JETS 20 - BILLS 17
In what will go down as one of the most improbable wins of the season to date, the New York Jets defeated the Buffalo Bills 20-17 at MetLife Stadium by playing some of the most complete football of the season -- exactly one week after Gang Green's meltdown against New England.
Led by spirited play from the Jets defense, and a incredible running attack in the fourth quarter, the Jets delivered to the Bills the humble pie they haven't tasted all season. All of sudden, the team most felt was a shoe-in for the Super Bowl is in a dogfight for the AFC East, and the Jets are now firmly on their heels.
A game that started off so ominously for New York when Brandon Mann muffed the opening kick-off and was followed by Josh Allen hitting Stefon Diggs down the sideline for 42 yards, quickly turned when Allen was picked off at the Jets 15-yard line by Jordan Whitehead.
Still it was an uphill climb for the Jets. Josh Allen was killing the Jets with his legs. He would run for 86 yards and two scores -- the only two touchdowns Buffalo would have on the day, as the Bills grabbed a 14-3 lead in the second quarter.
The Jets never gave in. Offensive Coordinator Mike LeFluer simplified the game plan, and Zach Wilson didn't make the bad throw that would kill his team. Wilson made quick reads and found a way to methodically lead the Jets to a 13-play, 75-yard scoring drive that ate up the final six minutes of the first half that included Wilson hitting on his final three passes of the drive. That all set up Michael Carter for the six-yard plunge to cut the Bills lead to 14-10.
Suddenly the Jets had to know they had a shot.
And they took full advantage. Perhaps the turning point of the game came when Allen was picked off by Sauce Gardner on a terrible read by Allen who never saw Gardner standing there. Four plays later, Wilson had the Jets in the end zone when he dumped the ball off to James Robinson who scampered in for the go-ahead score.
Now it was up to the Jets defense, and boy were they up to the challenge.
On their four possessions of the second half, the Jets held the Bills to just 43 yards off offense, and Josh Allen just couldn't get connected with his receivers down field as the Jets secondary was incredible.
They held the Bills to a field goal and a punt, before getting the ball back to the Jets offense late in the fourth quarter with a little over seven minutes remaining.
With the ball on their own four, this was the Jets chance to make something happen in a tied game. This was Zach Wilson's chance to take an eraser to last week's disaster vs. New England.
And the Jets went right to their bread and butter as the first four plays were all runs. Jame Robinson gashed the Bills for 32 yards on three carries. Then Michael Carter chipped in a 17-yard run to the Buffalo 47.
After an encroachment penalty, Carter and Robinson continued to lay waste to the Bills front seven before Wilson tossed his best pass of the day on a 12-yard slant to Denzel Mims to the Buffalo six-yard line that took the game down to the two-minute warning.
The Jets would eventually kick the field goal, but the dye was cast. This was going to be Gang Green's day.
And then the Jets defense finished off its masterpiece. Bryce Huff came charging off the weakside and slapped Allen's forearm, knocking the ball out of his hands, and putting Buffalo in an impossible third and 21.
Allen would miss on his next two desperation throws as Sauce Gardner had Diggs totally lost in the sauce to end the game.
What a thriller. What a moment. The Game, no, the upset of the year for the New York Jets. At 6-3 as the Jets enter the bye, they are in the thick of the AFC East race.
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