The New York Jets‘ 27-10 road win over the Green Bay Packers Sunday drew quite the reactions, and deservedly so. It was only the 14th game ever between these teams (as they play in different conferences), and the first Jets’ victory in the last four games between them. And following that win, Jets’ DB Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner donned one of the cheeseheads that Packers’ fans often wear.
Sauce is cheesin' 🧀@iamSauceGardner @nyjets pic.twitter.com/RWASdqajp9
— NFL (@NFL) October 16, 2022
Packers’ WR Allen Lazard didn’t appreciate that, and he knocked the cheesehead off Gardner’s head:
#Jets CB Sauce Gardner wearing a cheesehead as he leaves the field, until a #Packers player (looked like Allen Lazard) knocked it off his head.
Big win for the Baby Jets at Lambeau Field. pic.twitter.com/YX1QXMbzKZ
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 16, 2022
Gardner was still upbeat about the experience afterwards, though:
"Running off that field with that cheese on my head, that was a crazy feeling right there. I'm never gonna forget that."
– Sauce Gardner pic.twitter.com/MAE6lEzA0D
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) October 16, 2022
And he tweeted about his exhilaration over beating the Packers on the road:
AHHHHHHHHHHH LET’S GOOOO JETS❕❕❕❕❕
— SAUCE GARDNER (@iamSauceGardner) October 16, 2022
Meanwhile, Lazard downplayed the incident post-game, and praised both Gardner and his name:
Asked about this in the locker room, Allen Lazard was good-natured about it, said Sauce played a good game. “It’s a cool name too. Sauce. I can’t even be mad.” https://t.co/d19k0laN7f
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 16, 2022
It is a good name, and one that’s already led to an “absolutely perfect” endorsement deal for Gardner. The Jets selected Gardner in the first round (fourth overall) earlier this year following his great college career with the Cincinnati Bearcats. He’s already made quite the NFL impact, posting 23 tackles and an interception through Sunday’s game, and showing off coverage skills as well:
Sauce Gardner allowed a 34.2 passer rating in coverage in Week 5…
That is less than if the QB threw an incompletion on every target 👀 pic.twitter.com/5xwmiQZ5Zu
— PFF (@PFF) October 10, 2022
Most forced incompletions + INTs among rookie CBs:
🗽 Sauce Gardner – 5
🐂 Derek Stingley – 5 pic.twitter.com/nMOZ8C9Hrc— PFF (@PFF) October 14, 2022
Gardner’s coverage skills were on display in this game as well:
Sauce Gardner 🔒
pic.twitter.com/0gmNNGB62F— PFF (@PFF) October 16, 2022
So if anyone deserves to wear a cheesehead following the Jets’ first win in Green Bay since 2006, Gardner is a good choice.
[Photo from Jeff Hanisch/USA Today Sports]
