EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — No American flag this time for Aaron Rodgers. But a thunderous applause greeted the New York Jets quarterback as he ran onto the field at MetLife Stadium.

Rodgers was back home and ready to play. Finally.

The 40-year-old four-time MVP made his first home start Thursday night since leaving his Jets debut with a torn Achilles tendon just over a year ago. And he ran out a winning game after helping lead New York to a dominant 24-3 victory about the New England Patriots.

Rodgers was the last Jets player to be introduced to the crowd — “And, your quarterback …” the announcer yelled — before the game, and the fans, many of them wearing green-and-white No. 8 jerseys, went into raptures. Fireworks lit up the night sky, and LED wristbands issued to fans in attendance lit up the stands in a sea of ​​green light.

And he provided some excitement in the first half, helping the Jets take a 14-3 lead.

Rodgers’ first touchdown at home with the Jets went to his former Green Bay teammate Allen Lazard, who ran from the end zone straight to his quarterback to give him the ball and help Rodgers celebrate the moment.

Rodgers completed 27 of 35 passes for 281 yards and two touchdowns and kept plays alive with his legs all night.

“This was kind of a first step into playing the way I know I can play,” he said after the game. “I felt like, you know, I was myself.”

The last time Rodgers ran onto the field to play at MetLife Stadium, on Sept. 11, 2023, the 22nd anniversary of the terrorist attacks, he emerged from the tunnel carrying an American flag. The crowd roared as the flag flew behind him.

Rodgers called it one of the most special moments of his playing career.

A few minutes later, the excitement and joy were replaced by the shocked sight of the quarterback struggling to get up and off the field. Rodgers had torn his left Achilles tendon on the fourth photo from his Jets debut.

Tests confirmed the diagnosis the next day. He underwent surgery on September 13.

Rodgers said he had some doubts immediately after the injury, wondering if it was the last time he would play. He turned that into motivation, aiming for an improbable comeback late last season if the Jets made the playoffs. After New York fell out of the race for the postseason, Rodgers focused on being ready for Week 1 this year.

He made it, and Rodgers was solid but unspectacular in a season opener loss to San Francisco followed by a victory at Tennessee in which he went 5 for 5 passing to lead the Jets to a game-winning touchdown drive. Rodgers started the game against the Patriots with three touchdown passes, 343 yards passing and an interception.

And now he’s back at MetLife Stadium, looking to add to the disappointment of his last home start by creating a few more memorable moments, this time for all the right reasons.

“I mean, I feel good about it. It’s been a long time since I stepped on the field at ‘JetLife,'” Rodgers said earlier this week. “So it’s definitely going to be a lot of emotions. But fortunately, we’re in the third game of the season.

“Played two full games, body feels good, about as good as it can be in a short week.”

The Jets played their third match in 11 days Starting the season is a tough time for any player, let alone a 40-year-old quarterback still suffering from the rust of a long absence and playing with a surgically repaired Achilles tendon.

“Testing the body, that’s for sure,” Rodgers said. “I’m ready to go Thursday night and looking forward to three days off.”

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