EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ — — Aaron Rodgers was in complete control during his magnificent homecoming performance that drew sustained cheers and chants from the boisterous New York Jets fans.
And this time, Rodgers was able to leave the field – healthy and victorious.
The star quarterback threw two touchdown passes while being showered with chants of “Aa-ron! Rod-gers!” New York’s defense was dominant and the Jets won their home opener on Thursday night by a clear 24-3 margin over the New England Patriots.
“It was a very special night,” Rodgers said. “All of those chants are really meaningful.”
Rodgers started his first game at MetLife Stadium since leaving the field with a torn Achilles tendon in New York’s opener just over a year ago. The 40-year-old quarterback showed no signs of the injury — nor was he playing his third game in 11 days — despite faltering and making off-balanced throws several times throughout the evening, tearing through New England’s defense with surgical precision.
“It was a great feeling,” Rodgers said. “I felt really good out there. I felt good before the game. I told you guys after Week 1 that it’s going to be a process and I’m going to keep extending plays as I get more comfortable. That was kind of a first step to playing the way I can.
“I felt like I was myself.”
Rodgers completed 27 of 35 passes for 281 yards and threw touchdowns to Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard, ending the Jets’ (2-1) eight-game losing streak at home to the Patriots (1-2).
“He may not be what he once was, but he still has a lot of leg strength,” a smiling Jets coach Robert Saleh said of Rodgers. “His arm is still 30 and his mind is still working at a high level.”
New York, which ended a 15-game losing streak to New England last season in Bill Belichick’s final game as Patriots coach, sacked Jacoby Brissett five times. Drake Maye, drafted No. 3 overall in April, made his NFL debut when he replaced Brissett — who completed 12 of 18 passes for 98 yards — with 4:24 left in the game.
Maye completed 4 of 8 passes for 22 yards and was sacked twice, but Patriots coach Jerod Mayo wasn’t sure if he would make a quarterback change anytime soon.
“I don’t know,” the first-year coach said. “We talk about it every week, you’re competing for a job. We’ll sit down as a coaching staff and see where it goes.”
Breece Hall scored a point for the Jets, who also ended a six-game losing streak in Thursday night games.
And in this game between AFC East rivals, there was never much doubt.
“We have a lot of good things to build on from this game,” said Rodgers, jogging onto the field to thunderous applause.
Shortly afterwards, he once again sent the crowd into a frenzy.
After the Jets’ first drive stalled, Rodgers led them down the field – with a little help from a mental error by the Patriots.
A first-down pass from Rodgers to Hall was stopped without either player scoring, but Jahlani Tavai picked up the Jets’ running back and threw him to the turf in a move that would have been more appropriate for the hoop. The 15-yard penalty put the ball at New England’s 31-yard line.
Four plays later, Rodgers threw a quick out to Lazard on his left. The receiver made a move and Alex Austin tried to stop him, but only caught a handful of Lazard’s undershirt, which stretched like a rubber band for several yards before Lazard broke free and dashed into the end zone for a 13-yard touchdown.
Lazard immediately ran to his quarterback and handed the ball off to Rodgers, who threw his first touchdown pass at home for the Jets.
Rodgers and the Jets went all out on their next possession, capping a 13-play, 91-yard drive with a 1-yard run by Hall that was overturned on video review after initially being ruled too short of the goal line.
Joey Slye’s 44-yard field goal reduced the Patriots’ deficit to 14-3 with 3:56 minutes left in the first half.
New York increased its lead to 21-3 with 6:18 minutes left in the third quarter when Rodgers threw a pass to the right and found Wilson, who hit the front corner of the end zone with the toe of his foot for a 2-yard touchdown.
It was the third game in a row in which the Jets scored at least three touchdowns on offense.
After Chuck Clark forced and recovered a fumble from Rhamondre Stevenson, the Jets extended their lead with a 28-yard field goal from Greg Zuerlein.
“Honestly, it just wasn’t our night,” Brissett said. “To be honest, I don’t think we did anything well.”
In the first half, the Jets outgained the Patriots 252 yards to 40 and had 17 first downs to New England’s four. It was the fewest first downs for the Patriots in a half since 2000.
The final stats weren’t much better: New York finished the game with 400 yards to New England’s 139 and 27 first downs to the Patriots’ 11.
Patriots: Austin (ankle), LG Michael Jordan (knee) and rookie LT Caedan Wallace (knee) all left the field in the fourth quarter.
Jets: RT Morgan Moses injured his knee on the final play of the third quarter and did not return. He was replaced by first-round pick Olu Fashanu.
Patriots: September 29th at San Francisco.
Jets: Host Denver on September 29th.
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