EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New England Patriots had a tough time getting their arms round New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers. So did his coach.
In maybe his best efficiency in years, Rodgers handed for 281 yards and two touchdowns in a 24-3 victory Thursday night time at MetLife Stadium, making a number of off-platform performs on the transfer and out of doors the pocket.
And but the viral second from the sport was Rodgers’ awkward encounter with coach Robert Saleh when the Jets took a 14-0 lead within the second quarter on Breece Corridor’s 1-yard landing run.
When Rodgers returned to the sideline, he slapped palms with Saleh, who then moved in for a hug. Rodgers was in no temper for an embrace. He gave Saleh a delicate shove and glared at him as he walked away. The quarterback’s physique language gave the impression to be saying, “It is too early to be celebrating like that.”
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Afterward, each males tried to make gentle of it.
“He is not a giant hugger normally, so I did not know he was going for the hug,” Rodgers mentioned with a smile. “He likes to do the two-hand chest push as nicely. He talks loads about two-score leads. So I type of gave him a push and mentioned, ‘Two-score lead.'”
Saleh mentioned that they had talked earlier than the sport concerning the significance of giving the protection a two-score lead. As soon as that occurred, Saleh apparently wished to have a bro-hug along with his franchise quarterback, who apparently had different concepts.
They laughed it off, which is less complicated to do after a win — the second straight for the Jets (2-1), who dominated from the outset with Rodgers dissecting the New England protection.
“This was type of step one in taking part in like I do know I am able to taking part in,” Rodgers mentioned. “I felt like I used to be myself from 5 years in the past.”
Rodgers (27-for-35) turned the fourth quarterback in NFL historical past to finish 75% of his passes in sport whereas throwing for at the very least 250 yards on the age of 40 or older. He joined Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Brett Favre.
What made this efficiency so particular was the way in which he moved to flee stress. After two pedestrian performances when it comes to mobility, Rodgers, 40, regarded faster as he escaped stress.
He was 6-for-6 for 88 yards when throwing exterior the pocket — his most completions exterior the pocket with out an incompletion over the previous 15 years, based on ESPN Analysis. Rodgers, who did not deal with stress nicely within the first two video games, beat the Patriots (1-2) along with his fast launch and skill to elude rushers.
“The cool factor was he confirmed the mobility that we noticed in coaching camp,” Saleh mentioned. “He is probably not what he was once along with his legs, however his arm continues to be 30 and his thoughts continues to be working at a excessive degree.”
It was an emotional night time for Rodgers, who returned to the scene of final 12 months’s season-ending Achilles damage in Week 1. This time, he caught round for all the sport. By the third quarter, the gang was chanting his title.
He gave the Jets a 7-0 lead with a landing go to broad receiver Allen Lazard, who responded by operating as much as Rodgers and handing him the ball. Lazard, who performed with Rodgers with the Inexperienced Bay Packers, wished him to have the ball as a result of he knew it was a particular night time.
“I am simply so joyful for him,” Lazard mentioned. “To have the ability to make it again right here, being 40 years previous, coming off the Achilles, taking part in three video games in 10 days, I am very pleased with everybody, particularly him. It was only a particular second for us.”
Rodgers directed landing drives of 73, 91 and 66 yards, spreading the ball to eight receivers. They put the sport out of attain with a 2-yard scoring go to broad receiver Garrett Wilson with 6:18 left within the third quarter, making it 21-3.
Rodgers misfired on the earlier play, so he wished to present Wilson one other shot close to the aim line. Rodgers mentioned he dedicated a quarterback’s “mortal sin” by making a premeditated resolution, forcing one to Wilson.
“He type of mentioned one thing coming again to the huddle, like, ‘Throw me the ball once more,’ which is nice,” Rodgers mentioned. “So I mentioned OK.”
On a run-pass possibility, Rodgers fired a laser that reached Wilson a split-second earlier than cornerback Christian Gonzalez arrived. It was Wilson’s first landing of the season, ending an eight-game landing drought.
“Me and the tip zone have a tricky relationship proper now,” Wilson mentioned. “So it positively felt good to get on good phrases with the tip zone.”
