The New York Jets fans started the 2023 season with high hopes, as the team had signed veteran star Aaron Rodgers, but he got injured in the first minutes of their first game and was lost for the rest of the season. In 2024, however, things are starting to look different and on Thursday night in the victory against the Patriots, “A-Rod” delivered a performance worthy of what is expected of him.
The 40-year-old quarterback looked calm and dominant as he led the Jets to a 24-3 rout over New England in his first triumphant and complete home game at MetLife Stadium.
It was a happy comeback at home for Rodgers, who warned that he is just starting to feel like himself. "We have been improving, but that has not been enough for the people on the outside," Rodgers said after the game.
Rodgers' controversial gesture towards his coach
One of the few things that didn't go well was a celebration on the sideline between Rodgers and coach Robert Saleh, after a touchdown by Breece Hall put New York ahead 14-0 in the second quarter. The quarterback exchanged a high-five with Saleh, who then tried to hug him, but Rodgers gave him a slight push and walked away.
"He doesn't usually hug others, so I didn't know he would seek to hug me. He also likes a push in the chest with both hands, but he talks a lot about taking advantage of two scores, so I think I just pushed him and told him, 'two-score advantage.' That's what happened," a calm Rodgers recounted in the post-game press conference.
Both will have the opportunity to practice more celebrations if Rodgers and the offense keep playing like they did on Thursday.
Rodgers, 40, looked agile. He frequently made plays with his legs, making everyone forget about the Achilles tendon rupture that ended his campaign last year after just four plays.
And Rodgers' arm was even better. He had surgical precision on several throws, completing 27 of 35 for 281 yards and a touchdown.
The rivals for the Jets in the AFC East Division
The Jets are considered one of the teams with the best players in the NFL, both offensively and defensively, but last year they finished with a 7-10 record, far from the playoffs, due to the absence of a good quarterback.
Now they are 2-1 and the road is long and difficult, especially because in the AFC East Division the Buffalo Bills emerge as a powerful rival.
Anyway, Jets fans, who know more about suffering than joy, believe that with a fully fit Rodgers, hopes of reaching their first Super Bowl since 1968 are greatly increased.