September 20 – Aaron Rodgers threw for 281 yards and two touchdowns to lead the New York Jets to a 24–3 win over the New England Patriots on Thursday night in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Rodgers played at MetLife Stadium for the first time since rupturing his left Achilles tendon in New York’s 2023 season opener. He was injured on his fourth possession of that game, causing him to miss the remainder of the season.
Jets fans were happy with what they saw on Thursday, as the 40-year-old completed 27 of 35 passes and continued to escape pressure from New England’s front seven. Rodgers was sacked only twice.
Tyler Conklin starred in New York’s passing game, finishing with five catches for 93 yards.
Bryce Hall had 54 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries for the Jets (2-1), who possessed the ball for 40 minutes and 4 seconds in a 139-400 win over the Patriots. Hall added four catches for a total of 29 yards.
The Patriots (1-2) struggled offensively. Jacoby Brissett completed 12 of 18 passes for 98 yards and had no help in the run game. New England had no rushers go above the 30-yard mark.
No. 3 pick Derek Mays made his NFL debut, replacing Brissett late in the fourth quarter. Mays completed 4 of 8 passes for 22 yards.
New York took control of the game for the first time in the second half.
The Jets’ defense forced a three-and-out early in the half, and the Jets consumed 7:10 of the game clock in a drive that ended with Rodgers’ 2-yard field goal with a Garrett Wilson score.
This gave the Jets a 21–3 lead, and the home crowd began chanting “Aaron Rodgers” in the third quarter.
Greg Zuerlein’s 28-yard field goal scored the final points for the home team with 10:16 left in the game.
New York opened the scoring with 4:21 remaining in the first quarter when Rodgers connected with Allen Lazard for a 10-yard touchdown.
Hall doubled the Jets’ lead with 8:32 left in the second quarter, sprinting into the end zone from 1 yard out to end a 13-play, 91-yard march that made the score 2–0. Officials initially ruled that Hall did not reach the goal line, but New York successfully challenged that ruling.
A 34-yard defensive pass interference call put New England within 25 points of the Jets on the ensuing possession, but the Patriots eventually had to settle for Joey Sealy’s 44-yard field goal with 3:56 left.
——Visual-level media
