Aaron Rodgers' fourth career Hail Mary touchdown pass, a 52-yarder to Allen Lazard, gave the New York Jets a narrow 20-17 halftime lead over the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football.
Aaron Rodgers' reputation as a master of the Hail Mary touchdown pass reached new heights on Monday Night Football, as he connected with Allen Lazard for a breathtaking 52-yard score right before halftime against the Buffalo Bills. With only 14 seconds remaining on the clock, Rodgers guided the Jets to their own 48-yard line with a pass to Garrett Wilson.
On the ensuing snap, Rodgers unleashed a deep throw into a crowd of receivers in the end zone. Lazard soared above the Bills' defenders and hauled in the miraculous catch for the touchdown. It marked Rodgers' fourth career Hail Mary touchdown, including those in the playoffs.
Rodgers' Miraculous Hail Mary Stuns Bills Before Halftime
The play sent shockwaves through the NFL world and drew praise from experts and fans alike. Bills head coach Sean McDermott acknowledged the need to bat down the ball on that crucial play.
The touchdown gave the Jets a narrow 20-17 lead heading into halftime. Rodgers had a stellar first half, completing 13-of-17 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns. His first touchdown pass went to Wilson in the first quarter, with Wilson showcasing his agility with a nifty toe tap catch.
Rodgers' Miraculous Hail Mary Stuns Bills Before Halftime
On the other side of the field, Josh Allen led the Bills to scores on three of their first four drives. Allen opened the scoring with a 1-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter. He then found Mack Hollins for an 8-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter. Dawson Knox's touchdown reception gave the Bills a 14-10 advantage before Rodgers' Hail Mary heroics.
At halftime, Allen had completed 10-of-12 passes for 112 yards. The Bills' defense, however, struggled to contain Rodgers and the Jets' offense, allowing them to rack up 242 total yards in the first half.
Rodgers' Miraculous Hail Mary Stuns Bills Before Halftime
As the second half commenced, the Bills regained the lead with a 38-yard field goal by Tyler Bass. However, the Jets responded with a field goal of their own, keeping the score close at 23-20.
The tense battle continued throughout the third quarter, with both teams trading defensive stops and drives that stalled in the red zone. As the clock ticked down in the third, the Jets managed to drive the ball into Bills territory but were forced to settle for another field goal, increasing their lead to 26-20.
In the fourth quarter, the Bills mounted a comeback attempt, driving down the field and scoring a touchdown on a 1-yard run by Allen. However, they missed the extra point, leaving the Jets with a slim 26-25 lead.
With less than two minutes remaining, the Jets faced a crucial fourth-and-1 situation from their own 26-yard line. Rodgers handed the ball off to running back Michael Carter, who was stopped just short of the first down. The Bills took over with 1:43 left on the clock.
Allen led the Bills on a desperate drive, but they were unable to gain enough yards to set up a game-winning field goal. The Jets held on for the 26-25 victory, handing the Bills their first loss of the season.
After the game, Rodgers expressed his admiration for the Bills and their fans. "It was an incredible game," he said. "The Bills are a great team, and their crowd was amazing. We knew we had to come out here and play our hearts out, and we did."
The Jets will now face the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 7, while the Bills will try to bounce back against the Kansas City Chiefs.
