Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets broke a five-game losing streak with a 21-13 win over the Houston Texans, bringing their record to 3-6 and rekindling playoff hopes. However, the game wasn’t without its frustrating moments, and rookie wide receiver Malachi Corley found himself in the spotlight for a costly mistake in the endzone.
The Jets’ offense surged in the second half, scoring touchdowns on three consecutive drives, a stark contrast to their scoreless first half. But Rodgers believed they should have been on the scoreboard even before halftime. Early in the second quarter, Rodgers orchestrated a clean drive that looked poised to end in a touchdown. Corley, after a well-executed jet sweep, saw a clear path to the endzone. But just before crossing the goal line, he dropped the ball, which rolled out of bounds, resulting in a touchback and a turnover.
In his post-game interview, Rodgers didn’t hold back when addressing Corley’s blunder. Speaking to the Amazon Prime Video crew, Rodgers subtly criticized the rookie’s lapse in focus, pointing out that while they scored 21 points, they should have had another touchdown. “I said we need to score 28-30 points. Tonight I’m counting 28. We scored 21 & we had another uhm… ya know, at the goal line,” Rodgers commented.
The next day, during his appearance on the Pat McAfee Show, Rodgers shed more light on the team’s preparation, specifically around finishing plays. He noted that the coaching staff had emphasized situational awareness, showing players recent examples, including a controversial touchdown by Kyle Pitts of the Atlanta Falcons. The message was clear: protect the ball, especially near the goal line.
Rodgers expressed further surprise over Corley’s decision not to secure the ball and take it to the sideline for his first career touchdown. “Only thing I’d say to Malachi, and I said this on the sidelines, is ‘Why would you ever drop the ball? That was your first touchdown,’” Rodgers recounted, urging Corley to take pride in those moments. Although disappointed, he added that he understood Corley’s excitement and the challenges rookies face under pressure.
Ultimately, Corley’s mistake didn’t impact the game’s outcome thanks to the Jets’ strong second half. But Rodgers’ comments underline the importance of focus, especially in high-stakes games. As the Jets aim for a playoff push, it’s a lesson Corley—and the entire team—will likely keep in mind.
