Aaron Rodgers reignites Jets’ Super Bowl dreams with dazzling performance in win over Patriots a year after brutal Achilles injury

Aaron Rodgers reintroduced himself to New York Jets fans in stunning fashion with Thursday’s 24-3 win over the rival New England Patriots at MetLife Stadium.

The celebrated quarterback who arrived in 2023 as a franchise savior, only to suffer a season-ending injury within his first four snaps, remained upright in Thursday’s home opener. And in doing so, he picked apart a Patriots secondary while reminding Jets fans, teammates, coaches and executives why there was so much excitement surrounding his arrival one year ago.

The moment was almost too much for head coach Robert Saleh, who presumptively attempted to hug Rodgers after the Jets’ second touchdown of the evening, only to be forcefully rebuffed by the four-time MVP.

‘No it wasn’t awkward at all,’ Rodgers said afterwards, struggling to explain the celebratory mishap. ‘He’s not a big hugger usually. So I didn’t know he was going for the hug. He likes to do the two-hand chest push as well.’

New York’s reinforced offensive line withstood an improved New England pass rush, the Jets’ formidable defense pummeled an overmatched Patriots offensive line, and Rodgers took care of everything else, completing 27 of 35 passes for 281 yards and two touchdowns.

Saleh came on a little too strong in the second quarter as his hug was refused by Rodgers

After sitting out of the preseason, Rodgers’ return to MetLife Stadium was a dramatic departure from his previous appearance at the Meadowlands.  

Rodgers didn’t bother recreating his 2023 entrance, when he triumphantly led his new Jets teammates onto the MetLife Stadium turf with an American flag in hand. 

‘I was hoping not to make a decision about whether to carry a flag or not,’ he said. 

For that matter, neither did he suffer a torn Achilles as he did 51 weeks earlier. 

Instead of those dizzying highs and crushing lows, Rodgers simply moved the chains from the opening snap. He completed a five-yard pass to Garrett Wilson on the first play from scrimmage before evading the Patriots pass rush for an easy five-yard scramble on second down.

Two snaps later, Rodgers got another first down by throwing an 11-yard strike to Allen Lazard, a receiver who defected from Green Bay to the Garden State with the quarterback in 2023.

Ultimately a holding penalty forced the Jets into an obvious passing situation, thereby allowing the Patriots’ pass rush to focus on Rodgers, resulting in an easy sack for Deatrich Wise Jr.

But unlike a year ago, when Rodgers’ season ended on the very first sack, the 40-year-old playing in his third game in 11 days survived to see another series — and this one would end with a 10-yard scoring pass to Lazard, who quickly gifted the ball back to his quarterback. 

‘I’m not sure if he had that in his mind,’ Rodgers said. ‘But I’ll take it. Thanks Allen.’

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) motions to fans as he walks off the field

It may have taken 514 days since he was first acquired, but Rodgers had finally tossed a touchdown in front of the home fans, all of whom became deliriously intoxicated with the excitement.

The first two quarters were nearly flawless as Rodgers completed 15 of 20 passes — mostly along the seams of the Patriots porous coverage — for 170 yards and a touchdown.

And he may have been even better in the second half as his name began to be chanted by the Jets faithful. 

‘It was a really special night,’ he said. ‘All those chants are really meaningful.’

Rodgers would add a second touchdown pass in the third quarter, finding Wilson on a two-yard toss at the goal line to cap an 11-play drive.

The play was significant, not only because it extended the Jets’ lead, but because Wilson had been the primary focus of opposing defenses over the first three weeks of the season. By distributing the ball evenly on Thursday (eight Jets had at least two receptions), Rodgers spread the Patriots coverage thin enough to reconnect with his top target. 

‘The entire focus of all three defenses we played have been taking Garrett away,’ Rodgers said afterwards, explaining that Wilson typically faces opponents’ top cornerbacks as well as double teams. 

On Thursday, though, Wilson doubled his season total with five receptions. 

Aaron Rodgers denied rebuffing coach Robert Saleh on an aborted hug attempt on Thursday

Perhaps best of all, Rodgers looked and felt healthy enough to extend plays with his feet and absorb hits when he had to. 

‘The first time he ran I started laughing,’ Jets running back Breece Hall said afterwards. ‘I was like: ”You’re crazy, man.”’ 

Rodgers finished the game with three carries for 18 yards, while taking a pair of sacks. And when he was laid out along the sideline — where he admittedly should have just stepped out of bounds — Rodgers was almost immediately back on his feet.

‘I am 40 and there are really fast guys in this league,’ he said. ‘I got to finish the play out of bounds.’

Now, after squeezing three games into two weeks, the 2-1 Jets and their 40-year-old quarterback get an early season rest until their September 29 battle with the 0-2 Denver Broncos. 

For now, Jets players and fans can embrace the euphoria of Rodgers’ long-delayed arrival in New Jersey. But Thursday wasn’t any sort of a metaphorical finish line for Rodgers & Co. He was acquired to help New York win its first Super Bowl since the Joe Namath era, and if that’s going to happen, the Jets have to make this the routine. 

‘We’re gonna celebrate it, but we should expect to win,’ Rodger said. ‘The next step is expecting.’