The Buffalo Bills for much of this decade NEVER win pretty, and this was game was no exception. The Bills used their solid defense and a “good enough” performance by their offense to pull out a 22-17 win on the road at MetLife Stadium.
Bills Head Coach Rex Ryan is off to a good start as his defense did a lot of the leg work that led to his first win over the New York Jets, who employed him from 2009-2014 as that franchise’s head coach.
The Bills with this win run their record to 5-4 overall and 3-1 in the AFC East (which is good for second place in that division behind the New England Patriots). This win also gives the Bills the momentum they need, as they will oppose the Patriots in a big AFC East matchup in 11 days, that could decide who is in first place in the AFC East in late November.
Quarterback Tyrod Taylor (17 of 27 for 158 yards and 1 scoring pass), didn’t have to be perfect tonight because his running game and his defense had his back.
Bills running back LeSean McCoy carried 19 times for 112 yards. He showed off his speed and moves for much of this game to take pressure off of Taylor, who had trouble going through his progressions due to the pass rush provided by the Jets defense.
It would have been nice if the Jets (5-4 overall, 1-2 AFC West) would have won this game. But since they didn’t, defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson’s standout performance is a mere footnote outside of the Jets locker room. He contributed 2 sacks and numerous pressure on Taylor. With his two-sack game, Wilkerson now has 7 sacks on the season which leads the Jets defense by a mile in that department.
The Bills scored the first touchdown of the game, when the Jets’ wide receiver Devin Smith returned a Dan Gay kickoff 21 yards to the NYJ 16. It was at that yard line that Smith fumbled, with Bills strong safety Duke Williams picking up the live ball and returning it 19 yards to the house. With 5:38 left in the first half it was 7-3 Bills.
Early in the third quarter, the Bills added to the Jets’ misery, when Taylor threw over the middle to emerging talent and rookie running back Karlos Williams, who leapt into the air and then caught the pass near the NYJ 10, with the back then racing untouched into the end zone for a 26 yards scoring reception. With 11:15 left in the third quarter the Jets moved their lead to 19-3.
Less than three minutes later, the Bills tacked on some more points. This time the points came courtesy of placekicker Dan Carpenter, who sent a 29 yard field goal straight through the uprights for a 22-3 Bills lead with 8:42 remaining in the third quarter.
It took all the way to near the five minute mark for the Jets to finally score a touchdown in this game. On 2nd and 7 from the BUF 14, wide receiver Brandon Marshall got all the way to the left side of the formation to catch a Ryan Fitzpatrick (15 of 34 for 193 yards, 2 touchdown passes and 2 picks) pass, that the receiver took untouched into the end zone. With 4:39 to go in the third quarter, that 14 yard Marshall scoring reception moved the score to 22-10.
Then on the Bills’ drive after that Marshall score, they had to turn the ball back over to the Jets. Because on 3rd and 2, Taylor threw towards the right sideline where he found wide receiver Robert Woods. Woods virtually had no chance at getting to the BUF 30 (where the first down marker was), because Jets cornerback Buster Skrine was right there to push Woods out of bounds at the BUF 28. Skrine’s big play forced a 4th and 2 punt by Bills punter Colton Schmidt.
Then later in the fourth quarter, Jets wide receiver Eric Decker (6 catches for 85 yards and 1 score) made a play that was commensurate to why he was signed for $36.25 million plus $15 million guaranteed back in Spring 2014. On 2nd and 7 from the BUF 31, Fitzpatrick took the snap and looked down field. He then fired deep where he found Decker who leapt into the air at the BUF 7, then the receiver secured the pass amid double coverage from Bills cornerback Nickell Roby and strong safety Bacarri Rambo. Then finally, Decker fell into the end zone. That 31 yard touchdown reception by Decker cut the Bills’ lead to 22-17 with 7:23 left in the game.
That touchdown catch kept Decker’s streak alive of touchdown catches in a game, as he has touchdowns in three straight games since November 1, 2015 when the Jets lost to Oakland 34-20.
But that would be the last time either team would score. The Bills used running plays on their last offensive drive of the game to help run out the clock, plus a Rambo interception on the last play of the game sealed the Bills’ fifth win of the season.
