Like Old Times: Rodgers and Adams Reignite Magic in Jets’ Thrilling Win Over Jaguars
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — If you closed your eyes for a moment on Sunday, you might have thought you were back in 2020 or 2021. Aaron Rodgers was slinging the ball with precision, Davante Adams was hauling in passes like a magnet, and the two were sharing laughs and jabs on the sideline. But this wasn’t Green Bay—it was EverBank Stadium, and the duo was donning New York Jets green in a game that will be talked about for years to come.
The Rodgers-Adams connection was electric, sparking the Jets to a 32-25 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Adams put on a second-half clinic, catching nine passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns—all after halftime. His performance was nothing short of historic, with 135 of those yards coming in the final four minutes of regulation, the most by any player in a game this century.
“You get in a groove sometimes, and it’s like your hand is a magnet to the ball,” Adams said after the game. The two touchdowns he scored were the 100th and 101st of his career, adding another milestone to an already stellar résumé.
A Second Half for the Ages
Adams’ second-half explosion was the most prolific by a Jets player since the 1970 merger. To put it in perspective, the only player in the past 45 years with more second-half yards after being blanked in the first half was Irving Fryar, who had 211 yards for the New England Patriots in 1994. And to think, Adams’ day started with a whimper.
His first two targets went off his hands, including a blatant drop. Later, he was wide open on a third-down play, but Rodgers didn’t throw his way. Adams, never one to hold back, let his quarterback know about it.
“He kind of came back and said, ‘Well, I guess you don’t trust me anymore,’ with a wry smile,” Rodgers said, grinning. “So, I was using that line against him in the second half a bunch of times.”
That playful banter is a testament to their bond, forged over eight seasons with the Green Bay Packers. During their peak in 2020 and 2021, they connected for 29 touchdowns, with Rodgers winning back-to-back MVPs. Their reunion in October, when the Jets acquired Adams from the Las Vegas Raiders, was supposed to reignite that magic. While the season hasn’t gone as planned, Sunday’s game was a reminder of what they’re capable of.
Jets Snap Losing Streak in a Disappointing Season
The Jets’ 2024 season has been a disaster. They’re 4-10 overall and 2-6 since acquiring Adams, a stretch that led to the firings of head coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas. But for one afternoon, none of that mattered. The win snapped a four-game losing streak, and Rodgers wasn’t about to let the team’s struggles dampen the moment.
“Yeah, for sure, it’s too little, too late, but it’s still special,” said Rodgers, who passed for 289 yards and three touchdowns. “It doesn’t taint it at all. It doesn’t steal any of the joy of it. It doesn’t take away any of the fun.”
Rodgers, at 41 years old, looked rejuvenated. He rushed for a team-high 45 yards, becoming just the second 40-year-old in NFL history to lead his team in rushing. The only other player to do so? Tom Brady, who accomplished the feat at age 44 in 2021. Rodgers also became the first player in Jets history to record three passing touchdowns, no interceptions, and at least 45 rushing yards in a single game.
Key Moments That Defined the Game
- Adams’ 100th Career Touchdown: Early in the second half, Rodgers hit Adams for a 1-yard touchdown on a perfectly thrown fade, giving the Jets a 17-16 lead. Interim coach Jeff Ulbrich called the moment “historic” and “magical.”
- 71-Yard Bomb: With 3:24 left in the fourth quarter, Rodgers found Adams for a 71-yard touchdown, a deep seam route that showcased their telepathic connection. The play gave the Jets a 25-22 lead.
- Game-Winning Drive: Adams made a stunning over-the-shoulder catch on third-and-10 from the Jets’ 30-yard line, setting up Breece Hall’s game-winning 1-yard touchdown run with 1:05 remaining.
- Sauce Gardner’s Clutch Interception: The Jets’ young cornerback sealed the victory with his first interception in 37 games.
Rodgers credited Adams’ over-the-shoulder catch as the biggest play of the game. Adams, meanwhile, marveled at their chemistry, particularly on the 71-yard touchdown. “It was a route from our Green Bay days,” he said. “Then I look back and I see the ball in the air and it’s like, ‘Wow, this is really about to be a 70-yard touchdown.’ And, lo and behold, we got it.”
For one day, it felt like old times. “Today was one of those days,” Adams said. “In the second half, it definitely felt very, very similar to the way we used to get it rolling.”
Originally Written by: Rich Cimini
