Aaron Rodgers threw for 281 yards and two touchdowns as the New York Jets beat the New England Patriots 24-3 on Thursday night in East Rutherford, N.J.
Rodgers was playing at MetLife Stadium for the first time since tearing his left Achilles tendon in New York’s 2023 season opener. He was injured on the fourth snap in that contest before missing the rest of the campaign.
Jets fans had to be pleased with what they saw on Thursday, though, as the 40-year-old completed 27 of 35 passes and was constantly escaping pressure from New England’s front seven. Rodgers was sacked just twice.
Tyler Conklin thrived in New York’s passing game, hauling in five catches for 93 yards.
Breece Hall had 54 yards and a TD on 16 carries for the Jets (2-1), who outgained the Patriots 400-139 and controlled the ball for 40 minutes, four seconds. Hall added four receptions for 29 yards.
The Patriots (1-2) struggled to get anything going offensively. Jacoby Brissett had 98 yards on 12-of-18 passing and got no help from the running game. New England did not have a rusher break the 30-yard mark.
No. 3 overall pick Drake Maye made his NFL debut, taking over for Brissett late in the fourth quarter. Maye hit on 4 of 8 passes for 22 yards.
New York virtually put the game away on its first possession of the second half.
After their defense forced a three-and-out to begin the half, the Jets ate 7:10 of clock during a drive that ended with a 2-yard scoring strike from Rodgers to Garrett Wilson.
That provided the Jets with a commanding 21-3 lead and prompted the home crowd to get “Aaron Rodgers” chants going later in the third quarter.
Greg Zuerlein drilled a 28-yard field goal with 10:16 left in the game for the hosts’ final points.
New York opened the scoring with 4:21 left in the first quarter when Rodgers connected with Allen Lazard for a 10-yard touchdown.
Hall doubled the Jets’ lead with 8:32 remaining in the second quarter, punctuating a 13-play, 91-yard march by rushing into the end zone from 1 yard out to make it 14-0. Officials initially ruled Hall down short of the goal line, but New York successfully challenged the call.
A 34-yard defensive pass interference penalty got New England down to the Jets 25 on the ensuing possession, but the Patriots ended up having to settle for Joey Slye’s 44-yard field goal with 3:56 left in the half.