EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ—If the New York Jets‘ 2023 home-opener was the cliffhanger, the 2024 version set the stage for the star. Playing in front of the fans at MetLife Stadium, Aaron Rodgers cut through the New England Patriots with pinpoint precision.
His 281 yards and two touchdowns on 27 of 35 passing led the Jets to a dominant 24-3 victory over the Pats.
- New York Jets 24 (2-1)
- New England Patriots 3 (1-2)
- NFL Week 3 Final
- MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
Unlike Week 1 in San Francisco and Week 2 in Tennessee, the Jets offense featured an open and quite empty look from the jump. With New England’s defense clearly on its toes, Rodgers picked the coverage apart early and often.
The Jets’ second drive of the game resulted in the first points of the night, a 10-yard Allen Lazard touchdown grab on a quick smoke concept (or, technically, a bubble without the screen).
There's nothing complicated about it: Just a quick smoke to Allen Lazard because the Pats lagged coverage inside the 10. #Jets on top, 7-0.pic.twitter.com/83HsxDtvuB
— Jets X-Factor (@jetsxfactor) September 20, 2024
Lazard finished the night with 48 yards and that score on three grabs.
After a six-play Patriots drive, Rodgers and the Jets offense did it again. This time, they meticulously drove 73 yards on eight plays, capping the march with another touchdown.
This time, Breece Hall punched a 1-yard score in that was originally ruled down at the one. However, reply gave the Jets the touchdown.
Breece Hall gets that tough yard to put the #Jets up 14-0. pic.twitter.com/1UbTRaf9ra
— Jets X-Factor (@jetsxfactor) September 20, 2024
New York’s third touchdown of the night was the first of Garrett Wilson’s season. With 6:18 to go in the third quarter, Wilson’s two-yard touchdown reception from Rodgers put the Jets up 21-3.
Yup, here's Garrett Wilson's first TD of the season as Aaron Rodgers continues to slice and dice the Pats. pic.twitter.com/nf75rJo4xC
— Jets X-Factor (@jetsxfactor) September 20, 2024
A major emphasis was put on time of possession this week, which surely hit home on Thursday night. The Jets owned the ball for an absurd 40:04 in this one.
Defensively, second-year pass-rusher Will McDonald enjoyed another tremendous outing. His two sacks now put his total at 4.5 on the year, as he also chipped in with four quarterback hits.
The 2-1 New York Jets now take a mini-bye into the weekend before returning in Week 4 against the Denver Broncos at MetLife Stadium.
