Aaron Rodgers and Robert Saleh laugh about denied hug at the Jets

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – The New England Patriots had a hard time controlling New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers. And so did his coach.

In perhaps his best performance in years, Rodgers threw for 281 yards and two touchdowns, making several off-platform plays while moving and outside the pocket, in a 24-3 win Thursday night at MetLife Stadium.

And yet the game’s viral moment was Rodgers’ awkward encounter with coach Robert Saleh as the Jets took a 14-0 lead in the second quarter on Breece Hall’s 1-yard touchdown run.

As Rodgers returned to the sideline, he clapped Saleh’s hand, who then hugged him. Rodgers was not in the mood for a hug. He gave Saleh a gentle shove and glared at him as he walked away. The quarterback’s body language seemed to say, “It’s too early to be celebrating like this.”

Afterwards, both men tried to downplay the matter.

“He’s not usually a big hugger, so I didn’t know he was going for the hug,” Rodgers said, smiling. “He also likes to do the chest bump with both hands. He talks a lot about being two points ahead. So I gave him a bump and said, ‘Two points ahead.'”

Saleh said they talked before the game about the importance of giving the defense a two-point lead. When that happened, Saleh apparently wanted a brotherly hug with his franchise quarterback, who apparently had other plans.

They laughed about it, which is easier after a win – the second in a row for the Jets (2-1), who dominated from the start and in which Rodgers dismantled New England’s defense.

“That was kind of the first step to playing the way I can,” Rodgers said. “I felt like myself from five years ago.”

Rodgers (27 of 35) became the fourth quarterback in NFL history to complete 75 percent of his passes for at least 250 yards while age 40 or older, joining Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Brett Favre.

What made this performance so special was the way he moved to escape the pressure. After two mediocre performances in terms of agility, the 40-year-old Rodgers looked quicker when escaping the pressure.

On throws outside the pocket, he completed 6 of 6 for 88 yards – his most successful passes outside the pocket without an incomplete pass in the last 15 years, according to ESPN Research. Rodgers, who didn’t handle the pressure well in the first two games, beat the Patriots (1-2) with his quick throw and ability to evade rushers.

“The cool thing was he showed the agility we saw in training camp,” Saleh said. “His legs may not be what they once were, but his arm is still 30 and his mind is still working at a high level.”

It was an emotional night for Rodgers, who returned in Week 1 to the spot where he suffered a season-ending Achilles injury last season. This time, he stayed the entire game, with the crowd chanting his name in the third quarter.

He threw a touchdown pass to give the Jets a 7-0 lead. Wide receiver Allen Lazard then ran to Rodgers and gave him the ball. Lazard, who played with Rodgers on the Green Bay Packers, wanted him to get the ball because he knew it was a special night.

“I’m so happy for him,” Lazard said. “For him to make it here at 40 years old, without an Achilles injury and playing three games in 10 days, I’m very proud of everyone, especially him. It was just a special moment for us.”

Rodgers led touchdown drives of 73, 91 and 66 yards, handing the ball to eight different receivers. They put the game out of reach and made it 21-3 with a 2-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Garrett Wilson with 6:18 left in the third quarter.

Rodgers had missed a shot on the previous play, so he wanted to give Wilson another shot near the goal line. Rodgers said he committed a quarterback’s “mortal sin” by making a deliberate decision and forcing a shot on Wilson.

“He said something when he came back to the squad, something like, ‘Throw me the ball again,’ which is great,” Rodgers said. “So I said OK.”

On a run-pass option, Rodgers fired a laser that reached Wilson a split second before cornerback Christian Gonzalez. It was Wilson’s first touchdown of the season, ending an eight-game touchdown drought.

“I have a difficult relationship with the end zone right now,” Wilson said. “So it was definitely a good feeling to be on good terms with the end zone.”