EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ—Forty-one years of age or not, the man can still sling it a bit, and that was on display in the first half of the New York Jets‘ Week 16 game.
With the 8-6 Los Angeles Rams in town, fighting for their playoff lives, Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers opened the scoring with a gorgeous 11-yard touchdown pass to Davante Adams.
As seen in the video above, the Jets ran a waggle-type play-fake that forced the Ram’s defense to think counter-action up front. However, Los Angeles did a great job on the back end, as nothing appeared to be open.
Despite that initially smothering coverage, Rodgers ultimately layered one to Adams on the back line, which put the Jets up 6-0 (Anders Carlson missed the ensuing extra point). As nice as the throw looked on the broadcast angle, it looked that much better from the press-box view.
Rodgers, 41, enjoyed a productive first half. He finished with 149 yards and that Adams touchdown (to no interceptions) on 15-20 passing. Better yet is the fact that the Jets’ offensive line has gotten a push upfront in the run game and protected the quarterback well.
The Adams core capped an impressive 14-play, 99-yard drive that lasted 8:22 of the clock, most of which nearly ended the first quarter.
Los Angeles eventually responded with a 2-yard Kyren Williams rushing touchdown two possessions later. The Rams took advantage of a short field after the Jets failed to capitalize on a fourth-and-1 situation relatively deep in their own end.
Courtesy of an Anders Carlson 21-yard field goal to end the first half, New York takes a 9-6 lead into halftime over Los Angeles.
