Leading the New York Jets onto the MetLife Stadium field for a second time in as many years, Aaron Rodgers’ home-opening encore went far better than the infamous opening act.
Rodgers was in classic form, surgically precise as he carved up the New England Patriots to lead the Jets to a 24-3 victory on Thursday night, authoring a triumph with fans chanting his name throughout.
"It was a really special night," Rodgers told reporters in his postgame news conference, "all those chants are really meaningful."
His arm was as remarkable as ever, but he was fleet of foot and cool under pressure, as well. He finished the evening with 281 yards on 27-of-35 passing for a pair of touchdowns and no interceptions, while adding three scrambles for 18 yards.
"I was feeling real good out there," Rodgers said. "I felt real good in pregame, and I’ve been progressing, I said to you guys after Week 1 it’s going to be a process of continuing to extend plays once I feel more comfortable, and this was kind of the first step in playing like I know I’m capable of playing. I felt like I was myself quite a few years ago."
The final score and statistics hardly told the most accurate tale, as Rodgers was in control and whet the appetite for what might lie ahead for the Jets.
"He showed the mobile ability that we’ve been seeing throughout training camp," Jets head coach Robert Saleh said, "and like I said, he may not be what he used to be, but he still has plenty in those legs, and his arm is still 30, and his mind is still operating at a high level. He was definitely impressive today."
Though this was Rodgers’ third game back from last year’s Achilles tear, it was his first in front of the Gang Green faithful. Nonetheless, road games against the San Francisco 49ers and Tennessee Titans settled his nerves a bit before Thursday’s theatrics.
"I felt a really good calm about it, honestly, I didn’t think a whole lot about it," he said. "Obviously it was emotional to come back home for the first time since then, but I really think the first week took a lot of the fears and anxiety of playing out, and tonight I feel like I played pretty free."
It showed as he was phenomenal from the start even if New York, which opened up the game on offense, punted on its first possession. Rodgers completed his first four attempts and scrambled for a first down. He was sacked, too, getting up from that was likely another obstacle to overcome on the MetLife turf.
Rodgers, of course, saw his first game and season with the Jets end on his fourth snap in 2023 when he suffered a torn Achilles against the Buffalo Bills.
Now he’s three games in, and though the season is still in its infant stages, Thursday served as proof of what the Jets offense could be with Rodgers on his game and his supporting cast stepping up.
He threw a 10-yard touchdown to Allen Lazard to open the scoring, with his former running mate from the Green Bay Packers now leading the NFL with three TD catches.
While it was a vintage version of Rodgers taking center stage, the future Hall of Famer also had a first when he connected with Garrett Wilson for his second TD of the night.
It was the first TD connection of what Jets fans hope will be many between Rodgers and Wilson, but it was also the first touchdown thrown by Rodgers in his career to a wide receiver drafted in the first round.
"Garrett’s a special athlete, special route runner and he’s got so much wiggle to him, so special with regard to improvisation and his route running, but they’ll get closer, they’ll keep working together and it’s only Week 3," Saleh said. "This is such a long season and those two will only get better."
Historical as the Rodgers-Wilson score was, it was also a beautiful play to behold.
Rodgers floated a sidearm pass to Wilson, who made a brilliant catch and was then able to put the ball inside the pylon for six.
As he picked apart the Pats, Rodgers played all his greatest hits, the 40-year-old model looking very much like the 38-year-old design who won his fourth career MVP. He threw off-platform beauties, flexed his arm strength, was nimble in and out of the pocket, and perhaps most impressively was stellar in the face of pressure.
Over his previous two games, Rodgers was a combined 4 of 10 for 26 yards with no touchdowns and an interception under pressure, per Next Gen Stats. Against New England, he was pressured on 30% of his dropbacks, but was a sensational 7 of 8 for 95 yards and a 116.1 rating.
Rodgers was in prime form in prime time, complemented phenomenally by excellent outings from running backs Breece Hall and Braelon Allen, tight end Tyler Conklin and the aforementioned Wilson and Lazard. It all came to be with the Jets defense looking as dominant as it has in recent seasons.
This is what Gotham envisioned when Rodgers was acquired in the 2023 offseason. And it’s what Rodgers is hoping is just the beginning of something special ahead.
"We’re trying to change this whole attitude around here, we’re trying to build something special here, get these fans to believe in us," Rodgers told Prime Video's Kaylee Hartung immediately after the game. "They’ve been tortured for a long time. Last year was obviously a tough year, but it’s good to be back, it’s good to be healthy. Again, so many people that I’m thankful for that got me to this point, but it’s great to be a Jet, great to have nights like this."