EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – For the third week in a row, New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers had to explain a loss in which his team missed a chance to win the game on its final possession. This time he seemed more frustrated – and worried – than ever.

“We have to get going,” Rodgers said Monday night after the Jets — in their first game under interim coach Jeff Ulbrich — fell to 2-4 with a 23-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium. “This was a golden opportunity. Some games you win in the NFL, and some games you give away. This was a giveaway.”

Not only was he critical of the Jets’ performance, but Rodgers also questioned the officiating. The teams combined for 22 penalties and 204 yards, including 11 for 110 yards by the Jets, who had similar problems under former coach Robert Saleh.

“It seemed a little ridiculous,” Rodgers said of the officiating official. “Some of (the calls) seemed really bad, including the roughing of the passer on me (by AJ Epenesa). That’s not roughing the passer. You might as well be playing Sarcastaball (a reference to the TV program ‘South Park’) when we I’m going to call those things. And I thought (Javon) Kinlaw’s wasn’t bothering the passerby either.”

Rodgers also complained about a “phantom holding call” on Tyron Smith’s tackle, which negated a Braelon Allen score that would have given the Jets a 27-20 lead in the third quarter. They didn’t get any points out of it, as Greg Zuerlein missed his second field goal of the evening.

The Jets, who fired Saleh last Tuesday, capped a tumultuous week with a performance that resembled so many others. There were too many penalties and too many missed opportunities.

Under new playcaller Todd Downing, who replaced the demoted Nathaniel Hackett, the offense managed to produce 393 total yards, but went 1-for-4 in the red zone. One of the two touchdowns was a miracle play: a 52-yard Hail Mary against Allen Lazard late in the first half, cutting the Bills’ lead to 20-17.

“Demoralizing” was how wide receiver Garrett Wilson described the penalties, mistakes and wasted opportunities. “We have to find a way to score touchdowns because I don’t want to keep feeling like this,” he said.

The Jets have lost three in a row by a combined 10 points, with the last two games ending with a Rodgers interception on their final possession. For the first time in his twenty-year career, Rodgers has a losing record after six games.

“It’s frustrating,” he said. “I’m here to win those games.”

This time, Rodgers got the ball at his 30 with 3:43 left in the game — 70 yards away from a touchdown that could have moved the Jets into a first-place tie with the Bills (4-2). The last time the Jets tied for first place after Week 6 was in 2012, the longest drought in the NFL.

There was no Rodgers magic.

The drive imploded with a sack and two Jets penalties (one compensation), ending with a third-and-16 deep ball to Mike Williams that was picked off by Taron Johnson at the Bills’ 18-yard line. Rodgers hinted that there was a miscommunication between him and Williams, who suffered a head injury during the play.

Rodgers (23-for-35) threw for a season-high 294 yards, including two touchdowns, but he wasn’t happy with the offense’s overall execution. He said attention to detail needs to improve. He could also improve. He was just 3-for-8 in the red zone, including four passes that were tipped or defended.

“I thought we were going to have a big offensive night,” he said. “Again, this should have been a 30+ point offensive game, and this shouldn’t even be a conversation.”

Owner Woody Johnson fired Saleh in hopes of creating a new energy under the fiery Ulbrich. It worked – for a short time. After Rodgers’ Hail Mary to Lazard – the fourth Hail Mary touchdown of Rodgers’ career – the Jets headed into halftime with the momentum. But they left it in the locker room, scoring just a field goal in the second half.

Now they are in danger of being left out of the fight.

“We are certainly not out of this situation. Not under any circumstances,” Ulbrich said. “I know the character of that locker room. I know how we will respond. … We have to start building these weeks of exceptional preparation. I promise you it will pay off on Sunday.”