It was a good old shootout on a Thursday Night between two fierce divisional rivals. With ownership already stating it’s playoff or bust for the Bills this year, don’t expect this type of football to continue.
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“Well, I mean, I thought we could cover them”, Ryan said. “To their credit, it never mattered what we played because they were the better team today”. It was the second time that both have topped 100 yards since joining the Jets last season.
The running attack has particularly struggled a year after leading the National Football League with 2,432 yards. The Jets had been picking on Gilmore up until that point, and it looked like a potential frustration tackle on Marshall.
The Jets took personal satisfaction in winning a game they took very personally.
But the defense for Buffalo couldn’t hold serve as they struggled all night to get off the field on third down. The Bills at no point adjusted to this and the Jets exposed it, setting up 3 & shorts.
At the start of the second half, things quickly swung the Bills way.
In beating one of his former teams, Fitzpatrick also overcame the stinging memories of last year’s season finale, a 22-17 loss at Buffalo that eliminated the Jets from playoff contention.
Long plays were the plan coming in according to Taylor. Here’s what we learned in Thursday’s matchup.
“There was confidence in the huddle”, Fitzpatrick said.
The final drive of the first quarter went to the Jets.
The Bills just couldn’t keep up with Eric Decker – or any of the Jets’ receivers – and couldn’t get off the field.
It certainly could’ve been that bad when Marshall was yanked backwards by his facemask by Bills cornerback Stephen Gilmore early in the second quarter of the Jets’ 37-31 win on Thursday night. More so as Fitzpatrick began warming up.
The first Jets touchdown gave NY the lead following the three-and-out. Brandon Marshall had six receptions for 101 yards. The result? Brady lit up the Bills for 466 passing yards. Marshall immediately grabbed his knee and lay on the field for a few minutes before getting up on his own. Williams was signed by the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent, but was signed by NY earlier this month.
The drive set the tone for the rest of the game as the Jets won the time of possession battle 39:12 to 20:48. The Jets defensive line, led by defensive end Sheldon Richardson in his first game back from suspension, wrapped up running back LeSean McCoy for no gain.
WHAT WENT RIGHT: Pretty much nothing.
The offense was much improved, with Tyrod Taylor going 18 of 30 for 297 yards and three touchdowns. An extra point brought the score to 20-17 for the Jets.
Then there were Marshall and Decker, Fitzpatrick’s two favorite weapons, who had six catches each. Nickell Robey-Coleman scooped it up and ran 36-yards for a touchdown.
Once again Fitzpatrick led a scoring drive, putting the Jets ahead 37-24.
“Got to give them credit”, Ryan said.
The Jets would answer in a big way.
With an 84-yard touchdown pass to Marquise Goodwin and a 71-yard TD pass to Greg Salas, Taylor became Buffalo’s fifth quarterback to throw two touchdowns of 70-yards or longer in the same game. Gilmore – who was penalized on the dirty play – should be called out for it. They led 30-24 at the start of the fourth.
After generating only 160 yards in the opener, the Bills’ offense bounced back to rack up 393 yards. The Bills were granted a generous spot on a fourth down attempt.
“Our big-time players made some big-time plays”, Bowles said. Metered-markets-to-metered-markets, the Jets vs. Bills game fell 31% from the Broncos 21-20 win over the Carolina Panthers last week.
A missed onside kick seal the 0-2 state.
“Right now, our schedule looks daunting against anybody”. If you’re on his good side and he trusts you, you’ve got a friend and a potential work ally for life.
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Ryan’s prized defense the one he vowed would be much improved over a year ago was porous.
