Aaron Rodgers did it again.
On Monday Night Football, the New York Jets quarterback threw a 52-yard touchdown pass to Allen Lazard against the Buffalo Bills.
It was more than just a 52-yard touchdown pass. The throw came as time expired in the first half, making it a Hail Mary throw.
Due to his Hall of Fame resume — from being a Super Bowl champion to a four-time MVP — Rodgers’ skill at successfully completing Hail Mary throws – will more than likely be a footnote.
Rodgers has had two Hail Mary throws at the end of the first half. He has had one Hail Mary in the playoffs to force overtime. And the other Hail Mary was a game-winning touchdown.
Rodgers has also had two of his Hail Mary throws come in the playoffs.
The Miracle in Motown
In the 2015 regular season, Rodgers completed his longest Hail Mary — 70 air yards — to tight end Richard Rodgers on an untimed down.
December 3, 2015: After the Lions’ Devin Taylor was called for a questionable facemask penalty with 0:00 on the clock, Aaron Rodgers completes a 61-yard Hail Mary to Richard Rodgers to win the game for Green Bay 27-23. pic.twitter.com/fVyDBg3JqW
— This Day In Sports Clips (@TDISportsClips) December 3, 2021
On the previous play, the Detroit Lions were called for a facemask penalty – giving Rodgers one last chance and an additional 15 yards to get into “Hail Mary range.”
Clutch in the Playoffs
In the same season, Rodgers completed his toughest Hail Mary in terms of just getting the throw off. This one came in the Divisional Round of the 2015 playoffs.
Rodgers did this again. The Hail Mary king pic.twitter.com/KBsTRpyq2b
— Underdog (@Underdog) October 15, 2024
As the Arizona Cardinals sent an all-out blitz, Rodgers left the pocket and threw off his back foot with a defender in his grill.
The football found Jeff Janis in the end zone for Rodgers’ second career Hail Mary.
In the following playoffs, Rodgers connected with Randall Cobb in the back of the end zone against the New York Giants as time expired in the first half.
The Rodgers to Cobb Hail Mary. Our seats had a perfect view. Unreal moment. https://t.co/N244Dlv3Tm pic.twitter.com/VZLeVpEBWa
— 𝐽𝐸𝑁 𝑀𝐴𝐶𝐾 🧀 (@BigMack_4) February 27, 2024
Both of these throws were at the line of scrimmage in enemy territory and Rodgers ended up throwing the football from his own territory.
Six years later
On Monday might, Rodgers threw his fourth Hail Mary— to Allen Lazard as halftime expired.
ANOTHER AARON RODGERS HAIL MARY.
📺: #BUFvsNYJ on ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/F8OMUzAW9l— NFL (@NFL) October 15, 2024
Every one of Rodgers’ Hail Mary throws has been cleanly caught – not one throw has bounced around and into the lap of one of his teammates.
And one final fun fact: Rodgers completed a Hail Mary on each of the four NFL main broadcasts – CBS, FOX, NBC, and ESPN.
Outside of a potential interception – the Hail Mary play is the ultimate low-risk, high-reward play. Most quarterbacks never throw one for a touchdown. The few that get one or two are cast aside as sheer luck. But in Aaron Rodgers’ case, it seems like there is some amount of skill involved. Rodgers just knows how to find the endzone when that clock hits zero.
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