Jets Outlast Titans Despite Inconsistent Play From Aaron Rodgers-Led Passing Game

There was a flash in the third quarter.

The New York Jets saw at a glance why they paid such a high price to trade Aaron Rodgers, why their expectations were so high last season before he tore his Achilles tendon, and why the simple addition of Rodgers in place of predecessor Zach Wilson this year was a game-changing change that ignited a spark.

Rodgers dropped back, ignoring the pocket collapsing around him. He treated running back Breece Hall like the receiver he was impersonating, and Hall made a contested end-zone grab for a 26-yard touchdown.

The Jets took their first lead of the game with 12:13 left in the third quarter.

But control over the game was precarious.

The Jets went on to defeat the Tennessee Titans 24-17 to improve their record to .500 ahead of Thursday night’s divisional game against the New England Patriots.

They did this despite a stuttering passing game and especially despite a stuttering passing game in the background.

Rodgers completed just three passes of more than nine air yards on an 18-of-30 day in which he threw for 176 yards and two touchdowns. But a strong performance from the Jets’ running back duo, coupled with a boom-and-bust day from Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis, gave the Jets the edge.

Hall, who played well last season after suffering a torn ACL, was the driving force behind the Jets with 114 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown catch through the air.

The Jets also showed unexpected confidence in fourth-round rookie running back Braelon Allen, who scored first on a 12-yard touchdown after Rodgers threw the ball to him behind the line of scrimmage. Allen later scored the go-ahead, 20-yard touchdown by tearing through defenders on the ground.

Tennessee blew a lead for the second straight week, and Levis also committed a costly turnover for the second straight game. After throwing a pick-6 to the Chicago Bears in the opener, Levis fumbled trying to save a sack and threw an interception on his next snap when Jets cornerback Brandin Echols wrestled a deep pass out of Titans receiver Treylon Burks.

Tennessee’s best moment of the game came when Calvin Ridley hauled in a 40-yard bomb from Levis between Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner and safety Chuck Clark.

Tennessee eventually had one more chance to pull away in the final 17 seconds of the game, but an out-of-bounds pass, sack and drop pass from Tyler Boyd completed Tennessee’s final drive.

The Jets defense looked better than it did against the 49ers in Week 1, but also lost linebacker C.J. Mosley and edge rusher Jermaine Johnson to injuries. Johnson was quickly sidelined with an Achilles injury.

Levis completed 19 of 28 passes for 129 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He rushed four times for 38 yards and fumbled once.

Titans running back Tony Pollard added 40 receiving yards to his 62 rushing yards, while Ridley caught four of six targets for 77 yards and the touchdown.