Aaron Rodgers actually has a knack for these types of heroics.
With eight seconds remaining within the first half, Rodgers took a snap from the Jets’ 48-yard line and towards a two-man rush from the Buffalo Payments and uncorked a high-arcing deep go towards the top zone.
And regardless of the three Gang Inexperienced receivers ready for the ball to descend being outnumbered by 5 in Buffalo blue, it was Jets broad receiver Allen Lazard whose outstretched arms got here down with the soccer for an unbelievable 52-yard rating.
The ball was ripped out of Lazard’s palms after his again was firmly planted ultimately zone and the again decide dominated the play incomplete. However one official threw his arms up, and upon dialogue, the play was dominated a landing on the sector and shortly confirmed.
“They determined to hurry two guys, so we had all day to do it,” the 40-year-old quarterback mentioned after the sport, including that he “really threw it slightly bit proper of the place I wished it, I used to be making an attempt to throw it between the hashes. The wind was slightly swirly tonight.
“There was a number of jostling after which I noticed Allen come down with it. It is a fairly good feeling.”
With the additional level, the Jets entered the half down 20-17, however would go on to lose, 23-20.
The ball traveled 61.4 yards within the air, which is the longest for completion by a Jets’ quarterback within the NextGen Stats period (starting in 2016). On the play, Lazard had 0.6 yards of separation and a completion likelihood of 15.5 p.c, per NFL NextGen.
“Noticed the ball calling my identify,” Lazard mentioned. “We observe that no less than as soon as every week and being with Aaron, that is six years of doing that, had a fairly good anticipation of the place the balls gonna be and the whole lot. Very lucky to have the ability to come down with it.”
Rodgers solely acquired the chance to go for the lengthy throw due to some astute timeouts utilized by interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich on the Payments’ earlier possession.
With Buffalo driving contained in the purple zone, Ulbrich known as the Jets’ first timeout after a four-yard run with 39 seconds remaining. After sacking Josh Allen on the subsequent play, Ulbrich burned the second timeout with 27 seconds left.
On the time, it appeared wishful pondering to attempt to rating with one timeout and 21 seconds remaining after the Payments punched it in on third down.
After a touchback put the ball on the 30, the Jets hit Tyler Conklin for a four-yard achieve and Garrett Wilson for 14 yards over the center earlier than burning their remaining timeout with eight seconds to play within the half.
A chance by the interim head coach to make use of timeouts paid off to the tune of an enormous landing to finish the half and trim a two-score deficit to only three factors.
That is Rodgers’ fourth profitable Hail Mary of his profession, and first with the Jets.
With the Packers, Rodgers discovered Richard Rodgers to beat the Lions with a 61-yard heave on the ultimate play of the sport in Week 13 of the 2015 season. Within the wild-card spherical that yr, he linked on a 41-yard throw to Jeff Janis sending a sport towards the Cardinals to extra time.
After which the subsequent season, Rodgers hit Randall Cobb for a 42-yard rating on the finish of the half towards the Giants within the wild-card spherical.