Bills soar to victory over Jets, win fourth straight match
The Buffalo Bills finally look like they are back on track as one of the top teams in the National Football League after their fourth straight win and second in a row against a divisional opponent after their week fourteen victory over the New York Jets. New York won the first game of this series in week nine, as they defeated a struggling Bills team, albeit with a different starting quarterback. These are not the Jets of old, as they came into the game sitting at 7-5 fighting for their first playoff spot since 2010. Buffalo had to fight through a plethora of unfortunate weather conditions but found a way to scrape together the victory, taking down the Jets 20-12.
Notable inactives for the Bills included fullback Reggie Gilliam (ankle), defensive tackle Jordan Phillips (shoulder), and star linebacker Von Miller, who was declared out of the year previous to the game after undergoing a surprise exploratory surgery that found an ACL injury. Miller’s lengthy absence will weigh heavy on the Bills’ defense and team as a whole as they continue their fight for the number one spot in the AFC and beyond.
The first 27 minutes of action brought about five straight punts from each team as a result of the sleet and rain pouring down on the squads, with the Bills putting together the longest drive; a mediocre 28-yard stand that only came about as a result of an impressive 16-yard high-flying rush by quarterback Josh Allen towards the beginning of the second quarter.
Buffalo got the ball back with three minutes left in the first half, and were able to put together a series of plays that brought them downfield. Multiple short passes along with two Josh Allen scrambles and a defensive penalty brought the team to the Jets’ 24-yard line, just outside of the red zone. Allen was able to find tight end, Dawson Knox, along the sideline before Knox performed some acrobatics and jumped his way into the endzone, giving the Bills the lead before the game went into halftime.
The Jets came out of the break hot and created a 10-play, 72-yard drive after some strong mid-range passes by new starting quarterback Mike White. The team was able to push the ball in on the ground, tying the game after a 13-yard rush by Zon ovan Knight.
The Bills got the ball back and immediately worked downfield thanks to the longest play of the day, a 32-yard pass to wide receiver Stefon Diggs. Defensive pass interference was called on the Jets, bringing the ball within their 20-yard line, and Buffalo took advantage. Allen used his legs again to rush into the endzone for a five-yard score, putting the team back ahead.
The next drive proved costly for New York, with Mike White suffering an injury to his midsection and being removed from the game after a vicious form-tackle by Bills’ linebacker Matt Milano. The implications of losing White were felt immediately, as veteran backup quarterback Joe Flacco was sacked by defensive end Greg Rousseau on his very first play and fumbled the ball at the Jets’ own 44-yard line. The Bills’ offense handled the rest as a 17-yard pass to receiver Gabe Davis brought the team within field goal range, where kicker Tyler Bass drove the ball through the uprights to put the team up by ten.
The fourth quarter opened with a three-and-out by the Jets before the Bills brought the ball back into field goal range, where Bass added their final points of the day via a 49-yard field goal.
New York spiced things up late in the final quarter, blocking a Bills’ punt back through their own endzone for a safety to bring them within eleven points before a last-minute 26-yard field goal by kicker Greg Zuerlein proved to be all they could muster.
Buffalo walked away from this one with a 12-point victory over a tough divisional opponent, proving they have what it takes to bring down this newly-adequate Jets team. The Bills will turn to face their third-straight divisional rival in week 15 in a rare Saturday night game on Dec. 17 which will help figure out the playoff picture with Miami currently fighting for a spot.