For two teams that entered MetLife Stadium a combined 9-18-1 on the season, the Green Bay Packers and New York Jets put on a wildly entertaining show Sunday with the Packers earning their only road win of the season with a 44-38 overtime walk off victory before 77,982 fans (including a big Cheeshead contingent) on a sunny, 43 degree late December afternoon.
Aaron Rodgers found Davante Adams for 16 yards to end the only possession of overtime sparing the Packers from becoming just the second team in franchise history to go winless away from home (the 0-6, 1958 edition).
But it took a mighty effort.
The Jets, behind number one pick Sam Darnold at quarterback, built a 14-0 lead by early in the second quarter, driving 83 yards capped by Elijah McGuire's four yard run, and another 76 yard march where Robbie Anderson got behind the secondary for a 33 yard TD catch. It could have been more if not for Jason Myers missing a 45 yard field goal on the game's opening series.
The Packer offense finally connected on a big play to get on the board when Rodgers converted a third and 4 from midfield, hitting Jake Kumerow on a 49 yard scoring strike. Kumerow's first career touchdown came against a blitz when he got behind the corner, caught the ball at the 20, cut to his left and found the end zone, this time, not diving across the line like he did in the pre-season where he dislocated his shoulder and spent the first half of the season on the physically unable to perform list.
The crumbling special teams gave the score right back when Pro Bowl kick returner Andre Roberts burst up field, cut past a diving Natrell Jamerson and zoomed through a lunging tackle attempt from Mason Crosby to go 99 yards for a score that made it 21-7 Jets.
Rookie Equanimeous St. Brown grabbed a sideline route 34 yards and the Packers were moving when Jets defensive end Leonard Williams lost his cool. He got locked up with Bryan Bulaga after the whistle and threw him to the ground and also threw a punch which got him ejected from the game. On the next snap from the seven, Jamaal Williams ran around left end, got knocked off his feet but planted his left foot just inside the line, put his hand on the ground to keep his balance and lunged for the end zone to make it 21-14. Williams had a big day on the ground with 95 yards on 15 carries and he also caught 6 passes for 61 more yards.
After the defense got a quick stop, Rodgers drove the offense to the New York 34 where Crosby knocked through a 42 yard field goal with :02 left in the half.
Another field goal drive opened the third quarter getting Green Bay within one but the Jets responded. Darnold, who finished 24 of 35 for 341 yards and a passer rating of 128.4, went five for five on the series and found tight end Chris Herndon in the right flat from five yards out to stretch the lead to 8.
The special teams mistakes bit the Packers again when rookie J'Mon Moore fumbled the ensuing kickoff and New York recovered at the 18. It took only three plays to tack on another touchdown as Darnold hit McGuire wide open on the left side for a 20 yard score and a 35-20 lead with only 2:50 left in the third quarter.
Early in the fourth, another rookie stepped up with Marquez Valdes-Scantling taking a sideline route 42 yards into New York territory. The Packers stalled but Crosby's 38 yard field goal pulled Green Bay to within 12.
Rodgers got help from the Jets with two pass interference penalties (among the 16 flags for a whopping 172 yards) and a 4th and one conversion on the next drive that he capped himself with a one yard run, his first rushing touchdown since 2016.
It looked like New York might be able to grind out the win when they pulled off a fake punt against the reeling special teams units, a direct snap to fullback Rontez Miles moved the chains but a holding penalty eventually forced a kick.
With 3:12 left, Rodgers opened at his own 17 and found Jimmy Graham on a hot read against a blitz for 16, Williams pulled down a 26 yard screen and then the quarterback scrambled 23 yards down to the one. Two incomplete passes and Williams stuffed on third an goal left in the hands, just long enough for Rodgers on 4th down. He leaping sneak extended the ball across the plane before it was knocked out of his hands and after a review, the play stood.
The Packers went for two but Rodgers' pass was intercepted by Darryl Roberts who raced the length of the field for what would have been two points putting New York back up 37-36 but there was another defensive penalty for holding in the end zone. On the next try, Rodgers raced around Brandon Copeland for the 2 points and a 38-35 Green Bay lead with only 1:12 left.
Enter the shambles of a special team kickoff cover unit. Roberts caught the high, short kick of Crosby and brought it back 51 yards. He would finish with 215 return yards on the day. The defense held firm but Myers booted a 33 yard field goal with :17 in regulation to force overtime.
Captain David Bakhtiari called heads on the coin toss and won it for the second time on the day. Two more pass interference penalties, for 33 yards and 7 yards brought the Packers to the New York 6. Rodgers thought he had the game winning six yard touchdown scramble but the play was called back on a Bryan Bulaga hold.
On the next snap, Rodgers saw quarters coverage and checked to the deep post on the left to Adams who easily beat the coverage and cradled the game winning touchdown.
Adams finished with 11 receptions for 71 yards, leaving him one catch from Sterling Sharpe's single season record of 112.
Rodgers went 37 of 55 for 442 yards and two scores for a passer rating of 103.8.
Falling behind by 14 twice, and 15 in the second half, the Packers mustered up enough fight to win, even though injuries kept piling up. Lane Taylor had to leave the game, Jaire Alexander injured his groin and didn't return. Tramon Williams took a nasty shot to the head trying to field a first half punt. A helmet to helmet penalty was called and Williams was evaluated for a concussion and returned after getting several stitches above his right eye.
Randall Cobb, Kenny Clark and Jason Spriggs were among the inactives.
For a game that had no playoff meaning, it was clear it meant a lot to players like Rodgers, Jamaal Williams who made inspiring plays all afternoon.
It's also apparent, listening to several players, Rodgers among them, they want to play hard for Joe Philbin, giving him perhaps a better opportunity to have the "interim" removed from his Head Coach tag after getting the helm from the fired Mike McCarthy.
It was a long season of coast to coast travel in 2018, losing badly in Washington, getting embarrassed in Detroit before fighting tough battles in Los Angeles, New England, Seattle, Minnesota and Chicago.
They saved the best for last.
As they rode out of sight, you could hear the cheers from the charter, Merry Christmas to all and to all a good New York night.