Aaron Rodgers’ return to MetLife Stadium was a success.
In his first game at home since tearing his Achilles four plays into his Jets debut last year, Rodgers completed 27-of-35 passes for 281 yards and two touchdowns in the Jets’ (2-1) 24-3 rout of the Patriots (1-2) on Thursday Night Football.
After defeating the Patriots in the season finale last year, the Jets have won consecutive games in the rivalry for the first time since 2000-01 when Gang Green won three straight over New England.
Unlike the first two games of the season, where the offense was conservative to begin the game, the Jets and Rodgers came out slinging the ball. He finished the first quarter completing 8-of-9 passes for 63 yards and a touchdown pass to Allen Lazard, who finished with three catches for 48 yards.
Not only was Rodgers, 40, spinning the ball like his vintage self, but he displayed his mobility inside and outside the pocket. He registered 18 rushing yards on three rushing attempts. What also helped was the dynamic tag team running back duo of Breece Hall and rookie Braelon Allen.
Hall and Allen combined for 109 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown.
The Jets were without linebacker C.J. Mosley, who missed practice this week after injuring his right big toe during the second quarter of last weekend’s win against the Titans. Jamien Sherwood replaced Mosley during nickel packages and was the defensive play-caller. He finished the game with five tackles.
Gang Green registered seven sacks against New England, who were without starting tackle Vederian Lowe (knee) and guard Sidy Sow (ankle), who were ruled out on Wednesday.
Thursday was the first game Mosley has missed since 2021, but the team’s defense stepped up and had their best performance of the season in their captain’s absence.
Gang Green’s defense shut down New England and held its offense to three points and 144 net offensive yards for the game. In Jermaine Johnson’s absence after his season-ending Achilles tear, Will McDonald continued to impress by registering 2.5 sacks. In the last two games, McDonald has a total of 5.5 sacks, which is already more than the three he had during his rookie season.
Also, after giving up 155 yards per game on the ground against the 49ers and the Titans, the Jets defense held the Patriots to 78 rushing yards. Coming into Week 3, Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson was fifth in the league in rushing but was held to just 23 yards on the ground.
This year’s first drive in the home opener went differently than last year’s for Rodgers.
The Jets ran a tempo offense to start the game and Rodgers completed his first three passes and scrambled for a first down. But a holding penalty by right tackle Morgan Moses and a Deatrich Wise Jr. sack on Rodgers forced the Jets to punt on their first possession.
Gang Green’s second drive went much smoother for Rodgers and the offense. In eight plays, the Jets went 73 yards, and Rodgers found Lazard for a 10-yard touchdown pass that gave them an early 7-0 lead in the first quarter.
The Jets continued the touchdown party by scoring on their second drive. Rodgers continued his precision passing by finding Lazard, Hall, Garrett Wilson, and Tyler Conkin on the drive. Then, on the one-yard line, Hall punched it in, increasing the Jets’ lead to 14-0.
New England finally got on the scoreboard with four minutes in the second quarter after Joey Slye’s 44-yard field goal.
Gang Green added its third touchdown of the night in the third quarter when Rodgers found Wilson for a two-yard touchdown that increased the lead to 21-3. After Rodgers led the Jets to their third touchdown, fans at MetLife Stadium began chanting his name.
At the beginning of the fourth quarter, Jets safety Chuck Clark forced a fumble on Stevenson and recovered it on the Patriots’ 37-yard line. That led to a Greg Zuerlein 28-yard field goal, which pushed the Jets’ lead to 24-3.
Moses suffered a knee injury late in the third quarter after a Patriots defender rolled up on his leg, but he eventually walked off with trainers. Moses did not return, and rookie first-round pick Olu Fashanu came in at right tackle for Moses.
Now that they have completed their three games in the 11-day gauntlet, the Jets’ next game will be on Sept. 29 at home against the Patriots. New England’s next game will also be on the 29th, as the team will face San Francisco on the road.
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