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Archives for September 19, 2024

J-E-T-S Dominate P-A-T-S

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EAST RUTHERFORD –  (Staff and Wire Service Report) – NY Jets QB Aaron Rodgers threw for 281 yards and two touchdowns as the New York Jets beat the New England Patriots 24-3 on Thursday night in New Jersey. Rodgers was playing at MetLife Stadium for the first time since tearing his left Achilles tendon in New York’s 2023 season opener. He was injured on the fourth snap in that contest before missing the rest of the campaign.
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     Jets fans had to be pleased with what they saw on Thursday, though, as the 40-year-old completed 27 of 35 passes and was constantly escaping pressure from New England’s front seven. Rodgers was sacked just twice.
     Tyler Conklin thrived in New York’s passing game, hauling in five catches for 93 yards. Breece Hall had 54 yards and a TD on 16 carries for the Jets (2-1), who outgained the Patriots 400-139 and controlled the ball for 40 minutes, four seconds. Hall added four receptions for 29 yards.
     The Patriots (1-2) struggled to get anything going offensively. Jacoby Brissett had 98 yards on 12-of-18 passing and got no help from the running game. New England did not have a rusher break the 30-yard mark.
    No. 3 overall pick Drake Maye made his NFL debut, taking over for Brissett late in the fourth quarter. Maye hit on 4 of 8 passes for 22 yards.
    New York virtually put the game away on its first possession of the second half.  After their defense forced a three-and-out to begin the half, the Jets ate 7:10 of clock during a drive that ended with a 2-yard scoring strike from Rodgers to Garrett Wilson.
    That provided the Jets with a commanding 21-3 lead and prompted the home crowd to get “Aaron Rodgers” chants going later in the third quarter.

Rodgers on Display vs Pats at Met Life

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EAST RUTHERFORD – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Jets fans are hoping to get a longer look at quarterback Aaron Rodgers when New York faces the New England Patriots tonight in New Jersey.

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The last time Rodgers stepped onto the turf at MetLife Stadium, he lasted just four plays, tearing his left Achillies tendon in the Jets’ 2023 season opener against the Buffalo Bills.

That injury put Rodgers on the shelf for the entirety of the campaign. He was still credited with the win against Buffalo, but it wasn’t until Sunday that Rodgers led the Jets (1-1) to victory while playing for a full game. The 40-year-old completed 18 of 30 passes for 176 yards and two touchdowns as New York beat the Tennessee Titans 24-17.

Now that the Jets have their first real taste of success with Rodgers under center, New York coach Robert Saleh is banking on the home crowd giving his team a significant advantage on Thursday.

“I hope it’s off the chain,” Saleh said, referring to the type of atmosphere he expects. “I mean, shoot, it’s our home opener coming on a Thursday. I know our fans are some of the most passionate fans in all of football. … You want to play in the spotlight.”

The Jets will need all the help they can get as they try to crack a New England defense that has allowed the fifth-fewest points per game (16.5) through the first two weeks of the season.

After picking up a clean 16-10 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1, the Patriots (1-1) faltered late to drop a 23-20 overtime decision against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

Rhamondre Stevenson found the end zone from 1 yard out to put New England up 20-17 with 12:43 left in regulation, but the Patriots let Seattle march its way to Jason Myers’ 38-yard field goal that tied the game with 55 seconds to go.

Myers nailed a game-winning 31-yarder in overtime. New England got the ball to open the extra session but went three-and-out.

It marked the first career loss for Patriots first-year coach Jerod Mayo, who is now trying to effectively navigate a short week.

“I think the first thing is to recover. That’s the first thing,” Mayo said. “So in saying that, we’re going to bring the guys in late every day this week. … I think it’s important that those guys rest up. It also gives the coaches an opportunity to get the game plan put together. That’s the first thing.

“Secondly, it comes back to executing. When you’re sore, when you’re tired, that’s what it really comes back to.”

And leaning on the defense might not be an option for New England come Thursday.

Multiple media outlets reported Monday that Patriots linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley sustained a season-ending pectoral injury against the Seahawks, and fellow linebacker Anfernee Jennings (knee), defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr. (shoulder), safety Jabrill Peppers (shoulder) and cornerback Marcus Jones (knee) were all limited in practice on Tuesday.

New York turned in an estimated injury report, simply holding a walkthrough on Tuesday, but linebacker C.J. Mosley (toe) would not have participated in practice. Linebacker Jermaine Johnson announced on Monday that he has a season-ending torn right Achilles tendon.

–Field Level Media

Red Sox Scratch-out Win vs Rays

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ST PETERSBURG – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Boston’s Jarren Duran drove in the winning run in a small-ball eighth inning as the Red Sox evened their three-game series with Tampa Bay on Wednesday, edging the Rays 2-1 in Florida.

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After Trevor Story (2-for-3, homer, two runs) opened the eighth with a weak single past Drew Rasmussen (0-2), the Boston shortstop stole second and third. With one out, Duran slapped the winning hit to right for the Red Sox (76-76).

Boston starter Tanner Houck yielded one run and four hits in four innings. He struck out four without issuing a walk.

Justin Slaten (6-2) pitched out of trouble in the seventh. Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen worked around two walks in the ninth to notch his 27th save.

Josh Lowe (double, run), Jonny DeLuca (hit by pitch) and Taylor Walls (RBI, walk, stolen base) had two hits apiece for Tampa Bay (74-78).

Rays starter Ryan Pepiot dominated Boston for six innings, allowing just one run on two hits and no walks while fanning a career-high 12 batters. He crafted an immaculate inning (struck out all three batters on a total of nine pitches) in the fifth.

One night after tying their season high by going deep four times in an 8-3 win, the Rays produced a second-inning run. Lowe doubled with one out and DeLuca was hit by a pitch. After a strikeout, Taylor Walls slapped a liner that scored Lowe for a 1-0 lead.

In the fifth, Pepiot blew away the Red Sox lineup, whiffing Connor Wong looking and Wilyer Abreu and Triston Casas swinging.

The first-year Rays hurler set down 15 of the first 16 Boston batters he faced — 10 by strikeouts, nine swinging.

However, Story was ready to swing right away in the sixth and belted a first-pitch 93 mph fastball to left-center, making it 1-all with his second homer of the year.

Not known for his defense, Rays left fielder Christopher Morel prevented two runs in the seventh by ending the inning with a leaping catch above the fence’s pads on Casas’ drive with two runners on base.

–Field Level Media