Aaron Rodgers did it once more.
The New York Jets quarterback threw a 52-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass to Allen Lazard just as the first half ended in a 23-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Monday night.
With the Jets down 20-10 and starting at their 48-yard line, Rodgers took a few steps back, moved around a bit, and then launched the ball toward the end zone. Lazard jumped up, reaching in front of two Bills defenders, and landed on his back in the end zone.
“I saw the ball calling my name,” Lazard said.
After a quick discussion among the officials, they ruled it a touchdown, surprising the Bills and exciting Jets fans. Rodgers raised both arms to signal the touchdown, and running back Breece Hall hugged him.
This was the fourth Hail Mary that Rodgers has completed in his career, with the first three happening while he played for Green Bay.
“They decided to rush two guys, so I had all day to do it,” Rodgers said. “I actually threw it right where I wanted it. I was trying to throw it right between the hashes. The wind was a little swirly tonight. There was a lot of jostling, and then I saw Allen come down with it.”
The ball traveled 61.4 yards in the air, marking the longest completion by a Jets quarterback since Next Gen Stats started keeping track in 2016.
“We’re fortunate that we have the best Hail Mary thrower in the history of this game,” said Jets interim coach Jeff Ulbrich. “He made somebody pay again.”
The Hail Mary even got Jets Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath excited on social media.
“What a play!” Namath wrote on X. “Talk about making the team and fans feel better about going into the half.”
Rodgers’ talent for Hail Mary throws is something that Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes admires.
“Why is Aaron so good at that?” Mahomes wrote on X with three laughing emojis.
Rodgers completed 23 of 35 passes for 294 yards and two touchdowns but threw an interception on the Jets’ last drive for the second straight game.
“Yeah, it’s frustrating,” he said. “I’m here to win those games. But we’ve got to be on our details. It’s little things every single time.”
