Leading up to Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills, one of the more prominent storylines was QB Aaron Rodgers' quest for the 500th TD pass of his storied 20-year NFL career. A big part of that conversation was the prospect of Davante Adams, one of Rodgers' favorite receivers in their days together in Green Bay, and now with the Green & White this season, being the recipient.
"At no point in the game, am I thinking about 500 touchdowns," Adams said after Buffalo's 40-14 victory at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, NY. "I mean, obviously, once it happens, but I'm trying to get to the end zone however that needs to happen. But it's running the ball, throwing the ball. But I'm not sitting there thinking, alright, here's the time for the 500th. Obviously, more than excited for him to be so close to that and get it. And obviously we want to go out there and get that next week [against Miami at MetLife Stadium]. But that's not a thought in our heads."
The loss against the five-time AFC East champion was emblematic of a disappointing 2024 season all around. After trailing by 12-0 at halftime, the Jets (4-12) yielded 21 points in the third quarter. The Jets were dogged all game by penalties, 16 of which were accepted by the Bills (13-3, and the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs) for 120 yards.
"I'm surprised," Adams said. "Yes, disappointed as well. Unfortunately, the game is already tough enough. So when you make it harder by adding self-inflicted wounds pre-snap ... let it be you got out manned or got just beat if that happened. But you can't catch yourself in full pre-snap penalties, especially as a competitor."
In the game, Adams made 5 catches for 47 yards (9.4 a catch), with a long reception of 22 yards from Rodgers. The relationship has been strong, on and off the field for the past two decades.
"Been one of the best quarterbacks who's ever played this game," Adams said of Rodgers. "No matter what happens from this moment on, you can't take that away from him. Being 40 years old and playing this game is not easy to do, but he's fought through. He still did a hell of a job, statistically trying to bounce back [from a torn Achilles tendon]. He's done a good job."
Adams offered his teammates a message heading to the Week 18 game against the Dolphins.
"Never apologize for doing your best, working your hardest," he said. "You're not going to go out there against Miami and say, well, it's all done, and we got trips planned and all this stuff. So it's not a good feeling for me. I've gotten used to winning in my career, for the most part of it. I'm still gonna be determined to do it, getting out there and putting the best stuff on tape. I hope everybody else follows."
