this was step one in like I do know I’m succesful I’m enjoying. I felt like I used to be myself from fairly a number of years in the past.”
G5 G5 G5 G5 G5 G5 G5 G5 G5 G5 G5 G5#NEvsNYJ on @NFLonPrime pic.twitter.com/yDB13TZbBQ
— New York Jets (@nyjets) September 20, 2024
If Rodgers goes to play at this degree all season, an MVP degree, the Jets can dream huge once more. He accomplished 27 of 35 passes for 281 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Certain, these aren’t the Patriots of outdated both — the Jets have extra expertise. However the Jets have a not-so-rich historical past of failing to fulfill the second towards inferior opponents, and a fair longer observe file of shedding to New England.
From the start, it was clear that, lastly, the Jets weren’t going to relaxation on their laurels. They got here out firing on the primary drive, calling six straight passing performs to begin the sport. Rodgers rapidly bought them to the Patriots’ 43-yard line after three straight completions and a five-yard scramble. On his first incompletion, supposed for Mike Williams, deal with Morgan Moses was known as for holding, knocking them again 10 yards. They didn’t recuperate on that drive — that felt acquainted. The remainder of the night time didn’t.
On the following drive, Braelon Allen grinded out three first downs on working performs, Rodgers accomplished an 11-yard go to Xavier Gipson after which went to the road, noticed Lazard lined up one-on-one and known as an audible to get him the ball. Lazard was so decided to get Rodgers his first landing at MetLife that he virtually dragged Alex Austin with him, the cornerback hanging onto his jersey for expensive life because it stretched and have become a meme.
“When he threw that ball, I wasn’t going to be stopped,” Lazard stated.
https://t.co/7oEsvnmQEw pic.twitter.com/og5EI2mVPB
— New York Jets (@nyjets) September 20, 2024
Lazard was emotional after the sport talking about that second, a particular one between two shut mates. Rodgers as soon as stood on the desk to persuade the Inexperienced Bay Packers to maintain Lazard — an undrafted participant reduce a number of occasions — after which to play him extra. The receiver owes his profession, and the $44 million contract the Jets gave him final yr, to Rodgers. Virtually immediately after scoring the landing, Lazard — who has three touchdowns in three video games — ran to seek out Rodgers and handed him the soccer.
“It was fairly emotional, simply with the historical past that Aaron and I’ve,” Lazard stated. “To be a part of that second was particular to me, particular for him and one thing I’ll always remember. I used to be capable of give him my jersey after the sport, I bought my gloves I’m gonna take dwelling and that’s one thing I’m going to indicate my grandkids.”
The Jets got here again on their subsequent offensive possession and closed out a 13-play, 91-yard drive with a one-yard landing run by Corridor. It was round this time that cameras caught what seemed like a clumsy second between Rodgers and Jets coach Robert Saleh on the sideline. Saleh went in for a hug, and Rodgers appeared to shove him again and say one thing, obtrusive the entire time. The 2 insist it wasn’t a clumsy second — it was a celebration of one thing they’ve mentioned lately, the thought of giving the Jets protection a two-score result in work with.
“It wasn’t awkward in any respect,” Rodgers stated. “He’s not a giant hugger often. I didn’t know he was going for the hug. He likes to do the two-hand chest push. However he talks loads about two rating leads. That’s what occurred.”
It quickly turned clear why everybody was so excited in regards to the two-score lead. Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich uncorked a blitz-heavy protection, one thing he’d largely averted doing whereas calling performs for the protection since 2021. Depth points on the defensive position, after shedding defensive finish Jermaine Johnson for the season and with Haason Reddick’s continued holdout, made it crucial. It labored. The Jets had seven sacks and, per TruMedia, completed with 26 whole pressures and 14 QB hits.
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The Jets outgained the Patriots 400 yards to 139. They had been 10 of 15 on third down; the Patriots had been 2 of 11. The Jets transformed 27 first downs — their most in a sport since 2021 — whereas the Patriots solely transformed 11.
It was end-to-end domination, and the Jets nonetheless really feel like they left factors on the desk. They dedicated eight penalties, and had been pressured to take two early third quarter timeouts to keep away from delay of sport penalties.
“Our final two video games we anticipated to win,” Corridor stated. “We felt like we had the higher group, higher expertise. I used to be comfortable we gained however I nonetheless really feel like our offense was capturing ourselves within the foot once we may’ve put it away earlier. It was good nevertheless it’s nonetheless stuff like that that’s irritating. You get the win however whenever you return and watch the movie it’s like OK, we are able to’t do this if we’re enjoying a greater opponent.”
However these points, these penalties, used to kill the Jets. Even after they’d win over the previous few years, it was usually regardless of the offense, regardless of the quarterback, not due to them.
However these should not these Jets, not with Rodgers driving the automotive. These are the Higher Days.
“If the expectation is successful then we’re going to rejoice it,” Rodgers stated. “However we should always anticipate to win. The subsequent step is anticipating to dominate.”
(High photograph: Al Bello / Getty Photographs)
