Aaron Rodgers Guides 2-1 Jets to Victory Over Patriots, Aims to ‘Dominate’

On September 20, Aaron Rodgers led the New York Jets to a convincing 24-3 victory over the New England Patriots, improving the Jets’ record to 2-1. With the Jets out-gaining the Patriots 400 to 139 in total yards, Rodgers expressed optimism about the team’s potential for future success.

In a press conference following the game held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Rodgers emphasized the importance of setting high expectations. “If the expectation is winning, we are going to celebrate it, but we should expect to win,” he stated. “The next step is expecting to dominate.”

During the game, Rodgers completed 27 of 35 passes for 281 yards. This marked his first home start for the Jets since suffering a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 1 of the previous season. His return to the field was a significant moment for the franchise and its fans.

The Jets showcased a dominant performance beyond just Rodgers’ offensive skills. They recorded 27 first downs compared to the Patriots’ 11 and out-rushed New England 133 to 78 yards. The Jets also controlled the clock, holding a time of possession advantage of over 20 minutes. Defensively, the Jets excelled as well, totaling six sacks and forcing a fumble.

Rodgers joined the Jets in the previous offseason with the hope of steering the team toward a winning record, something they have only achieved once since 2015. “I’m proud of our guys,” he said, reflecting on the team’s progress. “We’ve been improving, but it hasn’t been good enough for some people outside the room, so to have a performance like we had feels really good.”

The Jets scored their first touchdown when Rodgers found wide receiver Allen Lazard for a 10-yard pass late in the first quarter. In the second quarter, running back Breece Hall extended the lead with a 1-yard touchdown after a lengthy 13-play, 91-yard drive.

After the Patriots managed to get on the scoreboard with a 44-yard field goal from kicker Joey Slye, Rodgers answered back by connecting with Garrett Wilson for another touchdown, extending the Jets’ lead to 21-3 in the third quarter.

Kicker Greg Zuerlein added a 28-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, sealing the game at 24-3. Late in the contest, rookie quarterback Drake Maye, the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, replaced seasoned veteran Jacoby Brissett for the Patriots. Maye completed 4 of 8 passes for 22 yards in the defeat. Brissett managed to complete 12 of 18 passes for 98 yards during his time on the field.

Following the game, Patriots coach Jerod Mayo did not confirm whether Brissett or Maye would start in Week 4. “I just thought it was a good opportunity for him to go out there with the 1s [first-team offense] and put a few drives together,” Mayo mentioned about Maye’s performance. “They moved the ball. We will watch the film and evaluate it.”

In terms of individual performances for the Jets, Hall contributed significantly with 83 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown on 20 touches. Rookie running back Braelon Allen added 68 yards from scrimmage on 14 touches. Tyler Conklin, the Jets’ tight end, led the receiving corps with five receptions for 93 yards.

Defensively, edge rusher Will McDonald IV was a standout with two of the Jets’ six total sacks. Safety Chuck Clark not only had a sack but also contributed with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

“I thought we were good, really good,” Jets coach Robert Saleh said about the team’s defensive effort. “We talk about a style of play and a standard and just playing with relentless effort, with 11 hats to the ball and I thought we did that.”

Looking ahead, the Jets (2-1) are set to host the Denver Broncos (0-2) on September 29 in East Rutherford, while the Patriots (1-2) will take on the San Francisco 49ers (1-1) in Santa Clara, California on the same day.