Aaron Rodgers' nightmare return ended in the most Packers way possible

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Aaron Rodgers showed plenty of promise in his first real game action for the New York Jets, exactly one year after tearing his Achilles four snaps into his actual debut. That included a magical 36-yard touchdown pass to Allen Lazard on a free play.

They may have been wearing a different shade of green, but it felt like we had jumped in a time machine and arrived in 2020.

Rodgers' pedestrian numbers of 167 yards, one touchdown, and one interception didn't tell the full picture. He looked sharp and proved he's still got it. He just needs some time to shake off the rust after such a long absence.

Everything else for the Jets? Absolute disaster. Packers fans have seen this play out far too many times.

Aaron Rodgers' return vs. 49ers brings back painful flashbacks for Packers fans

Rodgers looked like Rodgers, which is the biggest positive for the Jets, but it looks like he brought the Packers' defense with him. Rodgers going to New York was supposed to be different. He would be supported by Robert Saleh's elite defense to keep big games like this one close.

Instead, Rodgers' return to Levi's Stadium became just another nightmare chapter in his long list of frustrating losses to the Niners.

Rodgers had to sit and watch a San Francisco offense sans Christian McCaffrey rush for 180 yards and two touchdowns at 4.7 yards per attempt. It allowed the 49ers to boss time of possession, keep Rodgers off the field, and wear down the Jets' defensive front.

The offense, meanwhile, couldn't get anything going on the ground. Star running back Breece Hall managed just 54 yards on 16 attempts, while the Jets averaged 3.6 yards per carry.

Rodgers completed his first Jets pass to Hall, who immediately fumbled. His one interception was on a tipped pass, and his receivers couldn't stop making drops, including old buddy Lazard on a third down on New York's first possession.

It wasn't quite as catastrophic as the Packers' 2019 NFC title game humiliation in Levi's Stadium, but this game came out of the same playbook. In 2019, Green Bay rushed for only 62 yards while allowing 285. New York did better, but only marginally. San Francisco ran the ball 38 times, and Saleh had no answers against his former team.

This wasn't in the script. Rodgers was supposed to be joining a team ready to make a run, like Tom Brady's arrival in Tampa Bay. The Jets looked nowhere near ready to compete with the NFL's best.

Rodgers wasn't perfect, but he played fine. His latest loss to the 49ers felt like several he had already experienced with the Packers.

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