Aaron Rodgers reintroduced himself to New York Jets fans in stunning fashion with Thursday’s 24-3 win over the rival New England Patriots at MetLife Stadium.
The celebrated quarterback who arrived in 2023 as a franchise savior, only to suffer a season-ending injury within his first four snaps, remained upright in Thursday’s home opener. And in doing so, he picked apart a Patriots secondary while 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 presumptively tried to hug Rodgers after the Jets’ second touchdown of the evening, only to be forcefully rebuffed by the four-time MVP.
New York’s reinforced offensive line withstood an improved New England pass rush, the Jets’ formidable defense pummeled an overmatched Patriots offensive line, and Rodgers took care of everything else, completing 27 of 35 passes for 281 yards and two touchdowns.
Rodgers didn’t bother recreating his 2023 entrance, when he triumphantly led his new Jets teammates onto the MetLife Stadium turf with an American flag in hand. For that matter, neither did he suffer a torn Achilles on his first offensive series as he did 51 weeks earlier.
Jets QB Aaron Rodgers scrambles against the New England Patriots during the second quarter
Saleh came on a little too strong in the second quarter as his hug was refused by Rodgers
Instead of those dizzying highs and crushing lows, Rodgers simply moved the chains from the opening snap. He completed a five-yard pass to Garrett Wilson on the first play from scrimmage before evading the Patriots pass rush for an easy five-yard scramble on second down.
Two snaps later, Rodgers got another first down by throwing an 11-yard strike to Allen Lazard, a receiver who defected from Green Bay to the Garden State with the quarterback in 2023.
Eventually a holding penalty forced the Jets into an obvious passing situation, thereby allowing the Patriots’ pass rush to focus on Rodgers, resulting in an easy sack for Deatrich Wise Jr.
But unlike a year ago, when Rodgers’ season ended on the very first sack, the 40-year-old playing in his third game in 11 days survived to see another series — and this one would end with a 10-yard scoring pass to Lazard.
It may have taken 514 days since he was acquired, but Rodgers had finally tossed a touchdown in front of the home fans, all of whom became deliriously intoxicated with the excitement.
By the his first two quarters, Rodgers had completed 15 of 20 passes — mostly on the seams of the Patriots porous coverage — for 170 yards and a touchdown.
And he may have been even better in the second.
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