Aaron Rodgers leads Jets to big win over Patriots in home opener

Aaron Rodgers' return to the New York Jets was just as fans had hoped – healthy and dominant.

The Jets defeated their AFC East rivals, the New England Patriots, 24-3, to improve to 2-1 on the season, while the Patriots fell to 1-2.

Rodgers may not have scored on the Jets' first drive, but fans will likely view it as a win considering what happened last year in Week 1. He infamously ruptured his Achilles on just his fourth snap against the Buffalo Bills, ending his 2023 season before it even got started.

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But the four-time MVP looked healthy Thursday night, moving confidently around the pocket and, surprisingly, running for a first down.

Jets fans were likely holding their breath every time he got hit, sprinted and had to run outside the pocket, but Rodgers looked like his old self all night and the numbers proved it.

Aaron Rodgers finally reaches Jets milestone in first game at MetLife Stadium since rupturing Achilles

Rodgers finished with his best night so far with the Jets, completing 27 of 35 passes for 281 yards, two touchdown passes and no interceptions.

He was finally able to throw his first touchdown pass at MetLife Stadium as a member of the Jets on the team's second drive, driving down the field and taking a screen pass from former Green Bay Packers teammate Allen Lazard for a 10-yard gain to extend the lead to 7-0.

The Jets then forced another punt and then went 91 yards in 13 plays before running back Breece Hall scored on a goal-line shot to take a decisive 14-0 lead.

Jacoby Brissett and the Patriots offense finally got going on their third drive, scoring on a 44-yard field goal by veteran kicker Joey Slye, but that was all the team could muster throughout the game as the good old Jets defense we've seen the past few seasons swarmed the field.

New York Jets tight end Tyler Conklin (83) makes a catch to signal a first down during the second quarter of a game against the New England Patriots at MetLife Stadium. (Brad Penner-Imagn Images)

The Jets knew they hadn't beaten the Patriots at home since 2015 under Ryan Fitzpatrick and were looking to bury their rival, and Rodgers knew how to do it on his first drive of the second half.

Rodgers again showed his mobility outside the pocket, extending the play and buying time, finding an open receiver for a first down and then racing all the way down the field for a first-and-goal opportunity from the 2-yard line.

Instead of Hall driving up the field again to score, Rodgers rolled out to his right and made a pass to Garrett Wilson for a slick pass that made it 21-3. It was the first of what Jets fans hope will be many Rodgers-to-Wilson touchdowns at MetLife.

On paper, Wilson may be Rodgers' top target, but it was veteran tight end Tyler Conklin, who was quiet in New York's previous two games, who led the receiving game Thursday night.

Conklin finished the game with a team-high five catches for 93 yards and helped lead off a touchdown drive.

In the run game, the Jets appear to have a two-headed monster right now with Hall and rookie Braylon Allen, who last week became the youngest player to score a touchdown in the Super Bowl era.

The Jets defense recorded six sacks on the night, including two by last year's first-round draft pick Will McDonald IV, bringing his total to five this season after just three last year.

With Brissett only completing 12 of 18 passes for 98 yards, the Patriots brought in No. 3 overall pick Drake Maye late in the fourth quarter. Brissett, playing his first career regular-season game, completed 4 of 8 passes for 22 yards.

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) twirls a ball on his finger during warmups before the game against the New England Patriots at MetLife Stadium. (Brad Penner-Imagn Images)

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To look at the Jets' dominance from a team standpoint, they held the Patriots to just 139 yards of offense while Rodgers and the offense racked up a whopping 400 yards on the night.

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