Aaron Rodgers’ first efficiency again at MetLife Stadium since tearing his Achilles in Week 1 of the 2023 season was a classic one.

Flashing the identical mobility and accuracy that helped him win 4 MVP awards, Rodgers fueled the New York Jets to a 24-3 win over the New England Patriots on Thursday evening because the Jets picked up their second win of the season. The 40-year-old posted a 118.9 passer ranking Thursday evening whereas his protection restricted New England to simply 2.9 yards per play.

Lengthy after followers started chanting Rodgers’ title within the third quarter, the Patriots opted to play rookie quarterback Drake Maye within the waning minutes of the fourth quarter with the sport far out of hand. The third general decide made his debut with simply over 4 minutes to play.

The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt and Chad Graff break down the important thing takeaways.


Rodgers celebrates with Allen Lazard after a first-quarter landing. (Picture: Al Bello / Getty Photos)

Peak Rodgers on show

That was classic Aaron Rodgers. The 40-year-old didn’t seem like a 40-year-old — particularly all 3 times he acquired out on the transfer — twice for first downs. Rodgers was thriving within the pocket eliminating the ball shortly — but additionally in some way managed to dominate even when the Patriots introduced stress.

The Jets got here out firing on offense, throwing it almost each play on their first possession. That drive was disrupted by a poorly timed holding penalty which thwarted any shot at scoring factors. However not like in previous years, the Jets rebounded shortly and the Rodgers-led offense dominated the primary half.

For the third straight recreation, the Jets scored at the least three touchdowns — one thing they solely achieved in two video games in all of 2023. The ceiling for this Jets workforce is way larger when Rodgers is dealing like this, particularly with a much-improved offensive line and a bunch of weapons that’s higher than what the Jets have deployed in a very long time. — Zack Rosenblatt, Jets beat author

A lot wanted displaying for New York’s protection

After a pair weeks of inconsistent defensive play — particularly on the line of defense — Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich cooked up a intelligent gameplan that left the Patriots stumped.

New England’s offensive line could be one of many worst within the NFL, however the Jets nonetheless wanted to indicate they may dominate up entrance towards an inferior opponent, and that’s precisely what they did.

Ulbrich blitzed extra on Thursday than he has for many of his tenure at defensive coordinator and defensive finish Will McDonald helped the Jets really feel a bit higher about dropping Jermaine Johnson — and Haason Reddick’s absence — with a stellar first half efficiency. Via three quarters, the Patriots solely had 118 yards of offense. A couple of minutes into the fourth quarter, that truly dropped right down to 85 internet yards. It didn’t get a lot better from there. The Jets won’t face an offense as dangerous because the Patriots once more this 12 months — however the Jets haven’t at all times overwhelmed up on opponents they need to’ve in previous years. They did Thursday. — Rosenblatt

How did Maye look?

The Patriots had been cautious with Maye, not wanting to place their prized rookie quarterback on the sector with a poor supporting solid.

However in a blowout loss, the plan modified.

Maye, the No. 3 general decide in April’s draft, made his NFL debut in rubbish time Thursday evening, getting into with simply over 4 minutes to play. He accomplished 4 of 8 passes for 22 yards, and, like Jacoby Brissett, was continuously beneath stress. Maye was sacked twice on his lone drive.

His first cross was almost intercepted and his second dropback ended with an enormous hit on a scramble. However Maye settled in after that and improved with some brief completions. The 46-yard drive he led was the workforce’s second longest of the evening. — Chad Graff, Patriots beat author

Patriots have severe safety points

It’s going to be laborious for the Patriots to have even a semblance of a useful offense behind the O-line they’ve constructed.

Each coach Jerod Mayo and de facto GM Eliot Wolf spent weeks main into the season insisting that there have been no considerations over the offensive line and all proclaiming that each one the speak of issues there have been method overblown.

Now, three weeks in, there’s not a much bigger concern for the Patriots. The entrance 5 was so dangerous Thursday evening that Brissett was hit on almost half of his dropbacks. The group entered the sport ranked thirty first in stress charge allowed, and so they might turn out to be the brand new final place workforce after this efficiency.

What’s maddening about it’s how predictable it was. The Patriots had a horrible offensive line final 12 months, then solely tried to repair it by signing journeymen Vederian Lowe and Chukwuma Okorafor and drafting a proper deal with within the third spherical (Caedan Wallace) to play left deal with.

It’s been a complete and full catastrophe. — Graff

Pats wrestle to deal with

The Patriots’ protection was alleged to be their spine. Maybe that’s what makes Thursday such a disaster for the Patriots. It’s not stunning that the offense stunk or the O-line had points, however the space the Pats have been assured in was a complete mess.

They misplaced sure-tackling linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley to a torn pectoral muscle earlier within the week, and with out him on the sector the Pats in some way couldn’t deal with anybody.

They missed greater than a dozen tackles and acquired completely shredded in each facet. That is going to be an enormous take a look at for Mayo, an early little bit of adversity for him in making an attempt to repair his prized protection – particularly since up subsequent is a visit to the San Francisco 49ers. — Graff

Required studying

(Picture: Robert Deutsch / Imagn Photos)





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