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Jets have been waiting for Aaron Rodgers to play like this

There were 15 completions in 18 passing attempts, three touchdown passes and 179 yards through the air.

It all came in a one-sided second half.

This was the Aaron Rodgers the Jets were waiting for.


Aaron Rodgers plays during the Jets' comeback victory over the Texans (21-13) on Oct. 31, 2024.
Aaron Rodgers plays during the Jets’ comeback victory over the Texans (21-13) on Oct. 31, 2024. Robert Sabo / New York Post

After a shaky first half, the four-time MVP found his groove and helped pull off a much-needed 21-13 victory over the AFC South-leading Texans on Thursday night at MetLife Stadium.

Rodgers became the first Jets quarterback to score three scores in one game since Mike White did so against the Bears on November 27, 2022.

He threw two to Garrett Wilson and another to Davante Adams.

“Night and day,” Adams said when asked about Rodgers’ performance in the second half. “I think that was everyone. We all had hiccups early on. (No.) 12…8…turned it around. Still not used to it (new song). He turned it around and eventually we were able to figure it out.”

There were some positives for the Jets as they snapped a five-game losing streak.

The defense recorded a season-high eight sacks and limited the Texans to two field goals in the second half.

Adams and Wilson finally looked like the dynamic tandem the Jets hoped they would become after making the move to acquire Adams from the Raiders.

But Rodgers looking like Rodgers was at the top of the list.

“I played about as bad as I could in the first half, and I knew it had to get better from there,” said Rodgers, who went 7-for-14 for 32 yards in the first half.

It had been a struggle for him. During the losing streak, he threw almost as many interceptions (six) as touchdown passes (seven).

He had opportunities to pick up wins late in a number of losses, but was unable to do so.

That concerning trend came to an end against the Titans.

With the game on the line, he made big strides, and the Jets can now start thinking about turning their year around.

“It was kind of a season on the line there in the second half. Obviously we wouldn’t have been eliminated mathematically. But mentally it would have been very tough to finish 2-7,” Rodgers said. “Hopefully this gives us confidence that we can beat anyone, because we think we can. The way we played offensively in the second half is the way we waited for this offense to kind of wake up. I was almost perfect as I should be, but that’s the level I have to play at.”