2024-10-15 20:15:03
Ulbrich was on the mark when he pointed to Rodgers as the master of the desperation pass. In his career, which includes four NFL MVP awards, the 40-year-old QB has completed four Hail Mary passes for TDs. The first came against the Detroit Lions in 2015, the second later that season in the playoffs against the Arizona Cardinals and the third against the Giants in the wild-card round of the playoffs in 2016 when he was slinging the pigskin for the Packers.
It was either a coincidence or terrific preparation on the part of ESPN, which right before the TD pass, showed a montage of those three previous Hail Mary passes.
“They decided to rush two guys, so we had all day to do it,” Rodgers said. “I actually threw it to the right of where I wanted it, I was trying to throw it between the hashes. The wind was swirly at night, it was a lot of jostling and then somehow Allen came down with it. It’s a pretty good feeling.”
The momentum, momentarily, carried over into the start of the second half when the Jets tied the game on a 22-yard Greg Zuerlein field goal. With the game knotted at 20, Rodgers then hit Wilson on consecutive plays of 16 and 23 yards to the Bills’ 34. Breece Hall (18 carries 113 yards; 5 receptions for 56 yards ) went for 10 yards and a penalty gave the Jets the ball at the 12. Two more short passes, first to Hall then to Lazard, set up the Jets at the 4, from where rookie RB Braelon Allen blasted over for the apparent go-ahead touchdown. But LT Tryon Smith was called for holding, the Jets were set back and eventually had to settle for another field goal attempt after a Rodgers pass for Wilson was broken up in the end zone. Zuerlein’s 32-yarder nailed the left upright and the Jets were turned away with no points.
“We had our chances,” Rodgers said. “We had a walk-in to the end zone by Braelon. We had a phantom holding call. We had a chance for G [Wilson] twice, so we had our chances.”
He added: “We’ve got to be on our details. It’s little things every single time.”
For all the close calls, all the miscues (11 penalties for 111 yards), Rodgers and the Jets — for the third straight game — had a late opportunity to come away with a victory. As happened last week against Minnesota in London, a Rodgers pass was intercepted – this time by Taron Johnson on a long pass intended for Mike Williams – as the Jets were searching for a potential tying field goal or a TD to win the game.
“You can go back to each of those games and look at little details, and then I got my own criticism to share as well,” Rodgers said. “But a lot of opportunities, if you just … we all just do the little things.”
