It looked as if Aaron Rodgers would potentially end his Jets tenure on an extremely underwhelming note — having one of the worst performances of his career and benching himself down 40-0 early in the fourth quarter against the Bills in Week 17.
Rodgers and Co. could have easily mailed it in after a lost season in which they met nowhere near their expectations of making a deep postseason run and a chance at a Lombardi Trophy.
Instead, Rodgers bounced back in a massive way and made NFL history along the way — becoming the fifth quarterback in NFL history to throw 500 passing touchdowns — recording his first four-touchdown performance in a Jets uniform in a 32-20 victory over the Dolphins in the Week 18 finale at MetLife Stadium on Sunday evening.
It was Rodgers’ 34th game with four or more passing touchdowns, good for fourth-most in NFL history, as he finishes the season with 503 passing touchdowns.
It’s been clear for weeks that the Jets’ season was over, and they were eliminated from playoff contention nearly a month ago.
Still, outside of the lopsided loss in Buffalo last weekend, the Jets played until the end and were competitive in their last six games, with their finale being one of their best showings yet and arguably their most complete game of the entire season.
The other big takeaway on Sunday in the Meadowlands was the Jets defense — which recorded four takeaways on four consecutive drives to end the first half and start the second half.
With the 2024 season officially in the books, the questions that loom large are now front and center:
Will Rodgers and Davante Adams be back? Who will be the next head coach and general manager? Will there be a roster overhaul with a new regime?
These are just some of the pressing questions that will be answered over the weeks and months leading up to the offseason, free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft in late April.
For now, enjoy what could be not only Rodgers’ final game as a Jet, but potentially a curtain call in his two-decade career that will end in Canton, Ohio, not long after he decides to hang up the cleats.
Here were our live updates and analysis from the Jets vs. Dolphins Week 18 regular season finale from MetLife Stadium:
Jets 25, Dolphins 13: 10:24 remaining in fourth quarter
After the Dolphins scored their first touchdown of the day to make it a five-point game, the Jets responded right away as QB Aaron Rodgers throws his third touchdown of the day — this time finding his best friend in WR Davante Adams.
While the 41-year-old signal caller easily could have run it in for a TD, he instead decided to fire it to Adams in the back of the end zone.
Jets 18, Dolphins 6: 6:35 left in third quarter
The Jets extend their lead as new placekicker Greg Joseph adds his first field goal of the day with a chip shot from 20 yards out to give Gang Green a 12-point lead past the halfway point in the third quarter.
Jets 15, Dolphins 6: 59 seconds remaining in first half
Aaron Rodgers throws his 501st career touchdown pass as he scrambles and finds former Packers teammate Allen Lazard for a 13-yard score. Gang Green makes it a two-score game when Breece Hall converts on the two-point conversion.
The Jets were set up with great field position after breakout star Will McDonald IV strip-sacked Dolphins QB Tyler Huntley and DE Quinnen Williams recovers the ball at the Dolphins’ 39-yard line.
Jets 7, Dolphins 6: 7:57 left in second quarter
The Jets’ first touchdown is a historic one as QB Aaron Rodgers throws his 500th career touchdown, connecting with a wide-open Tyler Conklin for a 5-yard TD to give Gang Green their first lead since they were up 9-6 heading into halftime versus the Rams in Week 16.
Dolphins 6, Jets 0: start of 2nd quarter
The Dolphins add another chip shot field goal as time expired to take a six-point lead going into the second quarter.
The drive was set up when RB De’Von Achane took a carry up the middle for 61 yards all the way to the three-yard line.
After the big play, the Jets’ defense did its job, keeping Miami from getting the first touchdown of this game.
Dolphins 3, Jets 0: 11:46 remaining in first quarter
After the Aaron Rodgers interception, the Dolphins get on the board first with a 26-yard chip shot from placekicker Jason Sanders to give Miami the early lead.
Aaron Rodgers’ first throw = intercepted
After forcing a quick three and out from the Dolphins, Rodgers’ first attempt is deflected and intercepted, giving Miami great field position with this game just getting underway.
NY Jets vs. Dolphins inactives
DOLPHINS
- QB Tua Tagovailoa
- LB Anthony Walker Jr.
- LB Mohamed Kamara
- OL Andrew Meyer
- OL Braeden Daniels
- WR Dee Eskridge
- WR Erik Ezukanma
JETS
- CB Michael Carter II
- DE Braiden McGregor
- DL Phidarian Mathis
- CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse
- S Jaylin Simpson
- LB Jamin Davis
- OL Morgan Moses
NY Jets vs Dolphins final injury report
- NY Jets: Out: CB Sauce Gardner (hamstring). Doubtful: DT Leki Fotu (knee). Questionable: TE Tyler Conklin (calf), OL Morgan Moses (knee), OL Alijah Vera-Tucker (ankle) and DL Quinnen Williams (hamstring). Will play: WR Malachi Corley (elbow), DL Haason Reddick (neck), LB Chazz Surratt (ankle) and OL John Simpson (groin).
- Dolphins: Out: LB Anthony Walker (knee) Jr. Doubtful: QB Tua Tagovailoa Questionable: S Jevon Holland (wrist), WR Tyreek Hill (wrist), DL Calais Campbell (neck), OL Terron Armstead (knee), WR Dee Eskridge (knee) and WR Jaylen Waddle (knee) Will play: S Jordan Poyer (knee), LB Duke Riley (foot) and P Jake Bailey (back).
NY Jets vs Dolphins time today
- Date: Sunday, Jan. 5
- Time: 4:25 p.m.
- Location: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey.
What channel is Jets vs Dolphins on today?
TV: Fox
The Jets vs. Dolphins game will be televised on Fox in Week 18 of the 2024 NFL season. Joe Davis and Greg Olsen will call the game from the booth, with Pam Oliver reporting from the sidelines.
Watch Jets vs Dolphins live on FuboNY Jets vs Dolphins history
- Series record: Dolphins lead, 61-56-1
- Jets’ last win: Oct. 9, 2022 (40-17)
- Dolphins’ last win: Dec. 8, 2024 (32-26 OT win)
Jets vs Dolphins prediction
Dolphins 21, Jets 14: The big news here is that the Dolphins’ starting QB will be Tyler Huntley with Tua Tagovailoa missing a second consecutive game with a hip injury. Despite it being Huntley over Tagovailoa in a must-win game, Miami can still do enough here to take care of business and root for the Broncos to beat the Chiefs, who are likely to rest a majority of their starters with the No. 1 seed locked up in the AFC.
In the end, Rodgers throws his 500th touchdown to his long time running mate WR Davante Adams in what will ultimately be his final TD in a Jets’ uniform as Gang Green loses 12 of its final 14 games after a 2-2 start.
NY Jets vs Dolphins odds
Odds: Dolphins by 1 point
Over/Under: 39 points
Moneyline: Dolphins (-120), Jets (+100)
Odds according to BetMGM as of Jan. 5.
NY Jets vs Dolphins weather update
Mostly sunny with a high around 36 degrees. Winds swirling around 10-15 mph with gusts reaching 24 mph, according to the National Weather Service.
Buy Jets football tickets this season on Stubhub
Jets schedule 2024
- Sept. 9: at San Francisco (32-19 loss)
- Sept. 15: at Tennessee (24-17 win)
- Sept. 19: New England (24-3 win)
- Sept. 29: Denver (10-9 loss)
- Oct. 6: Minnesota (London) (23-17 loss)
- Oct. 14: Buffalo (23-20 loss)
- Oct. 20: at Pittsburgh (37-15 loss)
- Oct. 27: at New England (25-22 loss)
- Oct. 31: Houston (21-13 win)
- Nov. 10: at Arizona (31-6 loss)
- Nov. 17: Indianapolis (28-27 loss)
- Bye
- Dec. 1: Seattle (26-21 loss)
- Dec. 8: at Miami (32-26 overtime loss)
- Dec. 15: at Jacksonville (32-25 win)
- Dec. 22: Los Angeles (N) (19-9 loss)
- Dec. 29: at Buffalo (40-14 loss)
- Jan. 5: Miami
- Record: 4-12
Dolphins schedule 2024
- Sept. 8: Jacksonville (20-17 win)
- Sept. 12: Buffalo (31-10 loss)
- Sept. 22: at Seattle (24-3 loss)
- Sept. 30: Tennessee (31-12 loss)
- Oct. 6: at New England (15-10 win)
- Bye
- Oct. 20: at Indianapolis (16-10 loss)
- Oct: 27: Arizona (28-27 loss)
- Nov. 11: at Los Angeles (N) (23-15 win)
- Nov. 17: Las Vegas (34-19 win)
- Nov. 24: New England (34-15 win)
- Nov. 28: at Green Bay (30-17 loss)
- Dec. 8: New York (A) (32-26 OT win)
- Dec. 15: at Houston (20-12 loss)
- Dec. 22: San Francisco (29-17 win)
- Dec. 29: at Cleveland (20-3 win)
- Jan. 5: at New York (A)
- Record: 8-8
BetMGM is the premier destination for sportsbook odds throughout the year.
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