The beating that the Buffalo Bills 40-14 to the New York Jets left a negative memory for legendary quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who not only had one of the worst games of his career, but also had an unnecessary roughness penalty that could have consequences.
While facing one of the teams that are candidates to win the Super Bowl was a major challenge for the Jets, Aaron Rodgers took to the field at Higmark Stadium with the mission of becoming the fifth quarterback in NFL history to throw 500 touchdown passes in the regular season, but ended up with a loss that could be among the worst in his 20-year career
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Rodgers suffered four sacks, including a safety, which took his career total to 568 and surpassed Tom Brady‘s 565 for first place on the NFL list. He also threw two interceptions and in the third quarter was penalized for unnecessary roughness while attempting to chase down Christian Benford.
Aaron Rodgers’ first unnecessary roughness penalty
Rodgers was penalized 15 yards for shoving Bills cornerback Christian Benford out of bounds at the end of a 24-yard return, and at the end of the game reflected on this action and the Jets’ 12th loss.
“I don’t think I hit or pushed him very hard,” Rodgers said, who had never been penalized for unnecessary roughness.
The late hit could cost Rodgers a fine that would be announced next Saturday. The NFL sets a fine of $11,255 for first-time offenders. The quarterback’s previous career penalties were for off-field issues, one for $14,650 for violating protocols for unvaccinated players in 2022, the other with the Jets for an unexcused absence from a mandatory minicamp for going on a trip to Egypt, and he had to pay $50,000.
Rodgers finished 12 of 18 for 112 yards, the fewest yards he has had in a game with multiple interceptions in his career, to make matters worse, he was stuck on 499 regular-season touchdown passes, but could still reach 500 in Week 18 against the Miami Dolphins.
“It’s kind of like the season,” Rodgers said. “We let too many games slip away from us. This game slipped away from us. We were moving the ball well and then we hit a wall. And that’s the way the season has been,” Rodgers said, before adding about his plans: “I’m going to enjoy next week and then I’m going to take a mental and physical break.”