Final: Green Bay Packers 31 New York Jets 24

The Green Bay Packers defeated the New York Jets this afternoon 31-24, a game that had plenty of ups and downs, including a New York lead of 21-3.

But that didn’t last once the Packers got warmed up starting in the second quarter.

Not only did Aaron Rodgers and Jordy Nelson lead the way – the Rodgers-to-Nelson 80-yarder was the backbreaker – but they also helped the franchise to win number 699.

Oh, and by the way, Rodgers also surpassed Bart Starr for second place in franchise passing history – more than 27,000 yards. It’s second place to Brett Favre. How fitting.

Not only that, but Nelson had a huge day … here are Rodgers’ and Nelson’s stats courtesy of SI.com

Passing yards

Rodgers 346

Receiving yards

Nelson 209

The early first quarter was all Jets …

There were few highlights and plenty of lowlights during that time – including hearing Packers fans booing at Lambeau Field.

The New York Jets started things off with a bang by scoring off a Packers mishandled snap; and then carrying that further by scoring in their first three possessions and carried that into a 21-16 halftime lead. But it was a tenuous lead, at best because the Packers were finding their cruise control and momentum – on both sides of the ball.

It was a Tramon Williams interception inside the five yard line and inside of 2 minutes that stopped another Jets drive near the end of the half.

The Packers then took over and drove the ball down the field 97 yards, guided by Aaron Rodgers passes for first downs. He then completed a huge pass over the middle to running back DuJuan Harris who carried it inside Jets territory. When a roughing the passer penalty was tacked on, the ball was placed at the Jets’ 30.

With 32 seconds, two timeouts and a first down Rodgers threw incomplete on a pass to Jordy Nelson.

On second and 10, Rodgers had to throw the ball away; and on third and 10 Rodgers hit rookie Davante Adams over the middle and he proceeded to run it down inside the 10 with 15 seconds left.

Rodgers to Nelson was incomplete; 11 seconds left, Rodgers hit Randall Cobb over the middle for a touchdown.

And all of a sudden, it was a game – Jets 21 Packers 16

The Packers stopped the Jets on their opening drive of the second half and the defense was on the rise. Their effort picked up and showed on the field.

After each team punted twice, the Packers got the ball at their own 33 and then went on an 8-play drive that was capped by a 1-yard touchdown pass to Randall Cobb. Rodgers then threw a completion again to Cobb for the 2-point conversion.

The Packers led 24-21, a lead that would hold up the rest of the way.

Actually, the Jets scored on a 52-yard field goal to tie the game.

Then Aaron Rodgers and Jordy Nelson took over.

After a touchback on the kickoff, Rodgers hit a wide open Nelson down the right sideline, Nelson jukes by one defender and then outran the safety to the end zone for an 80-yard score.

From there on out, the defenses on both sides took over the game, but it was the Packers whose defense did enough to keep the Jets off the scoreboard.

Though the Packers dodged a bullet when a long pass into the end zone for an apparent touchdown was called back when the Jets had called a time out.

This was a huge win for the Packers after being down by three scores and raging back to eventually take the lead and play the defense needed to give the team its 51st home-opening win.