Thursday Night live updates: Jets defeat Patriots

Aaron Rodgers left his home field on his own terms Thursday night — the first time he’s done so as the New York Jets quarterback.

In his second home opener for the Jets, Rodgers had his best game with the team, leading New York to a 24-3 win over the New England Patriots.

Rodgers’ home debut with the Jets last season was limited to only four plays after he tore his Achilles. On Thursday, he completed 27 of 35 passes for 281 yards and two touchdowns.

Rodgers looked comfortable after throwing for under 200 yards in each of his first two starts this season. Not only did he clear that benchmark against the Patriots, he looked incredibly mobile only a little over a year after suffering the Achilles tear on the same field. Rodgers routinely extended plays running outside the pocket, and also scrambled for 18 yards.

Overall, New York thoroughly dominated New England. The Jets had 27 first downs compared to the Patriots’ 11. They outgained New England 400 yards to 139 yards. They averaged 5.7 yards per play compared to 2.9. They also controlled the ball for a whopping 40 minutes and four seconds of the game.

Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett was 12 of 18 passing with 98 yards. Rookie Drake Maye came in relief on the team’s last drive. He was 4 of 8 for 22 yards, also running for 12. The No. 3 overall pick was almost intercepted on his first pass and sacked twice, but also led the team into the red zone before the clock expired.

The Patriots fell 1-2 with the loss.

The Jets are now 2-1 for the first time since 2015, which is also the last year they beat New England at home.

Final: Jets 24, Patriots 3

It’s over. Drake Maye’s first drive in the NFL runs out the clock, and the Jets have a 24-3 win over the Patriots.

It’s New York’s first 2-1 start since 2015…which is also the last year the team beat the Pats at home.

Aaron Rodgers looked comfortable, throwing for 281 yards and two touchdowns. He moved around well, getting outside the pocket to find receivers and also scrambling for 18 yards.

The Pats fell to 1-2 with the loss.

Jets punt…Drake Maye is going to make his debut

Aaron Rodgers surprisingly came back on the field, but the Jets’ drive ended after six plays.

More excitingly, Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye — the third overall pick in April — is about to see his first NFL action. Maybe we will actually remember this game now.

Patriots punt again!

Stop me if you’ve heard this before — the Patriots punted. New England did manage a first down on its most recent drive. It still somehow only went 8 yards.

Jets get three after fumble

After Rhamondre Stevenson coughed it up, the Jets took advantage and added three points to their lead. New York is now up 24-3 with a little over 10 minutes left in the fourth. Don’t expect we’ll see much more of Aaron Rodgers after this score.

Patriots fumble!

Did the Patriots offense get going? Nope! Rhamondre Stevenson fumbled on the first play of the drive and the Jets had the ball deep in New England territory.

Jets punt to start the fourth

After running one play with a mile to go on third down, the Jets punted less than a minute into the fourth quarter. Let’s see if the Patriots can finally sustain some offense.

Jets leading after three quarters

The Jets lead 21-3 after three quarters as the Patriots can’t get anything going offensively.

It’s been a clean, comfortable re-home debut for Aaron Rodgers, who’s thrown for 250 yards and two touchdowns so far.

Patriots get to Jets 23, somehow punt anyway

The Patriots were seemingly in position to score again, only to have a holding penalty and sack move them from the Jets’ 23-yard-line all the way back to the 45.

The Pats punted again.

Jets 21, Patriots 3

Another long Jets drive resulted in a score. An 11-play, 66-yard sojourn that took over seven minutes off the clock resulted in a Garrett Wilson two-yard score — Wilson’s first receiving touchdown thrown by Aaron Rodgers.

Patriots punting again to start the third

New England goes three-and-out on its first drive of the second half. The Patriots didn’t even have the ball for 90 seconds.

Halftime: Jets 14, Patriots 3

The Jets are dominating a sleepy game so far.

They have more than double the time of possession than the Patriots, 252 total yards compared to the Pats’ 40, 13 more first downs, and are averaging nearly triple the yards per play.

Aaron Rodgers looked good. He’s completed 15-of-20 passes for 170 yards and a touchdown.

Jets miss field goal before halftime

Maybe the most exciting play of this game so far — the Jets missed a 45-yard field goal after a 12-play, 49-yard drive that took nearly four minutes off the clock.

Patriots manage a field goal

The Patriots are finally on the board. New England got into Jets territory largely thanks to a 34-yard pass interference call, but then couldn’t get any further down field. New York leads 14-3.

Jets 14, Patriots 0

The Jets are now up two scores after a marathon 13-play, 91-yard drive that resulted in a Breece Hall one-yard touchdown run.

Jets lead 7-0 after first quarter

The Allen Lazard touchdown is the only score of the game so far.

The Patriots haven’t really impressed on either side of the ball — not a lot going on offensively, and missing tackles defensively. Penalties are hurting the Jets more than anything else.

Aaron Rodgers is 8-of-9 for 63 yards and one touchdown after the first.

Patriots stall near midfield

After picking up their first first down, the Pats couldn’t do much more. Jacoby Brissett was sacked on 3rd-and-8, New England punted and the Jets will start inside their own 10.

Jets 7, Patriots 0

The Jets are on the board! Aaron Rodgers found Allen Lazard for a 10-yard and a score to catch an eight-play, 73-yard drive.

Patriots punt in a hurry

The Patriots’ first drive wasn’t pretty. A pass for no gain. A one-yard run. And then a throwaway on third down. We’re looking at a defensive battle early.

Jets punt, goal Aaron Rodgers looked comfortable

The Jets’ first drive ended with a punt after a holding penalty and sack on back-to-back plays killed the momentum. Aaron Rodgers looked spry, though. He scrambled for five yards for one first down. And on multiple occasions he moved out of the pocket to buy time, flashing some of the mobility from his younger days.

The Patriots will take over after a touchback on the punt.

Aaron Rodgers ran for a first down!

Almost as if to prove a point, Aaron Rodgers ran for a first down on the Jets’ first drive tonight. Every eye in the stadium is on Rodgers’ legs and how they’ll hold up on the turf in New Jersey. So far, Rodgers is looking mobile after his Achilles lasted only four plays last season.

Aaron Rodgers ready to make his home debut

Jets DE Will McDonald flashes in Week 2 win

New York defensive end Will McDonald had a career-high three sacks in the Jets’ Week 2 win against the Titans. He only had three sacks in his first 16 games as a professional.

Head coach Robert Salah raved about his postgame performance.

“McDonald was unbelievable. He was unbelievable. Unbelievable… It felt like he was really bringing power to his game today. I thought a couple of his sacks, or at least one of them, he ran right through that right tackle… If he continues to develop that, he will be able to do that to that guy in his sleep.”

Jets rookie Braelon Allen ready to break out?

The rookie running back out of Wisconsin scored two touchdowns, including the game-winning score against the Titans in Week 2. He also had a 12-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter.

At just 20 years and 239 days, he became the youngest player to score a touchdown in the Super Bowl era.

He won’t overtake superstar Breece Hall for carries, but Allen has proven very capable so far of spelling Hall when he needs to come out.

Brian Hoyer says the biggest key for Patriots is…

The former NFL QB spoke with NBC Boston this week ahead of the team’s matchup with the Jets.

1. Ball security

“I’m gonna stick with this. I know it’s redundant,” Hoyer said. “Ball security, the Patriots have done it in Week 1 and Week 2 and it’s kept them in both games. Obviously, falling short against the Seahawks, but this always gives you an opportunity to win. And I know a lot of people are saying the Patriots need to force the ball down the field. It comes with a risk. You force the ball down the field, it turns into an interception, you give the other team a chance at going down and scoring, especially against a dangerous quarterback in Aaron Rodgers.

“So I know they’re saying force the ball down the field, there’s a time and opportunity to do that, but you don’t want to force it. Ball security is number one, as always.”

Jets’ Jermaine Johnson confirms torn ACL

The Jets defensive end confirmed reports that he tore his right ACL and would be out for the remainder of the season. A Pro Bowler last season, he suffered the injury in Week 2 against the Titans.

Patriots offensive line in shambles

Playing on short notice is never easy…doing it with an offensive line all dealing with injuries is another story.

All five starters appeared on Monday’s injury report: Center David Andrews (hip), left tackle Vederian Lowe (knee), and guard Sidy Sow (ankle) were all listed as non-participants. Right tackle Mike Onwenu (wrist) and guard Layden Robinson (shoulder) were both listed as limited.

Not great news for quarterback Jacoby Brissett.

Aaron Rodgers on Jets offense: ‘We haven’t put it together

The Jets have scored three touchdowns in each of their first two games, the first time since 2021 they have accomplished that feat. But they rank 26th in the NFL in yards per game (265.5) and have had seven three-and-outs out of 19 possessions so far.

“We haven’t put it together,” Rodgers told reporters this week. “We have some times in games where we are moving it pretty well. But we just haven’t been consistent enough in the passing game or the run game.”

Pats lose defensive captain for season

New England linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley is out for the season, according to NFL Network, after he suffered a torn pec in Sunday’s loss to the Seahawks.

The 28-year-old had 12 tackles and 0.5 sacks through the two games this season. He is a four-time captain and in his seventh season with New England.

Jets ended Bill Belichick’s career on a loss

The last time these two franchises met? Future Hall of Famer Bill Belichick’s final game as New England head coach. In that matchup, Week 18 in 2024, the Jets won 17-3 in their first win in the matchup since 2015.

Thursday’s game will mark the first game between these two teams that does not involve Belichick since 1995.

Rohan Nadkarni

Rohan Nadkarni is a sports reporter for NBC News.

Greg Rosenstein contributed.

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