ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Aaron Rodgers aimed to join the elite club of NFL quarterbacks with 500 career touchdown passes, but instead experienced one of the most challenging outings in his two-decade career as the Jets faced the Buffalo Bills. The team lost decisively, 40-14, marking a significant downturn as they fell to 4-12 for the season.
Rodgers, who is 41 years old, suffered through a rough game filled with errors from both himself and the team. He was taken down four times, including once in a play that resulted in a safety, bringing his all-time sack total to 568. This tally now puts him ahead of Tom Brady, who has 565, making Rodgers the leader in this category. “Yeah, I got Tom in that,” he joked, attempting to find humor in a tough situation.
Alongside the sacks, Rodgers also threw two interceptions and received a penalty for unnecessary roughness when he tried to chase down Christian Benford. Reflecting on the game, he stated, “It’s kind of like the season. Too many games got away from us. This game got away from us. We were moving the ball well and then just hit a wall. That’s kind of been the season.” He completed 12 of 18 passes for a mere 112 yards, the least he has thrown in a game with multiple interceptions during his career, leaving him stuck on 499 regular-season touchdown passes.
With the Jets behind 40-0 in the fourth quarter, Rodgers ceded control to Tyrod Taylor, who managed to record both of New York’s touchdowns. Interim coach Jeff Ulbrich confirmed that, “barring injury,” Rodgers would be the starter for the upcoming season finale against the Miami Dolphins. This game could potentially be Rodgers’ last for the Jets or even the final game of his illustrious career. The quarterback expressed uncertainty about continuing for a 21st season, regardless of the Jets’ interest in his return. “I’m going to enjoy next week and then take some mental and physical rest,” he remarked post-game.
Despite the loss, the challenge was compounded by a battered offensive line, which struggled throughout the game. Rookie left tackle Olu Fashano has been sidelined due to plantar fasciitis, and starting right tackle Morgan Moses was limited on the field after sustaining a knee injury. Reserve tackle Max Mitchell had a head injury evaluation during the third quarter but was cleared to continue.
The first of Rodgers’ interceptions came early in the second quarter when Greg Rousseau of Buffalo tipped a screen pass intended for Davante Adams, leading to a catch by Bills lineman Jordan Phillips. Backup left tackle Carter Warren failed to effectively block A.J. Epenesa, who subsequently sacked Rodgers in the end zone, putting Buffalo ahead 9-0. The Jets struggled offensively, failing to convert on third downs and missing a crucial fourth-and-1 opportunity in the first quarter.
Rodgers concluded the match with two interceptions, exceeding the total of one he had in his previous eight games. His third-quarter pass, intended for Allen Lazard, was intercepted by Benford, leading to a 15-yard penalty against Rodgers for pushing the Bills cornerback out of bounds. “I don’t think I hit or pushed him very hard,” Rodgers defended himself, recalling never having previously drawn a penalty for unnecessary roughness but did recall being called for a facemask penalty in a playoff game while with the Green Bay Packers.
Coach Ulbrich came to his quarterback’s defense, asserting, “He was going to erase a mistake. He was busting his butt over there.” However, the Jets collectively struggled, incurring a total of 16 penalties, the highest number in six seasons, resulting in 120 yards lost. Defensive linemen Quinnen Williams and Micheal Clemons committed unnecessary roughness penalties on consecutive plays during Buffalo’s red zone drive, showcasing the team’s ongoing issues.
“It’s frustrating, it’s embarrassing, it’s maddening. It’s all of that,” Ulbrich expressed regarding the performance. He acknowledged a need for better communication on the importance of discipline for the team’s success. The Bills capitalized on Jet mistakes, scoring three touchdowns in just over five minutes, with the final one coming after Garrett Wilson lost the ball on the very first play from scrimmage following a James Cook 1-yard touchdown.
Despite the overwhelming defeat, Wilson managed to achieve a personal milestone by becoming the first Jets receiver to surpass 1,000 yards receiving in each of his first three seasons. He finished the day with 66 yards on seven catches, one of which resulted in a touchdown. “The effort, I thought, was pretty good,” Rodgers said of the team’s performance overall. “The execution wasn’t very good.”
