Aaron Rodgers’ first efficiency again at MetLife Stadium since tearing his Achilles in Occasion 1 of the 2023 season was once a antique one.
Flashing the similar mobility and accuracy that helped him win 4 MVP awards, Rodgers fueled the Brandnew York Jets to a 24-3 win over the Brandnew England Patriots on Thursday evening because the Jets picked up their 2d win of the season. The 40-year-old posted a 118.9 passer ranking Thursday evening occasion his protection restricted Brandnew England to simply 2.9 yards in keeping with play games.
Lengthy next fanatics started chanting Rodgers’ identify within the 3rd quarter, the Patriots inconceivable to him rookie quarterback Drake Maye within the waning mins of the fourth quarter with the sport a ways out of hand. The 3rd general select made his debut with simply over 4 mins to play games.
The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt and Chad Graff crack ill the important thing takeaways.
Rodgers celebrates with Allen Lazard next a first-quarter landing. (Photograph: Al Bello / Getty Pictures)
Height Rodgers on show
That was once antique Aaron Rodgers. The 40-year-old didn’t appear to be a 40-year-old — particularly all 3 times he were given out at the journey — two times for first downs. Rodgers was once thriving within the patch eliminating the ball temporarily — but in addition come what may controlled to dominate even if the Patriots introduced force.
Robert Saleh on Aaron Rodgers mobility: “He may not be what he used to be but he has plenty in those legs.”
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) September 20, 2024
The Jets got here out firing on offense, throwing it just about each play games on their first ownership. That power was once disrupted by means of a poorly timed protecting penalty which thwarted any shot at scoring issues. However in contrast to in presen years, the Jets rebounded temporarily and the Rodgers-led offense ruled the primary part.
For the 3rd immediately recreation, the Jets scored no less than 3 touchdowns — one thing they just completed in two video games in all of 2023. The ceiling for this Jets group is way upper when Rodgers is dealing like this, particularly with a much-improved offensive wrinkle and a bunch of guns this is higher than what the Jets have deployed in a protracted year. — Zack Rosenblatt, Jets beat editor
A lot wanted appearing for Brandnew York’s protection
Next a pair weeks of inconsistent defensive play games — particularly at the defensive wrinkle — Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich cooked up a bright gameplan that left the Patriots stumped.
Brandnew England’s offensive wrinkle could be some of the worst within the NFL, however the Jets nonetheless had to display they might dominate up entrance towards an inferior opponent, and that’s precisely what they did.
Ulbrich blitzed extra on Thursday than he has for many of his tenure at defensive coordinator and defensive finish Will McDonald helped the Jets really feel a minute higher about dropping Jermaine Johnson — and Haason Reddick’s absence — with a stellar first part efficiency. Via 3 quarters, the Patriots best had 118 yards of offense. A couple of mins into the fourth quarter, that in truth dropped right down to 85 internet yards. It didn’t get significantly better from there. The Jets would possibly no longer face an offense as sinful because the Patriots once more this yr — however the Jets haven’t all the time overwhelmed up on warring parties they will have to’ve in presen years. They did Thursday. — Rosenblatt
How did Maye glance?
The Patriots have been wary with Maye, no longer in need of to position their prized rookie quarterback at the farmland with a penniless supporting solid.
However in a blowout loss, the plan modified.
Maye, the Disagree. 3 general select in April’s draft, made his NFL debut in rubbish year Thursday evening, coming into with simply over 4 mins to play games. He finished 4 of 8 passes for 22 yards, and, like Jacoby Brissett, was once repeatedly below force. Maye was once sacked two times on his lone power.
His first go was once just about intercepted and his 2d dropback ended with a large accident on a scramble. However Maye settled in next that and advanced with some decrease completions. The 46-yard power he led was once the group’s 2d longest of the evening. — Chad Graff, Patriots beat editor
Patriots have critical coverage problems
It’s moving to be brittle for the Patriots to have even a semblance of a practical offense in the back of the O-line they’ve built.
Each schoolteacher Jerod Mayo and de facto GM Eliot Wolf spent weeks prominent into the season insisting that there have been incorrect considerations over the offensive wrinkle and all proclaiming that all of the communicate of issues there have been manner overblown.
Now, 3 weeks in, there’s no longer a larger fear for the Patriots. The entrance 5 was once so sinful Thursday evening that Brissett was once accident on just about part of his dropbacks. The crowd entered the sport ranked thirty first in force charge allowed, they usually might turn into the brandnew extreme playground group next this efficiency.
What’s maddening about it’s how predictable it was once. The Patriots had a extreme offensive wrinkle extreme yr, next best attempted to healing it by means of signing journeymen Vederian Lowe and Chukwuma Okorafor and drafting a proper take on within the 3rd spherical (Caedan Wallace) to play games left take on.
It’s been a complete and entire catastrophe. — Graff
Pats effort to take on
The Patriots’ protection was once meant to be their spine. Possibly that’s what makes Thursday one of these extremity for the Patriots. It’s no longer sudden that the offense stunk or the O-line had problems, however the branch the Pats had been assured in was once a complete mess.
They misplaced sure-tackling linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley to a torn pectoral muscle previous within the occasion, and with out him at the farmland the Pats come what may couldn’t take on any individual.
They neglected greater than a bundle tackles and were given utterly shredded in each side. That is moving to be a large check for Mayo, an early little bit of suffering for him in seeking to healing his prized protection – particularly since up then is a commute to the San Francisco 49ers. — Graff
Required studying
(Photograph: Robert Deutsch / Imagn Pictures)
