A game that started with so much promise for Aaron Rodgers and the Jets evaporated in a 2-play sequence midway through the second quarter on a chilly Sunday afternoon at MetLife Stadium.

After scoring three touchdowns -- 2 on Rodgers' passes and once on special teams -- and leading, 21-7, the Green & White (3-9) got their second takeaway on a kickoff when Seattle's Laviska Shenault Jr. coughed up the ball, which was recovered by kicker Anders Carlson at the Seahawks' 38-yard line. Four plays later, with the ball on the 9, WR Garrett Wilson got free in the end zone, but Rodgers' pass sailed over his head.

On the next play, former Jet Leonard Williams, dropped into coverage and snagged an interception. He returned it 92 yards for a TD to make the score 21-13 (after Quinnen Williams blocked the extra point).

"Wind was a little inconsistent," said Rodgers, who was 21 of 39 for 185 yards. "Maybe I should have thrown a little flatter. It was wide open. I mean I got hit, but it shouldn't matter. Wind, I played in wind before, it was inconsistent. But I got to hit that."

Then, in the blink of an eye, Williams -- who was the Jets' first-round pick (No. 6 overall) out of USC in the 2015 NFL Draft -- corralled Rodgers' pass intended for Wilson and set off down the visiting sideline on a 92-yard pick-6.

"I mean, what else can you say?" said Rodgers, who will turn 41 on Monday and was not listed on the injury report this week after dealing with knee, ankle and hamstring ailments throughout the season. "You know, we've had a lot of chances in these situations. A lot of games come down to one play, whether you make it or miss it. And sometimes that play happens in the second quarter. You make that play 28-7. Different ball game."

From that point on, the Seahawks held the Jets scoreless for the balance of the first half and the entire second half as they scored 19 unanswered points.

"I mean, I think again, games are often won the first, second, third quarter, fourth quarter, it's an important time of the game," Rodgers said. "But it's plays in the second quarter cost us this game. Then it comes to the fourth quarter, it's execution, it's strain, it's a little thing, it's accuracy."

In their first game after the bye, the Jets started strong. Rodgers hit on 6 of 11 passes for 62 yards and TDs to Davante Adams (5 catches/66 yards) and rookie RB Isaiah Davis -- his first NFL TD -- as he connected with 6 different receivers and the Green & White converted 2 of 2 in the red zone. The 14-0 lead after 15 minutes was the team's largest lead (17-0) in any game since the Week 16 game against Washington last season. The week off enabled Rodgers to recover from his minor injuries, however, it was the Jets seventh loss in eight games after the bye the last eight seasons.

"Well, week after week. I mean, this was as frustrating as it comes," Rodgers said. "Because we start off fast, Kene [Nwangau, elevated from the practice squad on Saturday] has two incredible plays [forcing one fumble and running back a kickoff 99 yards for a TD]. "We're up 21-7, and they fumble the next kick. And then, you know, the second half. There were some, obviously, some calls that didn't go our way. A lot of chances to win, just happens too many times this season. I was moving around well, felt like it was as good as I felt all season, moving around and extended plays and came out fine."

Rodgers even laid down a lead block on Malachi Corley's end around that led to the Jets' first touchdown.

The reality is that the Jets failed to take advantage of an opportunity to grab the game by the throat, and allowed Seattle back into the game.

"There are a lot of things, but I think the 2-play stretch where I missed Garrett that could have opened it up to 28-7, threw the pick-6 kind of changed the momentum," Rodgers said.