Two of the NFL's heartbreak teams were destined to play a close game Sunday in Jacksonville and the Jets and the Jaguars delivered. Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams showed once again why they are one of the best connections in league history, connecting 9 times for 198 yards and 2 TDs – all in the second half – in a 32-25 win. The Jets broke a four-game losing streak and moved to 4-10 while the Jags dropped to 3-11.
"It means everything," said interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich. "Regardless of circumstance, regardless of what is maybe said in the outside world, this locker room is right. And the culture and the connection of these guys is right. I know the results have not been there, but the process has been right and that's maybe the most frustrating thing about this whole circumstance. But for them to come through and have the game they had today is so deserving and I'm so happy for that locker room."
On a third-and-10 play with 1:41 remining in a 25-25 contest, Rodgers went back shoulder to Adams for a 23-yarder that moved New York past midfield. Following that dramatic reception, the Jets got Adams scott-free along the visiting sideline and the result was a 41-yard catch-and run to the Jacksonville 1. Breece Hall punched it against little resistance for the game-winning score with 1:05 remaining.
"The safety just stayed inside," Rodgers said of the 23-yard completion to Adams. "When I let it go, I felt like it was a little too far outside and not down the field. But he made a ridiculous catch."
Sauce Gardner's first INT of the season off Mac Jones came with 44 seconds remaining, sealing the victory. Following up on his 339-yard effort against the Dolphins, Rodgers hit on 16 of 30 for 289 yards with 3 TDs. The Jets totaled 400-plus yards of offense for a second consecutive week and finished plus-2 in turnover margin.
"It was just great for the game to on the line and Mac Jones to throw the ball at me," Gardner said. "It was great just to be able to close the game, it's truly a blessing. I've been waiting for a pick for a minute."
Jones's second TD to rookie Brian Thomas, Jr. – from 19 yards out – gave Jacksonville a 22-17 lead. On the ensuing Jets' possession, Rodgers threw a third-down dime to Allen Lazard that the veteran receiver couldn't hang onto with S Andrew Cisco making a perfectly timed pass defense. Then Jeff Ulbrich elected to send out field goal team, but Anders Carlson misfired right from 48 yards out.
But the defense held, and Rodgers got the ball back at the NYJ 13 with 4:19 remaining. He promptly put the Jets right back on top, connecting on a 71-yard score to Adams. That gave the Jets a 25-22 advantage with a successful 2-point conversion, also to Adams. Cam Little's fourth FG – a 43-yarder – knotted things once again at 25.
"Once I saw the safeties get real width like that, it was just a foot race," Adams said of his second TD. "I looked back and saw the ball in the air and was like, 'wow, this is really about to be a 70-yard touchdown. And lo and behold, we got it."
Rodgers was not going to let a replay reversal prevent Adams from recording his 100th career TD. Adams, whose 43-yard catch-and-run set the Jets up at the JAX 8, was ruled out at the 1 as his 4-yard TD came off the board. But on the next play, Rodgers hit Adams on a beautiful fade for a score as No. 17 celebrated another career milestone. Carlson's extra point gave the Jets their first lead, 17-16, with 4:32 remaining in the third quarter.
"In that situation, I'm never supposed to get the ball," Adams said of this 100th TD. "It's probably four times in his career that he's thrown that and there was no doubt in my mind in that moment that he was coming there. It's just kind of that telepathy I guess you could say, but it was good to be able to get in there. My teammates were gassing me up all week about it, so I think they were probably more excited than I was which obviously is a great thing. It was good to get it."
In his Friday news conference, Ulbrich said he would continue to be aggressive on fourth down. And that aggressive mentality led to a fake punt in the first quarter as Ashtyn Davis took a direct snap from Thomas Hennessy and sprinted for 21 yards while converting a fourth-and-5 in style with a hurdle. Three plays later, the Jets got an early equalize on Rodgers' 22-yard strike to Garrett Wilson.
Wilson's sixth TD was the Jets' first opening drive TD in 15 games and only their second in the last 37 games.
The Jets continued to play complementary ball later in the quarter as Jalen Mills intercepted Jones' long ball at the NYJ 12. In a quickly moving game, the Jaguars took 11:07 off the clock with an 18-play, 77-yard drive that ended with Little's 28-yard field goal. Little knocked one in from 23 yards out to close out a half that saw Jacksonville dominate in time of possession (21:08 to 8:52), yardage (203 to 104) and on third down (6 of 8 to 1 of 4).
Trailing by 13-7 to open the third quarter, Wilson drew a 30-yard DPI on CB Montaric Brown that got the Jets inside the red zone. Carlson's 43-yard boot crawled the visitors closer, making it a 13-10 contest. Little countered with his third field goal – a 43-yarder – only for Rodgers and Adams to answer right back.
The Jets got a late start to Jacksonville due to mechanical issues with their airplane. They met Saturday afternoon, canceled night meetings upon arrival and then rose to the challenge late. It was a win that was a long time coming.
"They're all special – that's why you play," Rodgers said. "You play for the love of the game and to have moments like this with your boys and to be able to come up big."
See all of the best game photos from the Week 15 game in Jacksonville.
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Jalen Mills' first quarter interception was the Jets' first pick in their last nine games over 262 passes. He later exited with a chest injury. … S Ashtyn Davis' 21-yard fake punt conversion was the Jets longest fake since 2017 as Marcus Williams' 31-yard catch from P Lachlan Edwards in 2017 also came against Jacksonville but that came at MetLife Stadium. … Qwan'tez Stiggers, a fifth-round pick from the CFL's Toronto Argonauts, made his first NFL start because D.J. Reed (groin) and Brandin Echols (shoulder) were inactive. … DTs Javon Kinlaw and Solomon Thomas recorded sacks of Mac Jones. … QB Aaron Rodgers led the Jets in rushing, gaining 45 on his 5 attempts. … LB Jamien Sherwood led the Jets with 9 tackles.
