A half century of Jets dread and gloom was supposed to finish Monday evening in opposition to the Buffalo Payments amid the ceremonious debut of Aaron Rodgers, one of the vital prolific passers of his era. As a substitute, the Jets’ protection, younger receivers and a castaway quarterback, with assist from 4 turnovers from the Payments’ Josh Allen, fueled a 22-16 comeback, time beyond regulation win.
Capping a scoring rally that started with a game-tying landing drive late within the fourth quarter, the Jets rookie receiver Xavier Gipson returned a punt 65 yards for a landing in time beyond regulation to grab again a victory in opposition to a division rival that appeared unlikely as soon as Rodgers was harm.
On the Jets’ third official offensive play of the sport, left sort out Duane Brown missed a block in opposition to Payments linebacker Leonard Floyd. Rodgers tried to flee, however Floyd sacked Rodgers, rolling the quarterback’s legs as they each went to the bottom. Rodgers stood up, then sat again down earlier than strolling to the sideline with assist from Jets medical employees.
Rodgers was transported to the locker room on a cart and didn’t return after formally being dominated out with an ankle damage.
Jets Coach Robert Saleh mentioned after the sport that the group was involved that Rodgers had injured an Achilles’ tendon. “M.R.I. might be going to verify what we predict is already going to occur, so prayers tonight, however it’s not good,” he mentioned.
The singer Justin Timberlake and the rapper Sexxy Purple have been among the many celebrities who studded the sideline, drawn by the prospect of Rodgers’s Jets period. The fanfare inside MetLife Stadium rapidly dulled as Zach Wilson got here on in aid and the Jets reverted to final season’s philosophy — operating the ball and taking part in stout protection.
The protection held the Payments to a discipline objective on the drive that adopted Rodgers’s damage, and security Jordan Whitehead intercepted an Allen go on the Payments’ subsequent sequence for the primary of his three picks on the evening.
The second-year operating again Breece Corridor, who tore an anterior cruciate ligament final season, instantly responded, jolting for an 83-yard run to arrange a brief Greg Zuerlein discipline objective to tie the sport at 3-3 with 10 minutes 35 seconds remaining within the second quarter. The Payments retaliated with a 75-yard landing drive, accomplished by a 5-yard toss from Allen to Stefon Diggs.
After Wilson pitched an interception of his personal on a brief go up the center meant for Randall Cobb, Buffalo kicked a discipline objective to convey the rating to 13-3 at halftime.
Wilson was hounded all night by a Payments go rush that dominated the Jets’ offensive line, a weak point of final season that carried into the Rodgers period. He was sacked twice and managed 140 yards on 14 of 21 passing, however he was capable of start the second half with a 12-play, 50-yard discipline objective drive to slender the rating to 13-6.
On the Payments’ subsequent possession, Allen tried to search out Diggs in the long run zone once more, throwing a deep go on second-and-13 from the Jets’ 41-yard line into double protection. With defensive sort out Quinnen Williams bearing down on Allen as he threw, Whitehead caught his second interception, this time for a touchback. The Jets have been unable to attain off the turnover, going three-and-out.
The fact of a Rodgers-less offense all however silenced the gang because the clocked ticked towards what appeared to be a depressing ending. The unit sputtered because it had final season, choked by safety for Wilson that couldn’t maintain up as he looked for high-percentage, risk-averse passing choices.
With 9:43 remaining within the sport, Whitehead snatched one other go from Allen — a toss aimed toward Gabe Davis — gifting the Jets the ball at their very own 43-yard line. On the following drive, the Jets’ middling offense got here up with the essential performs it had appeared incapable of manufacturing within the three earlier quarters.
This can be a creating story and will likely be up to date.