By Ben Rummage and KOBY FRANZ | Staff Writer, News Ticker, SportingAlert.
East Rutherford, NJ (Sept. 12) — In a dramatic season opener that saw the New York Jets lose their star quarterback Aaron Rodgers to an Achilles tendon injury, the team rallied to defeat the Buffalo Bills 22-16 in overtime at MetLife Stadium on Monday night.
Aaron Rodgers’ Achilles Tendon Woes
Just four snaps into his Jets debut, Aaron Rodgers was sidelined with what is believed to be an injured left Achilles tendon. The 39-year-old quarterback is set to undergo an MRI on Tuesday after X-rays during the game came back negative.
Read more: NFL Week 1 Game Results: Winners and losers
“It caught us off guard,” said cornerback Sauce Gardner. “But we dedicated winning the game to him.”
Defensive Prowess and Turnovers
The Jets’ defense was relentless, forcing four turnovers from Bills’ quarterback Josh Allen. Allen was intercepted three times by Jordan Whitehead in a game that Bills’ coach Sean McDermott described as self-sabotaging.
“When you turn the ball over four times, it’s hard to win in this league,” McDermott said.
The Game-Changing Punt Return
The game was ultimately decided when rookie Xavier Gipson returned a punt 65 yards for a touchdown in overtime. Gipson’s run set off a massive celebration among his teammates and became the third punt return for a touchdown in NFL overtime history.
Bills’ Missed Opportunities
Allen, who was 29 of 41 for 236 yards and a touchdown, tied a career-high with his four turnovers and fell to 0-5 in overtime, including playoff games. “I cost our team tonight,” Allen admitted.
Next Steps
The Jets are expected to start Zach Wilson, who finished 14 of 21 for 140 yards and a touchdown, next Sunday at Dallas. On the other side, the Bills will host the Las Vegas Raiders in their home opener next Sunday.
For more updates, visit AP NFL.
Updated September 12, 2023
