New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) and wide receiver Davante Adams (17) walk onto the field after a turnover against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first quarter at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck/Imagn Images.
It felt like a throwback to their glory days with the Green Bay Packers as Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams teamed up to secure a 32-25 victory for the New York Jets over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday at EverBank Stadium.
Adams delivered a historic performance, catching nine passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns—all in the second half. His 135 receiving yards in the final four minutes of regulation set an NFL record for the most in that timeframe this century.
A Record-Breaking Second Half
After being held without a catch in the first half, Adams erupted in the second, posting one of the most dominant halves by a Jets player since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. Only one player in the past 45 years—Irving Fryar in 1994—has recorded more second-half yards after being blanked in the first.
Adams also reached a personal milestone, scoring the 100th and 101st receiving touchdowns of his career. Reflecting on his performance, he said, “Sometimes you just get in a groove, and it feels like your hand is a magnet to the ball,”
Early Struggles and Banter
The game didn’t start smoothly for Adams, who dropped his first two targets and missed an opportunity on a third-down play when the ball didn’t come his way. Frustrated, Adams jokingly told Rodgers, “I guess you don’t trust me anymore.”
Rodgers, amused by the exchange, responded with a dominant second half. “I used that line against him all game after that,” the quarterback said with a grin.
The Rodgers-Adams connection brought back memories of their time in Green Bay, where they connected for 29 touchdowns during Rodgers’ MVP campaigns in 2020 and 2021. The Jets reunited the duo in October through a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Rodgers’ Impressive Day
Rodgers, at 41 years old, turned back the clock with a vintage performance. He threw for 289 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions while also leading the team in rushing with 45 yards—making him just the second 40-year-old quarterback in NFL history to lead his team in rushing.
“I take a lot of pride in my minimal athleticism,” Rodgers joked after the game. “But this is why I trained so hard for all those months. … Obviously, it felt a lot better. You guys know it. You see it the last few weeks.”
Rodgers’ mobility proved crucial, as he scrambled for key yardage and kept plays alive. His connection with Adams shined brightest in pivotal moments, including a perfectly placed 1-yard touchdown fade in the third quarter to give the Jets a 17-16 lead.
Big Plays and a Game-Winning Drive
Adams’ biggest moment came with 3:24 left in the game. Rodgers found him for a 71-yard touchdown on a deep route through the heart of Jacksonville’s defense, putting the Jets up 25-22. After the Jaguars tied the game with a field goal, the Rodgers-Adams duo wasn’t finished.
Facing a critical third-and-10 from their own 30-yard line, Adams made an over-the-shoulder catch that kept the Jets’ game-winning drive alive. Running back Breece Hall capped the drive with a 1-yard touchdown plunge, assisted by the Jaguars’ defense letting him score to preserve time on the clock.
Cornerback Sauce Gardner sealed the win with a late interception—his first in 37 games—snapping the Jets’ four-game losing streak.
A Bittersweet Victory
The win came during a challenging season for the Jets, who are 4-10 and out of playoff contention. The team’s struggles led to the firings of head coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas earlier this year. Despite this, Rodgers celebrated the win and his reunion with Adams.
“Yeah, it’s too little, too late, but it’s still special,” Rodgers said. “It doesn’t taint it at all and doesn’t steal any of the joy of it. It doesn’t take away any of the fun.”
Adams echoed the sentiment. “In the second half, it felt very similar to the way we used to roll. Today was one of those days.”
The Jets’ disappointing season may be ending without playoff hopes, but for one day, it felt like old times for Rodgers and Adams.
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This report used information from ESPN.
