Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets have endured a torrid 2024 season. However they confirmed indicators of life on Thursday Night time Soccer towards the depleted Houston Texans. They edged out CJ Stroud with strain up entrance and tight protection, leading to a 21-13 victory. Jets followers at MetLife stadium had been lastly rewarded with a win. The Jets now enhance to 3-6 on the season, additionally ending a five-game dropping streak.
It was a scrappy opening to the sport, with each side exchanging fumbles within the first quarter and a half. The Texans opened the scoring with an eight-minute plus landing drive, leading to a Joe Mixon dashing TD earlier than Fairbairn missed a protracted subject objective try and put them up by double digits. New York thought that they had scored when Malachi Corley ran untouched into the tip zone. However replays confirmed he let go of the ball earlier than breaking the aircraft, so a touchback was dominated. It was emblematic of the New York Jets seasons to this point. It could have been Corley’s first NFL landing, besides he dropped the ball with a view to have a good time, nevertheless it turned out his celebration was untimely. Thus, the Jets failed to attain within the first half, so Houston was forward 7-0 when the groups returned to the locker room.
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After an uneventful first half, the sport got here alive within the second half with Rodgers dealing to Garrett Wilson and up to date acquisition Davante Adams. Aaron Rodgers led a landing drive to open the third quarter, with Garrett Wilson ending the drive with a 21-yard catch and run.
The Texans answered with a 54-yard subject objective to retake the lead. However the Jets’ offence had lastly awoken. Rodgers and his receivers appeared to be on the identical web page, and he was getting extra safety within the pocket. Trailing within the fourth quarter, New York went on a 16-play, 75-yard landing drive.
Garrett Wilson caught the landing go on a third and 19, with undisputably the catch of the season to date. He made a one-handed seize in the back of the endzone after Rodgers floated it deep left to him. It was initially dominated incomplete, however additional replays confirmed that Wilson’s shin got here down in bounds, that means the decision was overturned. It was an unimaginable play by Wilson, who confirmed glimpses of his athleticism and expertise in 2024 however didn’t fairly hit his potential. This was emblematic of his playmaking skill when the person beneath centre gave him the chance. Rodgers put barely an excessive amount of on the go, however Wilson nonetheless plucked it out of the air.
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This appeared to ignite the Jets’ defence and the offence, and New York got here alive. They sensed a weak spot within the Texna passing sport, with Nico Collins nonetheless injured and Stefon Diggs out for the yr. Tank Dell was WR1 for CJ Stroud and had a number of key catches all through. But it surely was not sufficient for the Texans to get again in entrance. Down 14-10, Houston needed to accept a chip shot subject objective from simply 27 yards out. It’s often routine for an NFL kicker, however Fairbairn hit the left upright, and it was no good. The drive was not with out drama after defensive finish Michale Clemons sacked Stourd for -15 yards on third down.
Nevertheless, on the sphere objective try, the Jets’ particular groups dedicated a killer penalty after making contact with the snapper. The foul resulted in an computerized first down for the Texans and stored the drive going. Nevertheless, they might not capitalise and ended up with zero factors, even after making the sphere objective, which was cancelled out because of the Jets’ infringement.
With the possibility to place the sport to mattress, Aaron Rodgers seemed like his classic self, and led the offence to an 80-yard drive leading to one other landing, this time to previous pal Davante Adams on a 37-yard catch and run into the tip zone. The competition was all however over. The Texans had time for a hurry-up subject objective drive to make it a one-possession sport however the onside kick was recovered by Adams to finish the sport.
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It was a much-needed win for New York, their second at house this season and third total. Additionally it is their first win since firing former head coach Robert Salah in early October following their massively disappointing begin. May this win kickstart a comeback marketing campaign? The Payments are forward within the AFC East, however a run of kind might put the Jets again into the playoff image. They’ve the expertise on each side of the ball. It’s only a case of utilising it accurately and training a strong sport with none killer errors.
The Jets now get an prolonged relaxation after a Thursday night time sport and don’t play once more till they journey to Arizona subsequent Sunday in a matchup with the frisky Cardinals within the afternoon slate.
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