EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – They waited out a thunderstorm that set off emergency alert notifications to coronate their new king. By the time the sellout crowd of 83,345 at MetLife Stadium rose to their feet for pregame introductions, for the final player's name to be called, for Aaron Rodgers to carry an American flag out of the tunnel as quarterback of the New York Jets – a process six months in the making finally coming to fruition – the storm had physically departed the area.
Spiritually, it was still brewing.
A dramatic edition of "Monday Night Football" ended with Jets fans in jubilation thanks to undrafted rookie Xavier Gipson's 65-yard walk-off punt return to defeat the Buffalo Bills in overtime, 22-16. Gang Green faithful also left drained, as Rodgers' potentially season-altering injury, feared to be a significant Achilles ailment, could dash any measure of expectations placed on the team by themselves, their fan base and the football world.
But Gipson first made sure there was time for celebration: he crossed the goal line and waved. Head coach Robert Saleh was one of the first to mob Gipson in the right corner of the end zone as members of the Bills' special teams unit splayed on the (much-maligned) MetLife turf.
"It feels like I'm dreaming," said Gipson, whose emotional meeting with Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas informing him he made the team was a "Hard Knocks" heart-warmer.
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Better than the nightmares most in the stadium were experiencing hours earlier.
The fans met the moment, juiced up from an emotional national anthem on the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks that forever altered the greater New York area. A first series stop by the defense turned up the intensity even more.
"I thought the crowd was absolutely electric the entire day ... to win on this day for this city, for these fans, and for the (New York Police Department), (New York Fire Department), everybody who bleeds green and white, it was a cool moment," Saleh said.
As Rodgers and the offense took the field, Section 249B in the north end zone broke out into an "Aaron Rodgers!" chant. Less than three minutes later, Rodgers – brought in to push a roster missing reliable quarterback play into playoff contention – was being helped off the field.
“You felt the life leave the stadium," Jets running back Dalvin Cook, also making his Jets debut, told USA TODAY Sports. "A guy like that, you don’t not feel it."
Said running back Breece Hall about Rodgers' injury: "It sucks, bro. I'm happy about the win, but I'd rather have that guy on the team, so it just sucks."
The fans tried to morph their shock into support for Zach Wilson. It only lasted so long before the anemic passing attack that prompted Douglas to trade for Rodgers this offseason reared its ugly head once again.
Why didn't he take off, man? a fan complained when Wilson barely threw the ball away and the Jets' field-goal unit trotted on to tie the game at 3 in the first half.
“The air has been let out of the stadium and nobody has any juice in this game,” former Bills and Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said during his second-half guest appearance on the "ManningCast."
Josh Allen's four turnovers (three interceptions, one fumble) kept the Jets in the game. Garrett Wilson's one-handed, tip-drill touchdown catch tied the game. New York nearly won in regulation, but Tyler Bass' 50-yard field goal knocked off the left upright and in with two seconds left. The Jets defense kept Allen off-balance and forced a three-and-out to start overtime.
Then came punter Sam Martin's 42-yard kick to the middle of the field.
Jets third-year linebacker Chazz Surratt wasn't aware that ESPN rules official John Parry said he had committed a tripping penalty while attempting to lead block on Gipson's touchdown runback. By that point, Parry's perspective didn't matter.
"I was just trying to help (Gipson) get to the end zone and help the team out," Surratt told USA TODAY Sports. "That’s all I was trying to do."
The Jets' call was punt return left, so Gipson let his blockers set up the designed wall and followed them around the edge. His first step was right, though, and that threw Surratt for a loop. But before he knew it, Gipson was heading toward him.
"I was just was kind of jogging at first," Surratt said.
Surratt quickly turned back on the jets. Bills tight end Quintin Morris was in front of him, and he felt Gipson on his left hip.
Gipson said he knew that if he broke the Bills' initial containment, he could break one. The short punt didn't allow the Jets to set up blocks to their liking, but Gipson was still able to bounce it outside. At worst, he knew the Jets would have good field position and a chance to win the game.
A two-time Western Athletic Conference Offensive Players of the Year at Stephen F. Austin, the 22-year-old Gipson decided to take care of that part himself.
“That’s meaningful, knowing how hard I worked, knowing my position, how fast it could have ended," Gipson said of his undrafted status and subsequent Week 1 heroics. "Coach Saleh, I thank God for him believing in me and giving me the opportunity.”
Saleh told Gipson after the Jets' first preseason game he’d return a big one. The coach encouraged his rookie to practice patience. Gipson didn't have to wait long after all.
“When coaches believe in you like that, and give you the opportunity, give you the chance, then I’m comfortable,” Gipson said.
The touchdown capped what has been a “rollercoaster” few months for Gipson, who battled doubts of playing at the highest level.
“Not knowing if I’m good enough, truth be told," he said. "Just letting my work show (for itself), day in and day out. Show them how bad I want to be here. Show them how bad I want to be a legend, be great.”
Gipson, on one of the most frustrating days in franchise history, made himself a Jets legend, all right.
