The New York Jets suffered their third consecutive loss on Monday night, falling 23-20 to the Buffalo Bills in a prime-time matchup. The AFC East rivals combined for 752 total yards, with the Jets holding a 393-to-359 advantage. However, the game was marred by a total of 22 penalties, with 11 assessed to each team.
Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers performed well, completing 23 of 35 passes for a season-high 294 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception, but the Jets ultimately lost due to two missed field goals by kicker Greg Zuerlein. During his postgame press conference, Rodgers expressed his frustration, particularly when addressing the penalties in response to a question.
“It seemed a little ridiculous,” Rodgers stated after the game. “Some of the calls were really questionable, especially the roughing the passer penalty against me. That wasn’t roughing the passer at all. We might as well play sarcastaball if we’re going to call things like that,” he added, referencing a “South Park” episode where characters play an overly safe version of football. “I also thought the call on (Jets defensive tackle Javon) Kinlaw wasn’t roughing the passer either.”
"It seemed a little ridiculous. Some of them seemed really bad, including the roughing the passer on me, that's not roughing the passer. We might as well play Sarcastaball if we're going to call those things."
Aaron Rodgers on the penalties tonight: pic.twitter.com/FeJ7zfeaVE
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) October 15, 2024
“It seemed a little ridiculous,” Rodgers stated after the game. “Some of the calls were really questionable, especially the roughing the passer penalty against me. That wasn’t roughing the passer at all. We might as well play sarcastaball if we’re going to call things like that,” he added, referencing a “South Park” episode where characters play an overly safe version of football. “I also thought the call on (Jets defensive tackle Javon) Kinlaw wasn’t roughing the passer either.”
During the third-quarter roughing the passer call on Bills pass rusher AJ Epenesa, ESPN broadcaster Troy Aikman criticized the officials’ decision in real time. “I don’t like the call at all,” Aikman remarked, referring to the flag for “unnecessary second act” for putting too much body weight on Rodgers.
The focus on Rodgers and the Jets is unlikely to fade anytime soon, as New York is scheduled for another prime-time game in Week 7, traveling to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers (4-2) on “Sunday Night Football.”
