The New York Jets beat the Houston Texans 21-13 on Thursday, ending a five-game losing streak.
After completing only 7 of 14 passes for 32 yards in the first half, Aaron Rodgers had a monster performance in the final two quarters. He finished completing 22 of 32 of his throws for 211 yards and three touchdowns — including his first scoring connection with Davante Adams since the receiver was traded to the Jets.
Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, playing without his top two wide receivers, finished with only 191 yards passing. He was sacked eight times.
It was a defensive struggle for most of the night, with both teams making critical mistakes throughout the game.
In the first half, each team fumbled in the red zone. Stroud was stripped by defensive tackle Quinnen Williams inside the New York 15-yard line while New York receiver Malachi Corley prematurely let go of the football while walking into the end zone.
Houston also missed two field goals, and both teams combined for 17 penalties for 143 yards.
The Texans were the first team to score, putting together a 98-yard touchdown drive in the second quarter. They took a 7-0 lead into halftime before the Jets finally evened the game in the third.
After Houston took a lead with a field goal, New York grabbed the lead via a 26-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers to Garrett Wilson on 3rd-and-19. Wilson made an acrobatic one-handed catch in the back of the end zone that was initially ruled incomplete, but overturned on replay.
After the Texans missed a field goal on the next drive, Rodgers iced the game on the following possession with a 37-yard touchdown throw to Adams.
The Jets are now 3-6 after ending their five-game skid, good enough for second place in the AFC East.
Houston has lost two of its last three after a 5-1 start, but is still in first place in the AFC South.
Aaron Rodgers looks back on rough first half vs. Houston
Final: Jets 21, Texans 13
Houston added a late field goal but couldn’t recover the ensuing onside kick.
The Jets win, ending their five-game losing streak.
Touchdown, Jets!
The Texans sent a blitz on third down, and Aaron Rodgers made them pay by floating a perfect pass to Davante Adams for a 37-yard touchdown. It’s Adams’s first touchdown with the Jets.
New York now leads 21-10 with two minutes and 56 seconds to go.
Texans miss chip shot field goal
This game is reaching dangerous levels of Thursday.
The Texans kicked a 43-yard field goal to tie the game, but the Jets committed a personal foul, instead giving Houston a first down from the 12-yard line.
After picking up only three yards, the Texans kicked a 27-yard field goal this time..but Ka'imi Fairbairn doinked it off the left upright.
What a lucky break for New York, which holds on to its slim 14-10 lead.
Touchdown, Jets!
Garrett Wilson may have just made the catch of the year with a one-handed grab in the back of the end zone. Wilson reached back with his right arm and somehow managed to get his shin to fall in bounds.
Rodgers threw up a prayer to Wilson on 3rd-and-19 and it was answered. The Jets now lead 14-10.
Davante Adams being evaluated for concussion
Jets WR Davante Adams is being evaluated for a concussion after his head hit the turf after a fourth-down catch in the third quarter.
End of third: Texans 10, Jets 7
The third quarter ends after a combined 10 points from the two teams, which is a shootout by tonight’s standards.
The Jets are going to have a 4th-and-1 from the Texans’ 22 when the fourth quarter begins. Will they kick or go for it?
Jets pick up fourth down, but Davante Adams hurt
The Jets converted a 4th-and-2, but Davante Adams was hurt on the play.
He was tackled out of bounds on the Texans’ 31, but needed medical attention after hitting the turf.
Texans go back ahead
C.J. Stroud was sacked on 3rd-and-11 from the Jets’ 25, but Ka'imi Fairbairn was able to hit a 54-yard field goal on the next play to put the Texans back up on top.
It’s a 10-7 Houston with four minutes and 11 seconds left in the third.
Touchdown, Jets!
Aaron Rodgers evades a sack and finds Garrett Wilson for 21-yard touchdown pass. Gutsy throw from Rodgers, who had blitzers in his face.
The pass capped New York’s best drive of the day — 11 plays, 70 yards.
It’s now 7-7.