The Jets’ disappointing 2024 season mercifully ended after Sunday’s game against the Dolphins.
However, Gang Green defeated its division rival in Jeff Ulbrich’s final game as interim coach.
After forcing four turnovers defensively and four Aaron Rodgers touchdown passes, the Jets (5-12) defeated the Dolphins (8-9) 32-20 on a cold, blustery night at MetLife Stadium.
Safety Ashtyn Davis registered two interceptions, including one that prevented the Dolphins from scoring a late-second-quarter touchdown. The Jets’ defense also forced two fumbles, one in each half. Entering Sunday’s game, the Jets had 13 takeaways the entire season.
In what could be his final game in a Jets uniform, Rodgers completed 23-of-36 passes for 274 yards, four touchdowns, and an interception. He was the first Jet to throw four touchdown passes in a game since Joe Flacco in 2022 against the Browns.
Davante Adams finished with six catches for 88 yards and a touchdown. He also registered 1,000 receiving yards for the fifth consecutive season and the sixth time in his career.
Garrett Wilson caught four passes for 51 yards and became the second Jets to register over 100 catches in a season, joining Brandon Marshall (2015).
In place of Tua Tagovailoa (hip), Tyler Huntley finished 25-of-41 for 227 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions.
Gang Green could not have started the game any worse. Rodgers’ first pass was an interception. In addition, the Jets ran a trick play that resulted in an incomplete pass, and Breece Hall dropped a pass on a third-and-11, which would have netted them a first down.
However, after three consecutive punts, Rodgers registered his 500th career touchdown pass after completing a five-yard pass to Tyler Conklin during the second quarter. Rodgers, 41, is the fifth player in NFL history to register 500 touchdown passes, joining Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, and Brett Favre. He also threw his 25th touchdown pass of the season, the 14th time in his career achieved the mark.
There’s been a lot of speculation on Rodgers’ future this week, with the season coming to a close. Gang Green will have a new coach and general manager after owner Woody Johnson fired both Robert Saleh and Joe Douglas during the season.
Last week, Rodgers told reporters that he would take time after the season to determine whether he would want to return for the 2025 season or retire. This isn’t the first time Rodgers has contemplated retirement. He did the same thing two years ago before Rodgers decided he wanted to continue playing and was later traded to the Jets.
However, Rodgers joked that he will not do any darkness retreats during the offseason. After this season, Rodgers has zero guaranteed money remaining on his contract. If they release him, the Jets would have a $49 million salary cap hit for 2025.
The Dolphins received the ball to begin the game but quickly went three and out. Following the punt, Rodgers preceded to throw an interception on his first pass after the ball bounced off Adams’ hands and into linebacker Tyrel Dodson’s at the Jets’ 15-yard line.
Miami quickly got off to a 3-0 advantage after Jason Sanders’ 26-yard field goal. Sanders later added another field goal, this time 28 from yards out, which gave them a 6-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Halfway through the second quarter, the Jets finally got on the board after Rodgers threw his 500th touchdown pass of his career to Conklin, which put them up 7-6. Rodgers also registered his 501th career touchdown pass to Allen Lazard. Hall’s two-point conversion was successful, putting the Jets up 15-6.
With 6:38 remaining in the third quarter, Greg Joseph added a 20-yard field goal, which increased the Jets lead to 18-6. Joseph was signed to the 53-man roster last week after the Jets placed Greg Zuerlein on injured reserve and waived Anders Carlson. Joesph is the Jets’ fifth kicker the team has used this season (Zuerlein, Carlson, Riley Patterson, and Spencer Shrader).
Miami finally scored its first touchdown early in the fourth quarter. On a direct snap out of the shotgun, Dolphins running back De’Veon Achane ran for a 15-yard touchdown that trimmed the Jets lead to 18-13 with 14:12 remaining.
But the Jets responded by finding the end zone themselves. Rodgers’ 43-yard pass to Lazard helped set up his four-yard touchdown pass to Adams, which raised the Jets lead to 25-13. Miami kept fighting and Huntley led the team to a 12-play, 70-yard drive that was capped off by a Jonnu Smith four-yard touchdown reception that made the score 25-20 with 5:24 remaining.
The Jets put the game on ice after Rodgers’ fourth touchdown pass to Hall, which put them up 32-20 with 2:30 remaining.
The Jets and Dolphins’ seasons ended following Sunday’s game. Miami was eliminated from playoff contention after the Broncos defeated the Chiefs and clinched the seventh and final AFC playoff spot.
