Aaron Rodgers' return home with the New York Jets was exactly what fans expected: healthy and dominant.
The Jets defeated their AFC East rival, the New England Patriots, 24-3, to move to 2-1 on the season, while the Pats are now 1-2.
Rodgers may not have scored any points on offense on the Jets' first drive, but fans will count this as a win after what happened in Week 1 of last year. He tore his Achilles tendon on the fourth play of the game against the Buffalo Bills, ending his 2023 campaign before it could even really begin.
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New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) looks to pass against the New England Patriots during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium. (Images by Brad Penner-Imagn)
But the four-time MVP looked agile Thursday night, confidently roaming around in the pocket and, surprisingly, running off for first downs.
He was hit, he was running, and Jets fans probably held their breath every time he had to leave the pocket, but Rodgers looked like himself all night and the numbers showed it.
AARON RODGERS FINALLY ACHIEVES MILESTONE FOR JETS IN FIRST GAME AT METLIFE STADIUM SINCE TEAR OF ACHILLES
Rodgers finished the game with 281 yards on 27-of-35 passing with two touchdown passes and no interceptions in his best night as a Jet so far.
He finally got to throw his first touchdown at MetLife Stadium as a Jet on the team's second drive, driving down the field and finding his former Green Bay Packers teammate Allen Lazard for a screen that went 10 yards to go up 7-0.
Then, after forcing another punt, the Jets drove a total of 91 yards in 13 plays where running back Breece Hall scored from the goal line for a decisive 14-0 lead.
Jacoby Brissett and the Patriots offense finally got something going on their third drive, capitalizing on a 44-yard field goal from veteran kicker Joey Slye. But those were the only points this group could muster all game, as the classic Jets defense we've seen the past two seasons was swarming all over the field.
New York Jets tight end Tyler Conklin (83) signals for a first down after a catch against the New England Patriots during the second quarter at MetLife Stadium. (Images by Brad Penner-Imagn)
The Jets, knowing they hadn't beaten the Patriots at home since 2015 when Ryan Fitzpatrick led the way at quarterback, wanted to bury their opponent and Rodgers knew how to do it on their first drive of the second half.
Once again, Rodgers was mobile outside the pocket, extending plays and killing time by finding open receivers for first downs and driving the length of the field to pick up a first-and-goal from the two-yard line.
Instead of another Hall run up the middle for a touchdown, Rodgers ran to the right and passed to Garrett Wilson to complete for a touchdown, making the score 21-3. It was the first of what Jets fans hope will be many Rodgers-to-Wilson touchdowns at MetLife.
While Wilson might be Rodgers' top target on paper, it was veteran tight end Tyler Conklin, who had been quiet in the previous two games for New York, who led the way in the receiving game on Thursday night.
Conklin finished the game with a team-high five receptions and 93 yards to help lead those sustained touchdown drives.
In the run game, it appears the Jets really have a two-headed monster right now with Hall and rookie Braelon Allen, who became the youngest player in the Super Bowl era to score a touchdown last week.
The Jets defense had six sacks on the night, and it was Will McDonald IV, the team's first-round pick from a year ago, who had two on the night. That already marks five on the season after having only three last year.
The Patriots sent third overall pick Drake Maye into the game late in the fourth quarter after Brissett threw for just 98 yards on 12-of-18 passing. He completed 4-of-8 passes through the air for 22 yards in his first regular-season game of his young career.
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) spins the ball on his finger during warmups before a game against the New England Patriots at MetLife Stadium. (Images by Brad Penner-Imagn)
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To put the Jets' dominance into a team perspective, they limited the Patriots' offense to just 139 total yards, while Rodgers and the offense put up an impressive 400 on the night.
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