EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Aaron Rodgers took the sector on Thursday night time and the gang at MetLife Stadium roared, their conquering hero arriving at his coliseum. It didn’t go so properly final time, however there wasn’t a touch of “right here we go once more,” no reintroduction to the Identical Outdated Jets.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 via through the years, 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 dropping Rodgers so early damage greater than common. Hope has been in brief provide round right here over the previous couple of many years.

The Jets haven’t made the playoffs since 2010. Some years, most followers would cease displaying up for house video games round November, if not earlier, and it was arduous guilty them. By December final yr, tickets value lower than $10. On a Thursday night time late in 2022, the Jets offense had develop into so arduous to look at 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 workforce simply received the Tremendous Bowl, just because he accomplished a cross. 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 at the least it feels that method 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, obtained out of the pocket, made throws on the transfer and accomplished passes with strain 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 received 24-3 towards a New England Patriots workforce that, earlier than Week 18 of final yr, had received 15 straight video games towards them.

This can be a totally different offense, led by a terrific quarterback. Within the third quarter, the gang chanted: “AA-ron ROD-gers!”

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 sector for the victory formation. He didn’t get it, however it nonetheless felt good to win.

“It was a extremely particular night time,” Rodgers mentioned. “All these chants are actually significant.”

Rodgers was hit just a few occasions however popped again up with out problem. He scrambled thrice, twice for first downs.

“I ain’t gonna lie, the primary time he ran I began laughing,” working again Breece Hall mentioned. “I used to be similar 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 mentioned. “I felt good pregame and I’ve been progressing. I mentioned after Week 1 it’s going to be a course of, I’ll proceed to increase performs as I really feel extra comfy and this was step one in like I do know I’m succesful I’m taking part in. I felt like I used to be myself from fairly just a few years in the past.”

If Rodgers goes to play at this stage all season, an MVP stage, the Jets can dream huge once more. He accomplished 27 of 35 passes for 281 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Positive, 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 an excellent longer monitor document of dropping 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 obtained them to the Patriots’ 43-yard line after three straight completions and a five-yard scramble. On his first incompletion, meant for Mike Williams, deal with Morgan Moses was referred to as for holding, knocking them again 10 yards. They didn’t get better on that drive — that felt acquainted. The remainder of the night time didn’t.

On the subsequent drive, Braelon Allen grinded out three first downs on working performs, Rodgers accomplished an 11-yard cross to Xavier Gipson after which went to the road, noticed Lazard lined up one-on-one and referred to 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 mentioned.

Lazard was emotional after the sport talking about that second, a particular one between two shut associates. Rodgers as soon as stood on the desk to persuade the Green Bay Packers to maintain Lazard — an undrafted participant minimize 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. Nearly 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 mentioned. “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 obtained my gloves I’m gonna take house 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 appeared like an awkward moment 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 an ungainly second — it was a celebration of one thing they’ve mentioned not too long ago, the thought of giving the Jets protection a two-score result in work with.

“It wasn’t awkward in any respect,” Rodgers mentioned. “He’s not an enormous hugger often. I didn’t know he was going for the hug. He likes to do the two-hand chest push. However he talks rather a lot about two rating leads. That’s what occurred.”

It quickly grew to become 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 prevented doing whereas calling performs for the protection since 2021. Depth points on the line of defense, after losing defensive end Jermaine Johnson for the season and with Haason Reddick’s continued holdout, made it essential. It labored. The Jets had seven sacks and, per TruMedia, completed with 26 complete pressures and 14 QB hits.

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The Jets outgained the Patriots 400 yards to 139. They have been 10 of 15 on third down; the Patriots have been 2 of 11. The Jets transformed 27 first downs — their most in a recreation 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 have been pressured to take two early third quarter timeouts to keep away from delay of recreation penalties.

“Our final two video games we anticipated to win,” Corridor mentioned. “We felt like we had the higher workforce, higher expertise. I used to be glad we received however I nonetheless really feel like our offense was capturing ourselves within the foot after we may’ve put it away earlier. It was good however it’s nonetheless stuff like that that’s irritating. You get the win however while you return and watch the movie it’s like OK, we are able to’t do this if we’re taking part in a greater opponent.”

However these points, these penalties, used to kill the Jets. Even after they’d win over the previous couple of years, it was typically regardless of the offense, regardless of the quarterback, not due to them.

However these usually are not these Jets, not with Rodgers driving the automotive. These are the Higher Days.

“If the expectation is profitable then we’re going to have fun it,” Rodgers mentioned. “However we must always anticipate to win. The following step is anticipating to dominate.”

(Prime photograph: Al Bello / Getty Pictures)





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