Thursday night football became Thursday night blowout again on Amazon Prime – the victors were the New York Jets.
The victims were the New England Patriots.
And the man doing most of the damage: 40-year-old Aaron Rodgers, the Jets’ quarterback who wasn’t even playing this time a year ago.
Rodgers tore his Achilles tendon a year ago in the season opener against Buffalo, and he’s already played three games this season. This one was finally a home game, after the Jets played the first two at San Franciso and Tennessee, and Rodgers looked like his very familiar self: 27-of-35 for 281 yards and two touchdowns – to Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard.
Now, the Jets have won back-to-back games, including a division game over the Patriots, and in the process, they halted an eight-game losing streak at home to New England (1-2) – who has now lost two straight after winning its opener.
Rodgers had mega-help. His defense had five sacks on Jacoby Brissett, who completed 12-of-18 passes for just 98 yards.
Rookie Drake Maye made his debut for the Patriots – Maye was the No. 3 overall pick in April’s NFL Draft. He went 4-of-8 for just 22 yards and was sacked twice, himself.
In addition to Rodgers’ two passing scores to Lazard and Wilson, Breece Hall had a rushing touchdown and Greg Zuerlein had a 28-yard field goal.
New York had 400 total yards and held the Patriots to a paltry 139.
It doesn’t get better for New England: they visit San Francisco on Sept. 29.
The Jets host Denver that same day.
