JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Juan Ponce de Leon legendarily traveled to Florida in 1513 in search of the Fountain of Youth.
In the second half of the Jets game Sunday, Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams seemed to find it.
Rodgers, who turned 41 two weeks ago, and Adams, who turns 32 on Christmas Eve, looked young again.
The two old Packers turned back the clock and connected for two touchdowns and 198 yards in the second half to lift the Jets to a 32-25 victory over the Jaguars at EverBank Stadium.
“Today was one of those days in the second half,” Adams said. “It definitely felt very similar to the way we used to get it rolling.”
The Jets finally found a way to win a game in the fourth quarter.
They had blown five games this season when they had fourth-quarter leads, including the last three losses.
They snapped a four-game losing streak with the win that moved them to 4-10 this season.
The Jets have been waiting to see the connection between Rodgers and Adams really click since trading for Adams in mid-October.
Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers looks to throw against the Jaguars on Dec. 15, 2024. Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn ImagesIn the first half Sunday, Adams had zero catches and one bad drop.
Then, the two recaptured their glory days.
Adams had 135 yards in the final four minutes of the game — the most in that span of time this century, according to ESPN.
Adams had three huge catches down the stretch with the game hanging in the balance.
The first one came after the Jets fell behind 22-17 in the fourth quarter.
The Jets got the ball back at their own 13 with 4:19 left.
After coming up small in this situation so many times this season, Rodgers hit Adams on a deep ball in the middle of the field for a 71-yard touchdown.
He then caught the two-point conversion and the Jets took a 25-22 lead.
The Jaguars tied the game 25-25 on a 43-yard field goal from Cam Little with 1:51 left.
After two incompletions, the Jets faced third-and-10 and Adams made an insane 23-yard catch on the sideline that moved the ball to the Jaguars 47, leaning out to catch the ball and somehow keeping his feet in.
Jets wide receiver Davante Adams (17) catches a touchdown against the Jaguars on Dec. 15, 2024. Getty Images“He made a ridiculous catch,” Rodgers said. “It was so good that it wasn’t even a question like, ‘Oh, they might review that.’ It was like, ‘No, no, he caught it. We’re good.’ ”
Three plays later, Rodgers threw to a wide-open Adams along the sideline on third down and Adams raced 41 yards to the 1-yard line.
The Jets could have run the clock down and forced the Jaguars to use their final two timeouts but they decided to score.
Breece Hall plunged in from the 1 and the Jets had a 32-25 lead.
The defense then came up with the stop that has eluded them in the last three games, and Sauce Gardner ended the game with an interception of Mac Jones.
“It’s about being able to execute at the right moments,” Adams said “We did that today. In the past, whether it was offense, defense or special teams, whatever, somebody didn’t.”
While they were already eliminated from playoff contention last week, you could tell this was not a meaningless game for the Jets, who could be heard whooping it up on the other side of the door as interim coach Jeff Ulbrich did his postgame press conference.
The Jets did this damage against the worst statistical defense in football, so that has to be taken into account.
But the second half still provided a glimpse of what everyone thought the Jets offense could do, particularly after acquiring Adams from Las Vegas.
“It’s too little, too late,” Rodgers said. “It’s still special. It doesn’t taint it all. It doesn’t steal any of the joy of it.”
Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) and wide receiver Davante Adams (17) talk on the field on Dec. 15, 2024. Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn ImagesThe Jets played a sloppy first half and trailed 13-7 at halftime.
The offense had just 104 yards on three possessions.
The defense gave up six third downs and Jones carved them up, but only managed one touchdown in the first half.
Adams was held without a catch and had a bad drop that stalled a drive in the second quarter.
Rodgers then did not throw to Adams, who was open on the next play.
“He came back and said, ‘What, you don’t trust me no more?’ with a wry smile,” Rodgers said. “I was using that line against him in the second half a bunch of times.”
Rodgers finished the game 16 of 30 for 289 yards with three touchdowns and led the team in rushing with 45 yards.
The Jets managed a field goal on their first drive of the second half and then took the lead on Adams’ first touchdown of the game with 4:33 to go in the third quarter.
It was the 100th touchdown of Adams’ career.
It was a sign of what was to come in the fourth quarter.
“Aaron gave me one of those looks that said, ‘We’re going to need you this half,’ ” Adams said. “Came out and was able to make some plays. I’m sure you guys could understand. You get in a groove sometimes and it’s like your hand is a magnet to the ball.”






