NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers wants to make it clear that he now technically has two wins as quarterback of the New York Jets.

Not his first.

Braelon Allen, the NFL’s youngest player, ran for a 20-yard touchdown with 4:31 left on the clock to beat Rodgers and the New York Jets to maintain their lead as they defeated the Tennessee Titans 24-17 on Sunday.

Rodgers threw for 176 yards and two TDs and was allowed to kneel for his first win that he started and finished as the Jets’ starting quarterback. He tore his left achilles tendon on his fourth snap of the Jets’ 2023 season opener, a win over Buffalo.

The 40-year-old four-time NFL MVP said the first one counts somehow, but that didn’t make this win any less special, as he’s been “waiting for it for a long time.”

“These are the games that you look back on later in the season and are thankful that you won them,” Rodgers said. “Because if we’re going to be a great team, we’ve got to win in these environments against teams like that.”

One of Rodgers’ TD passes was to the 20-year-old Allen, marking a mark among the NFL’s oldest and youngest players. The fourth-round pick out of Wisconsin said playing with Breece Hall takes some of the focus off him. He credited tight end Jeremy Ruckert for the closing block on his game-winning TD run.

“My grandmother could probably put a stop to that,” Allen said.

The Jets (1-1) spoiled the home opener for Titans first-year coach Brian Callahan, who witnessed two straight turnovers by sophomore quarterback Will Levis.

“The mistakes were crucial,” Callahan said.

The Titans (0-2) got another chance at the end.

Will McDonald IV, who had three of the Jets’ four sacks, got his third with 23 seconds left on third down. Levis threw to Tyler Boyd on fourth-and-goal from the 14 with Jets safety Tony Adams helping break up the pass to convert it on downs.

The Jets were awarded 17 points on Titans’ mistakes. First, an interception by Brandin Echols. Then, a roughing penalty by two-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons on third down stopped a New York drive for the Jets’ first lead at 14-10 to start the third quarter.

Irvin Charles blocked a punt by Ryan Stonehouse, setting up a 33-yard field goal by Greg Zuerlein for a 17-10 lead.

The Titans tied it when Levis broke loose on a 21-yard run that left Jets pass rusher Jermaine Johnson on the ground with a Injured right Achilles tendon. Two plays later, Levis connected with Calvin Ridley for a 40-yard TD pass, tying the score at 17-17 at the end of the third period.

The Titans led 7-0 after the first quarter Ridley ‘s first rushing touchdown of his career.

Levis inexplicably attempted a backward pass to Tyjae Spears that Jets D-lineman Quinnen Williams retrieved, prompting a profane question from Callahan that was easy to read on TV about what the quarterback was thinking. Echols took the ball from Treylon Burks on Tennessee’s ensuing drive on its first play.

Rodgers got the Jets going. He capped their 12-play, 73-yard drive with a 12-yard TD toss to Allen who bowled into the end zone to tie the score at 7. Allen was the youngest to score a TD from a scrimmage in the NFL since 1930.

The Titans got a 41-yard field goal from Nick Folk and went into halftime with a 10-7 lead.

The turnover of Levis

The Titans quarterback now has five turnovers in the first six quarters this season. The fumble looked like a pick-6 in the opening loss at Chicago by the same score of 24-17. Callahan was asked what he said to Levis when he came off the field and said the camera caught it well.

“He’s mature and he knows better,” Callahan said. “And so I was really annoyed that he cost us three points in a game that we probably needed.”

Levis summed it up this way: “I just can’t let that happen.”

Point blocks

It is the second match in a row the Titans have blocked a point and the third for Stonehouse, whose season ended on his next punt attempt after blocking and returning a punt for a touchdown last December.

“I don’t know if I’ve been around a blocked punt for six years,” Callahan said. “So, when it happens twice in a row, it’s really frustrating.”

Injuries

Jets: Johnson was stretchered off the field late in the third quarter with what coach Robert Saleh called a likely torn right Achilles tendon, with more tests scheduled for Monday. … LB C.J. Mosley injured a toe in the opening seconds of the second quarter and did not return. Saleh said he could be back the next game. … Hall went to the medical tent but returned late in the second quarter.

Titans: CB Roger McCreary injured his shoulder while taking down Rodgers in the second quarter. He returned and made a nice tackle for loss in the fourth quarter. … RB Tyjae Spears injured his ankle and did not return.

Next

Jets: Host New England for their home opener on Thursday night.

Titans: host Green Bay next Sunday.

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