'Very long time coming': Rodgers savors 1st Jets win

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — For the primary time in 623 days, Aaron Rodgers walked off the sector a profitable quarterback.

It wasn’t a prolific sport by any measure, however Rodgers was flawless on the profitable landing drive within the fourth quarter, serving to the New York Jets to a dramatic 24-17 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday at Nissan Stadium.

Afterward, he savored every little thing concerning the win, from his heady playcalls that resulted in three touchdowns to his jawing with Titans defensive sort out Jeffery Simmons, who known as Rodgers “a crybaby” in the course of the sport.

“It was nice,” the 40-year-old Rodgers mentioned of the win, avoiding the primary 0-2 begin of his 20-year profession. “It was a very long time coming.

“These are sort of the video games you look again on late within the season and also you’re grateful you gained these, as a result of if we wish to be an incredible staff, we now have to win in these kind of environments in opposition to a staff like that.”

Rodgers gained Jan. 1, 2023, his next-to-last begin with the Green Bay Packers. Technically, he was credited with the win within the Jets’ 2023 opener regardless that he lasted solely 4 snaps earlier than his left Achilles was ruptured. This was his first full sport victory with the Jets (1-1).

The four-time MVP was at his finest in crunch time, main a seven-play, 74-yard drive that ended with rookie working again Braelon Allen‘s second landing, a 20-yard run with 4:31 left within the sport to make it 24-17. Rodgers was 5-for-5 for 60 yards on the drive, together with 26- and 19-yard completions to Garrett Wilson and Mike Williams, respectively.

“He is identical to a conductor,” Allen mentioned of Rodgers.

Tight finish Tyler Conklin mentioned, “Aaron did some Aaron stuff on the market.”

After an unsightly loss to the San Francisco 49ers, the Jets had been determined for a win. Their protection, which misplaced defensive finish Jermaine Johnson (Achilles) and linebacker C.J. Mosley (toe) in Sunday’s sport, delivered a fourth-down cease within the remaining seconds to protect the victory.

Afterward, Rodgers’ teammates and coach Robert Saleh cited his poise within the remaining minutes as one of many keys.

“I imply, he is a first-ballot Corridor of Famer and he is had manufacturing for a really, very very long time,” Saleh mentioned. “He is seen every little thing. To have a presence like that within the huddle, for lots of men who have not seen every little thing, it is massive.”

Rodgers (18-for-30) handed for under 176 yards, his twenty fourth straight sport beneath 300 yards — the longest drought of his profession. However he threw a pair of touchdowns, a 12-yard display screen go to Allen and a 26-yard go to Breece Hall. It was the primary time since 1994 that two totally different Jets working backs had scoring receptions in the identical sport.

On the Allen landing, Rodgers mentioned he instructed the decision to offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett on the sideline — a pump pretend to Corridor, then a fast throw to Allen. The misdirection labored completely.

Rodgers mentioned he and Corridor cooked up the latter rating.

“I am going to inform you precisely the way it advanced,” Rodgers mentioned. “I screwed up the clock and we known as the timeout. Breece comes over and goes, ‘Hey, throw me a go ball if there is a ‘backer on the market. I mentioned, ‘OK.'”

Corridor break up extensive to the best and was lined by linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr., which Rodgers acknowledged and made the Titans pay.

“You realize you are going to win the sport” with Rodgers, mentioned Allen, 20, who grew to become the youngest participant to attain an offensive landing since 1950. “I have never been round him for a very long time, however I’ve watched him for a very very long time. There’s no person higher in these conditions over the previous 20 years.”

Allen grew up in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, watching Rodgers with the Packers, so it was fairly a second for him to attain the profitable landing in Rodgers’ first win as a Jets quarterback. Allen deflected the reward, saying the outlet was so massive on his 20-yard run that “my nana might most likely rating on that one.” A go play was known as, however Rodgers mentioned he checked to a run on the line.

Rodgers capped the day by having fun with a couple of laughs with Simmons, who had a expensive roughing-the-passer penalty.

“He was calling me some imply names on the market,” Rodgers mentioned with amusing, including that he returned hearth with a “crybaby” remark to Simmons after the penalty.