Aaron Rodgers, known for his remarkable ability to execute Hail Mary passes, showcased this talent once again on Monday night. As the New York Jets faced off against the Buffalo Bills, Rodgers delivered his first Hail Mary as a Jets quarterback just before halftime, marking the fourth of his storied career.
With the Jets trailing 20-10 and only eight seconds left in the half, Rodgers took the snap on his own 48-yard line. After a moment of evading Buffalo’s defense, he launched the ball into the north end zone at MetLife Stadium. Wide receiver Allen Lazard, previously a teammate of Rodgers in Green Bay, successfully jumped above three Buffalo defenders to catch the touchdown pass.
After making the catch, Lazard had the ball knocked loose by a Bills defender as he landed, leaving fans momentarily anxious about whether it was a completed catch. However, officials confirmed that Lazard had secured the ball before it was dislodged, resulting in a touchdown call.
Speaking about the catch, Lazard remarked, “When I saw the ball calling my name.” He explained that such plays are part of their practice routine, and his experience with Rodgers helped him anticipate the throw. “Once it hit my hands, I had a pretty good grasp of the ball, and I knew how to secure it to the ground,” he added.
This touchdown gave the Jets a much-needed boost, allowing them to enter halftime trailing only 20-17.
Before this Hail Mary, Rodgers had completed three others during his career, contributing to two victories. His previous Hail Mary passes include a 63-yard touchdown to Richard Rodgers in 2015, a 41-yard touchdown to Jeff Janis in a 2016 playoff game, and a 42-yard touchdown to Randall Cobb in another playoff game in 2017.
Lazard shared insights on what makes Rodgers special when it comes to making these impressive throws: “It’s just the arc of the ball. It’s hard for me to track and that’s what I do for my career. So, I know it’s hard for the defenders to be able to judge where the ball is going to land.” Ultimately, the Jets were unable to secure a win, falling to the Bills with a final score of 23-20.