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The Jets' losing streak is over. In the ninth-round opener, the New York Jets defeated the Houston Texans 21-13, thanks to a strong second half from Aaron Rodgers and Garrett Wilson. The first quarter was forgettable, with the Jets' defense pressuring Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, who was sacked twice and had a fumble forced by Quinnen Williams.
After a scoreless first quarter filled with penalties and mistakes, the Texans broke the ice with a 98-yard drive, capped off by Joe Mixon’s touchdown. The Jets' offense faced boos from the crowd after failing to score. At halftime, the Texans led 7-0, with Rodgers throwing for just 32 yards.
However, Rodgers turned things around in the second half, avoiding a sack and connecting with Wilson for a 21-yard touchdown. After another touchdown pass to Wilson, the Jets tied it up, but the Texans regained the lead with a 54-yard field goal.
The Jets faced a setback when Davante Adams was taken off the field for a concussion check. Then, Garrett Wilson made an incredible one-handed catch reminiscent of Odell Beckham Jr.'s famous grab. After a missed field goal, Rodgers threw his third touchdown to Adams, sealing the win. Rodgers finished with 22 completions on 32 attempts for 211 yards and three touchdowns, while Stroud went 11 for 30 for 191 yards.
Aaron Rodgers reflects on the match
In a media interview, Aaron Rodgers emphasized the seriousness of the situation in the second half, recognizing that his team needed to give their all. After such a strong game, the veteran NFL player hopes his team will raise their performance and realize they can compete with anyone. Rodgers is impressed by the mentality of his teammates, especially the offense. He believes this is the standard they need to maintain and that they should approach upcoming games with the same intensity.
"It was kind of season on the line there in the second half," Rodgers said, as quoted by NFL.
"Obviously, we wouldn't have been mathematically eliminated. But mentally, to go to 2-7 would have been real, real tough. Hopefully this gives us confidence so we can beat anybody because we feel we could. The way we played on offense in the second half is the way we've been waiting for this offense to wake up.
That was close to perfection as I needed to be. That's the standard I need to play at. There were a lot of really incredible performances."
Rodgers wasn't happy with the first half, but he expected his team to deliver more in the second half. The popular player was thrilled by Moses' speech, and it was clear that many of his teammates felt positive about the continuation of the game. The unity they showed was evident even at halftime.
"I mean, I was terrible," Rodgers said talking about first half.
"We had a touchdown called ... you know, taken off the board, silly play. But I feel like the energy was good at halftime. We had a chance to cash it in there. Morgan (Moses) gave a little speech, which was good. We all kind of were positive talking. Nobody was isolating at halftime. And we just knew, hey, let's go out and score every possession."
Ulbrich explained that after three weeks filled with challenges and setbacks; some of which they created themselves; he was proud of his team for showing the resilience to bounce back and perform well against a tough opponent.
Garrett Wilson's catch
Garrett Wilson amazed fans with a catch after Aaron Rodgers threw the ball, which many call one of the best moments of the season. His one-handed grab captivated everyone in attendance and could potentially change a lot for the Jets moving forward.
Rodgers stressed that he didn't do much on that play; he simply threw a lob, and Wilson made an incredible catch. He acknowledged that it was a powerful moment, noting that while the first catch was important too, this one was truly game-changing.
In a media interview, Garrett Wilson emphasized that his team wanted to find a way to secure the win, and he was happy about it. Looking back at the replay, he admitted he just wanted to make sure the play counted and was glad he could help his team. Wilson noted that he needed to stay calm, but ultimately, what he wished for came true.
It will be interesting to see what the Jets will do next, and how strong they are to match the strong NFL teams. The fact is that they have many quality players and individuals who can change the course of the match, but they will have to confirm that in the following matches.
English (US)