(AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
For the third consecutive week, New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers had to address another loss where the team failed to secure a win on its final possession. This time, Rodgers appeared more frustrated and concerned.
“We need to get going,” Rodgers said Monday night after the Jets — in their first game under interim coach Jeff Ulbrich — dropped to 2-4 with a 23-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium. “This was a golden opportunity. Some games you win in the NFL, and some games you give away. This was a giveaway.”
Rodgers not only criticized the Jets’ performance but also questioned the officiating. The game had a total of 22 penalties for 204 yards, with the Jets contributing 11 penalties for 110 yards—issues that persisted under former coach Robert Saleh.
“It seemed a little ridiculous,” Rodgers said of the officiating. “Some of [the calls] seemed really bad, including the roughing the passer on me [by AJ Epenesa]. That’s not roughing the passer. You might as well play Sarcastaball [a reference to the TV show ‘South Park’] if we’re going to call those things. And I thought the one on [Javon] Kinlawwasn’t roughing the passer, either.”
Penalties Hurt Jets in Critical Moments
Rodgers was also upset by a holding call on tackle Tyron Smith that nullified a scoring run by Braelon Allen, which would have given the Jets a 27-20 lead in the third quarter. Instead, Greg Zuerlein missed his second field goal of the night, and the Jets walked away with no points.
The Jets, who fired Saleh the previous Tuesday, ended a turbulent week with a performance filled with penalties and missed opportunities.
Offensive Struggles Persist Under Ulbrich
Under new playcaller Todd Downing, replacing Nathaniel Hackett, the offense managed 393 total yards but went just 1-for-4 in the red zone. One of their two touchdowns came from a 52-yard Hail Mary to Allen Lazard at the end of the first half, trimming the Bills’ lead to 20-17.
Wide receiver Garrett Wilson described the mistakes and missed chances as “demoralizing.” He added, “We have to find a way to score touchdowns because I don’t want to keep feeling like this.”
The Jets have now lost three straight games by a total of 10 points, with the last two ending on a Rodgers interception. For the first time in his 20-year career, Rodgers has a losing record after six games.
“It’s frustrating,” Rodgers admitted. “I’m here to win those games.”
Rodgers had the ball at the Jets’ 30-yard line with 3:43 left in the game, just 70 yards away from a potential touchdown that could have tied them with the Bills (4-2) for first place in the AFC East. The last time the Jets shared first place after Week 6 was in 2012.
However, the final drive collapsed with a sack and two Jets penalties. It ended on a third-and-16 deep pass to Mike Williams, which Taron Johnson intercepted at the Bills’ 18-yard line. Rodgers suggested there was a miscommunication between him and Williams, who suffered a head injury on the play.
Aaron Rodgers Critical of Red Zone Execution Despite High Yards
Rodgers finished the game 23-for-35, throwing for a season-high 294 yards and two touchdowns, but he was unhappy with the offense’s execution, especially in the red zone. He completed only 3-of-8 passes inside the 20-yard line, with several passes being tipped or defended.
“I thought we were going to have a big night on offense,” he said. “Again, this should have been a 30-plus point game on offense, and this shouldn’t even be a conversation.”
Owner Woody Johnson fired Saleh hoping for a fresh start under Ulbrich. The Jets showed some spark after Rodgers’ Hail Mary to Lazard, but they could only manage a field goal in the second half.
Now, the Jets risk falling out of playoff contention.
“We are by no means out of this thing. By no means,” Ulbrich said. “I know the character of that locker room. I know the way we will respond. … We have to start stacking these weeks of exceptional preparation. I promise you it will start to pay off on Sundays.”
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This report used information from ESPN.
