Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills overcame a first-half Hail Mary touchdown throw by Aaron Rodgers to outlast the New York Jets 23-20 on Monday night and take control of the AFC East.
Allen threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score and Tyler Bass made up for an earlier miss by kicking a go-ahead 22-yard field goal with 3:43 left to help the Bills (4-2) snap a two-game skid. They have never lost three straight with Allen starting at quarterback.
The loss was the third in a row for the Jets (2-4), who capped a tumultuous week during which coach Robert Saleh was fired, defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich replaced him as the interim coach and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett was demoted from play-calling duties in favor of Todd Downing.
Greg Zuerlein, usually a reliable kicker, missed two potential go-ahead field goals for the Jets, hitting the left upright on both attempts. The game was also filled with penalty flags all night – each team had 11.
The Jets had got in an early rhythm on offense with Downing calling the plays as Rodgers got New York into the red zone. A drop by Hall on third down made the Jets settle for a 34-yard field goal by Zuerlein – New York’s first points on an opening drive this season.
Buffalo bounced back by running all over New York’s defense, gashing Ulbrich’s unit for 61 yards rushing – including 48 on six carries by Davis – and capping the Bills’ opening drive with a one-yard keeper by Allen to make it 7-3. Allen’s 56th career TD run put him one behind OJ Simpson for second in franchise history.
Garrett Wilson gave the Jets back the lead on their next drive, capping things by catching a five-yard pass from Rodgers in the back of the end zone and getting both feet down on a play that was initially ruled incomplete but reversed on video replay before Ulbrich needed to challenge.
Allen then led the Bills on a 90-yard drive to give Buffalo back the lead, capped by an eight-yard TD pass to Mack Hollins. Quinnen Williams got his hand on Bass’ extra point try that sailed wide left. Allen sparked the drive when he danced out of the end zone, scrambled to his right and threw across his body down the middle of the field where Davis got his hands on the ball, bobbled it and came down with it for a 42-yard catch. Allen’s second touchdown pass was a 12-yard throw to Dawson Knox with 21 seconds remaining before half-time to put Buffalo up 20-10.
But the first-half scoring wasn’t over. Rodgers’s deep throw on the final play of the half had the Jets, their fans – and social media – buzzing. With the Jets at their own 48 and perhaps hoping to get into field-goal range before half-time, Rodgers took a few steps back and danced around before launching the ball toward the end zone. Allen Lazard reached up in front of two Bills defenders and fell on his back. After a quick huddle, officials ruled it a touchdown and the score was 20-17 to the Bills heading into the second-half.
Bass missed another kick on Buffalo’s opening drive of the second half on a windy night, pushing a 47-yarder wide right. Zuerlein then tied it at 20-20 with a 22-yarder midway through the third quarter.
The Jets appeared to take the lead late on their next possession when Braelon Allen ran up the middle from four yards out, but left tackle Tyron Smith was called for holding. Rodgers connected with Wilson in the back of the end zone on the next play, but the wide receiver couldn’t hold on to the ball after being walloped by Damar Hamlin and Taylor Rapp.
Zuerlein then hit the left upright on a 32-yard attempt to keep the game tied. He also missed a potential go-ahead 43-yarder with 9:44 left in the fourth quarter, hitting the upright again.
With the Jets trailing 23-20 late, Rodgers threw deep for Mike Williams but the pass was short and Taron Johnson – back after breaking his forearm in the season opener – came up with the interception. Allen and the Bills were able to then run out the clock and seal the win. They are the only team in the division with a winning record.
Allen finished 19 of 25 for 215 yards. Rookie Ray Davis, filling in for the injured James Cook, ran for 97 yards on 20 carries and caught three passes for 55 yards. Rodgers was 23 of 35 for 294 yards with two touchdowns and the interception, and Breece Hall had 113 yards rushing and 56 receiving.