On Thursday night, the New York Jets defeated the New England Patriots 24-3, their second win of the season.
Aaron Rodgers, the Jets' quarterback, dazzled in his return to MetLife Stadium, completing two touchdown passes in the first half and inspiring fans to chant his name
The following are the key takeaways from Thursday night for both teams:Simply put, it was Rodgers at his best, with his second Jets home opener being far more euphoric than the first.
Rodgers impressed the MetLife Stadium crowd with incredible precision and a variety of off-platform plays, tossing for 281 yards and two scores in the Jets' second consecutive victory.
By the end of the third quarter, the sold-out crowd was chanting Rodgers' name. Consider last season's opening, which took place on September 11.
Rodgers ruptured his left Achilles on the fourth snap of the season and was assisted off the field, leaving the stadium strangely still.
On Thursday night, Rodgers (27-for-35) played like a point guard, distributing the ball to everyone around him.
He completed throws to eight different receivers. Significantly, the 40-year-old quarterback moved well both inside and outside of the pocket, well exceeding his performance in the first two games.
The fact that he managed this on such a short week, with only three days off, speaks well for the rest of the season.