New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) avoids a sack from Buffalo Bills defensive end Greg Rousseau (50) during the first quarter of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 11, 2023, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
EAST RUTHERFORD — The excitement of increased expectations and energy could be felt through miles entering the bowels of MetLife Stadium for the season opener for the New York Jets.
It evaporated on four plays.Â
In what was touted as the debut of Aaron Rodgers with the Jets, the Hall-of-Fame quarterback lasted just four plays before injuring his ankle and having to leave the game. Rodgers would not return with an ankle injury. All that excitement felt before the game was quickly destroyed.
But it wasn’t lost forever on Monday night.Â
Josh Allen found wide receiver Stefon Diggs in the back of the end zone for a 10-3 lead in the second quarter for the game’s first touchdown. Shortly after, backup quarterback Zach Wilson threw an interception to Matt Milano which gave Buffalo a 13-3 halftime lead. From there though, the Jets’ defense would take over for the remainder of the contest.Â
After a second Greg Zuerlein field goal cut the deficit to one score to begin the second half, Jordan Whitehead would later tie a Jets single-game record for interceptions with two second-half picks on Allen. The three-interception game was the Jets’ first since Ty Law in 2006.Â
Whitehead’s third pick of the game set up an acrobatic goalline touchdown pass from Wilson to Garrett Wilson for the game-tying score and brought the crowd back into the game. The catch saw the Offensive Rookie of the Year bobble the ball but maintain possession as he hit the groundÂ
MetLife Stadium would shake just seconds later when a Josh Allen fumble (and his fourth turnover of the game) gave the ball right back to the Jets with under five minutes to play in the game. A fourth and 1 conversion from Zach Wilson on a sneak would give the Jets the ball in the…
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