Jets QB Aaron Rodgers and OC Nathaniel Hackett talked this offseason about the importance of having a balanced offensive attack. During Sunday's 24-17 win over the Titans in Nashville, the tailback duo of Breece Hall and Braelon Allen delivered on that balance while combining for 170 scrimmage yards – 95 yards on the ground and 75 through the air – and 3 touchdowns (1 rushing and 2 receiving) including the game-winning score, a 20-yard Allen rush with 4:31 remaining.
With the game tied 17-17, Rodgers gave the ball to Allen off the right side. The Wisconsin product accelerated around the edge past the first wave of defenders and raced to the goal line.
"You guys saw it in training camp and in the preseason, [Allen] is load to tackle," HC Robert Saleh said. "He is always finishing forward and was big a couple of short-yardage situations today and of course on that final score."
The touchdown was Allen's first rushing of his career, but his second score on the afternoon. With the Jets trailing 7-0, Rodgers faked a throw to Hall in the right flat before spinning and flipping a screen pass to Allen on the left side. Allen rumbled inside the five before being flipping into the end zone to tie the game.
"[Allen] caught that screen pass on the left side and there was no doubt whatsoever he was going to run over whoever was standing in his way," Saleh said. "He is just a great complement to Breece and Breece's run style."
Allen made history against the Titans, becoming the youngest NFL player to score a scrimmage touchdown since Arnie Herber in 1930 at the exact same age (20 years, 239 days), and the first player age 20 or younger to score a TD in an NFL game since 2017.
"I thought [Allen] made a super athletic play on the screen to get the end zone," Rodgers said. "Then on the late score, we checked to run on the right side and Morgan [Moses] and AVT [Alijah Vera-Tucker] opened a hole, and then he just needs a little bit of space. He's so big and strong, just can't tackle him high."
Hall got the second half started with a 26-yard touchdown reception to put the Jets ahead 14-10. Split out wide to the right, he beat linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr. on a go-route and hauled in a looping pass from Rodgers.
Hall and Allen became the first pair of Jets running backs to each have a receiving touchdown in a game since Richie Anderson and Johnny Johnson in 1994.
"After I screwed up the clock and we had to call a timeout, Breece came over to me and goes, 'hey throw me the ball if there's a backer out there on me,'" Rodgers said. "… I dropped back and looked inside for a second, and by the time I looked to him, he was 3 or 4 yards past him. I didn't throw the best ball, but he made a nice catch."
Hall finished with 114 scrimmage yards (62 rushing and 52 rushing), the 8th game of his career with 100-plus scrimmage yards. Allen finished with 33 yards on 7 carries (4.7) and 2 receptions for 23 yards, totaling 56 scrimmage yards.
