Oct 14, 2024
After a tumultuous week, the Jets could not end their losing streak. A Tyler Bass game-winning 25-yard field goal with 3:46 remaining gave the Bills (4-2) a 23-20 victory over the Jets (2-4) at MetLife Stadium in front of a selloit crowd. The loss is the third in a row for the Jets, as they’re now two games back of the Bills in the division. “We have to take a hard look at the tape,” Jets interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said. “Offensively, it was much better in the run game, and I was proud of the way they responded from the last couple of weeks. “Where we need to get better, the red zone efficiency, as y’all saw. We gotta be able to finish those drives and put up points every single time.” Aaron Rodgers tried to lead the Jets down the field for a potential game-winning touchdown, but his pass to Mike Williams was intercepted by Taron Johnson with 1:52 left. Monday marked the first game with Ulbrich as interim coach. The Jets fired coach Robert Saleh last Tuesday following a 26-40 record in three-plus seasons. After becoming interim coach, Ulbrich stripped offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett of his play-calling duties and made passing game coordinator Todd Downing the new play-caller after the Jets offense was 27th in yards after the first five weeks. The change was a success, at least for one game on the offensive side of the ball at least. Breece Hall registered his first 100-yard rushing game of the season (111) after the Jets were last in the NFL in rushing entering the night. Rodgers completed 23-of-35 passes for 293 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson also finished with eight catches for 107 yards and a touchdown. Allen Lazard also caught six receptions for 114 yards and a Hail Mary touchdown catch to end the first half. The Jets had both a 100-yard rusher and receiver for the first time since 2018. However, the night was full of penalties, as each team committed 11 infractions. The Jets also were not great in the red zone after only scoring a touchdown on 1-of-4 attempts inside the 20-yard-line. “It was fine, I thought he [Downing] did a good job,” Rodgers said. “We did a couple of different things and he called a good game. We just didn’t execute very well.” However, the Jets defense did not play up to its usual standard after allowing 350 yards. Bills backup running back Ray Davis recorded 97 yards on 20 carries in place of James Cook, who was out due to a toe injury. In total, the Bills rushed for 149 yards and averaged 4.5 yards per carry. Josh Allen completed 19-of-25 passes for 215 yards and two touchdowns. It also didn’t help kicker Greg Zuerlein missed two of his four field goal attempts on back-to-back tries. First, in the third quarter, Zuerlein missed a 32-yard chip shot field goal that bounced off the left upright. Then, in the fourth quarter, his 43-yard field goal that also hit off the left upright. “I’ve been through ups and downs, hell and back many, many times,” Zuerlein said. “Right now, it’s not good enough because these guys in this locker room deserve to win. “That bothers you as a player because you see all the hard work they put in, and I’m not holding up my end of the bargain. That’s on me.” The Jets got the ball to start the game and got off to an early 3-0 lead after Zuerlein’s 34-yard field goal. That was the Jets’ first points on an opening drive this season. Buffalo quickly responded as it ran the ball down the Jets’ throat on a nine-play, 70-yard drive that resulted in a one-yard Allen touchdown run to take a 7-3 lead. Of the 70 yards on the drive, the Bills registered 61 yards on the ground. The Jets answered back with points of their own before the end of the first quarter. Just like the first drive, the Jets mixed the run with the pass, allowing them to get the ball quickly into the Bills’ territory. On an improv play by Rodgers at the five-yard line, he used his legs and found Wilson for the touchdown after the receiver dragged his leg in-bounds in the back of the end zone to take a 10-7 lead. Buffalo regained the lead 13-10 in the second quarter when Allen found Mack Hollins for an eight-yard touchdown catch after he beat safety Ashtyn Davis in coverage. The drive’s highlight came on the Bills’ 10-yard line when Allen rolled out to his right and found Davis at a 42-yard reception. Quinnen Williams blocked Bass’ extra point attempt. Allen’s second touchdown, this time to tight end Dawson Knox, extended the Bills lead to 20-10. Allen used his legs to scramble away from pressure and Knox got free on the left-hand side for the touchdown. When it appeared the Bills were about to run away with the game, Rodgers completed a Hail Mary pass to Lazard with no time left to close the gap to 20-17 at halftime. After a brief discussion, the officials eventually ruled it a touchdown. That was Rodgers’ fourth Hail Mary touchdown of his career. Rodgers’ 52-yard Hail Mary to Lazard traveled 61.4 yards in the air, the longest completion by a Jets quarterback since 2016, according to Next Gen Stats. “I saw the ball calling my name,” Lazard said about the Hail Mary catch. “Saw it thrown up there and we practice that at least once a week. “Being with Aaron, I had six years of doing that. I had a pretty good anticipation of where the ball is going to be and everything. Very fortunate to come down with it.” Following a Bass miss from 47 yards in the third quarter, the Jets got the ball inside the five-yard line after Hall’s 42-yard run. But Gang Green could not punch it in for six points and settled for a Zuerlein 22-yard field goal, which tied the game at 20-20. Bass made a 22-yard field goal to give the Bills a 23-20 lead with 3:46 remaining, which gave the Jets one last chance to tie or win the game in regulation. But Johnson intercepted Rodgers’ pass to Williams on the Bills 18-yard-line. At 2-4, the Jets haven’t played up to the expectations of many prognosticators. Gang Green was expected not just to make the playoffs for the first time since 2010, but it was also the favorite to win the AFC East. “I think there’s concern, but we need to get going,” Rodgers said. “This was a golden opportunity. Some games you win in the NFL, and some games you give away, and this was a giveaway. “We were terrible in the red zone; we missed two field goals, didn’t convert on a two-minute drive. We had plenty of chances, we had the momentum, we had good drives, threw the ball down the field. So disappointing. Jets safety Chuck Clark left the game in the second quarter with an ankle injury and did not return. Cornerback D.J. Reed also left the game in the third quarter after injuring his groin. Williams was evaluated for a head injury on the Johnson interception. Next up, on a short week, the Jets will visit the Steelers on Sunday Night Football. The Bills will host the Titans in Week 7.
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