In a game where every possession felt like gold, Aaron Rodgers appeared to have fumbled away the Jets‘ chances. Then, in a twist worthy of a New York minute, the officials flipped the script. “Ruled a forward incomplete pass and not a fumble #NFL,” Tanner Phifer’s tweet summed up the moment that had MetLife Stadium holding its collective breath. With 3:43 left on the clock and the Jets trailing 23-20, Aaron Rodgers lost control of the ball. Bills fans roared as their defense pounced on what looked like a game-sealing turnover. But hold the wings and beer—the zebras had other ideas.

After a nail-biting review, the call on the field transformed from a fumble to an incomplete pass. Jets faithful exhaled collectively, their playoff hopes still flickering. This decision didn’t just save a drive; it kept New York’s rollercoaster season from plummeting off the rails. The “Monday Night Football” broadcast noted this game had already set a season-high with 204 penalty yards, adding another layer of controversy to the mix.

The overturned call served as a lifeline for a Jets squad already treading water. At 2-3 and fresh off firing head coach Robert Saleh after a 23-17 loss to the Vikings in London, New York needed this break like Broadway needs tourists. Interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich inherited a team in turmoil, facing an AFC East rival hungry for a win.

For Buffalo, this reversal stung like lake-effect snow in October. The Bills, losers of two straight, watched a golden opportunity to right their ship slip through their fingers. Josh Allen, cleared from concussion protocol after a scare against the Texans, had been seeking redemption after a 9-for-30 performance the previous week. As the officials’ whistles faded, you could almost hear the collective groan from Western New York to the Canadian border.

Rodgers shows resilience with a Hail Mary

This wasn’t the first time Monday night that Rodgers danced with disaster only to come out smelling like roses. Earlier in the game, he’d already pulled off his signature magic trick.

Just before halftime, with the Jets down 20-10, Rodgers uncorked a 52-yard Hail Mary that found Allen Lazard in the end zone. ESPN had just finished showing a montage of Rodgers’ previous Hail Mary completions when he added another to his highlight reel. “Rodgers heaved one up at the end of the half and his old Green Bay Packers teammate Allen Lazard came down with it,” the broadcast marveled, reminding viewers that “the 40-year-old quarterback can still fling it downfield.”

Rodgers’ ability to stay cool under pressure has been a bright spot in a turbulent Jets season. While he hasn’t been immune to mistakes—tossing three picks against Minnesota in London, including a pick-six in the first quarter—his veteran savvy keeps New York in games they have no business winning.

The 40-year-old gunslinger was blocked by Buffalo’s Taron Johnson with a “sensational interception” inside the 2-minute warning. But even as the clock wound down, with the Bills clinging to a 23-20 lead, Rodgers’ late-game heroics reminded everyone why the Jets mortgaged their future to bring him to the Big Apple.