The Buffalo Bills took control of first place in the AFC East after a 23-20 win over the New York Jets on "Monday Night Football."
Kicker Tyler Bass hit a 22-yard field goal with three minutes and 43 seconds left in the fourth — the Bills’ only points in the second half — which proved to be the game-winner. Aaron Rodgers was intercepted on the Jets’ final drive, as Buffalo ran out the clock on the following possession.
The game was incredibly sloppy on both sides. The teams combined to miss four kicks — two field goals by New York and a field goal and an extra point by Buffalo. And the flags were endless, as the two squads combined for 22 accepted penalties for 204 yards, the most penalty yards in a game this season.
Buffalo QB Josh Allen completed 19 of 25 passes for 215 yards and two touchdowns, running for another score. The Bills were effective on the ground all night, rushing for 149 yards on 33 carries.
Rodgers went 23-of-35 for 294 yards and two touchdowns, continuing his streak of throwing for under 300 yards, which he hasn’t done since he played for the Green Bay Packers. He still led the Jets into the red zone four times, but they could manage only one touchdown in those trips.
Greg Zuerlein missed two kicks that would have given New York the lead in the second half, one from 32 yards out and the other from 43.
Buffalo is 4-2 and in sole possession of first place in the division.
The Jets fell to 2-4, in third place behind the Miami Dolphins, who had a bye in Week 6. The game was the head coaching debut for Jeff Ulbrich, who was leading New York after Robert Saleh was fired on Oct. 8.
Final: Bills 23, Jets 20
The Bills will escape a sloppy, penalty-filled, yet exciting game in first place in AFC East.
Buffalo wins 23-20 despite scoring only three points in the second half.
The Bills improved to 4-2, ending their two-game losing streak. The Jets are now 2-4, and 0-1 after the firing of Robert Saleh.
Aaron Rodgers is picked off!
What a wild drive.
Aaron Rodgers was picked off on 3rd-and-16 after his intended receiver Mike Williams slipped and fell trying to come back to the ball. Instead Taron Johnson was able to intercept the pass and get the ball back to the Bills.
The bizarre drive was marred by numerous penalties, with both teams getting flagged multiple times.
Buffalo takes over leading 23-20 with a minute and 52 seconds left. New York has all three of its timeouts.
Bills take the lead after somebody finally hits a field goal
Tyler Bass is good from 22 yards out, and the Bills have a 23-20 lead.
There are three minutes and 43 seconds left. Can Aaron Rodgers take the Jets down the field to tie or take the lead?
Jets miss another kick!
Greg Zuerlein just missed his second-straight field goal, CLANKING a 43-yarder off the left upright. Both teams are stuck on 20 points.
That’s the fourth missed kick of the night. The Bills have also missed a field goal and as well as an extra point.
Bills go three-and-out after three penalties
The Bills managed to commit a false start, an illegal formation, and a personal foul all on one drive. They punted after losing five yards in three plays.
The Jets have the ball back on their own 34 with the score tied at 20.
End of third: Jets 20, Bills 20
The Bills will have a 3rd-and-10 from their own 12 to start the fourth quarter.
It’s been a sloppy, uneven but ultimately interesting game so far. Lots of penalties and miscues on both sides. But it’s all set us up for an exciting finish.
The winner will be in first place in the AFC East.
Jets can’t take back lead after missed field goal
These red zone trips could come back to haunt the Jets.
Greg Zuerlein missed a chip-shot field goal from 32 yards out, keeping the score at 20-20.
The Jets briefly appeared to score a touchdown on 3rd-and-2 from the four-yard line, but it was nullified because of a holding penalty. On the next play, Aaron Rodgers threw incomplete to Garrett Wilson in the end zone.
The Jets have now scored only one touchdown in four red-zone trips.
Bills punt back to Jets
A couple penalties made the Bills’ latest drive seem longer than it was...but ultimately Buffalo punted after going three-and-out.
The Jets are taking over on their own 26 with a chance to re-take the lead.
Jets settle for three after eventful drive
It’s a tie game after a 22-yard field goal by the Jets.
The drive looked over after only three plays when Aaron Rodgers was sacked on third down, but a roughing the passer penalty kept New York alive.
A few plays later, Breece Hall took a toss 42 yards all the way down inside the five, but the Jets couldn’t punch it in from there.
It’s a 20-20 game with six minutes and 13 seconds to go in the quarter.
Bills miss field goal
Buffalo went 48 yards in seven plays but Tyler Bass missed a 47-yard field goal.
It’s Bass’s second missed kick of the night after he was way off on an extra point earlier in the game.
The Jets will take over on their own 37.
The second half is underway
The Bills have the ball to open the third quarter, leading 20-17.
Another angle of the Jets' Hail Mary TD
Jets score on a Hail Mary!
What an end to the half!
Aaron Rodgers threw up a prayer and it was answered by Allen Lazard, who reeled in a 52-yard touchdown catch. It’s the fourth(!!!!) Hail Mary touchdown pass of Rodgers’s career.
It’s now a 20-17 Bills lead headed into halftime.
Bills get into end zone before halftime
Another great drive by the Bills.
Buffalo went 68 yards in nine plays, aided by a couple pass interference penalties by the Jets. Josh Allen nearly fumbled the ball away in the red zone, but one play later found Dawson Knox in the end zone for a 12-yard score.
The Bills now lead 20-10.
Jets punt after Rodgers is sacked twice
Oof.
The Jets are punting after Aaron Rodgers took a couple big hits on their most recent drive.
Rodgers had a nice 24-yard completion to Breece Hall for a first down on the second play of the possession, but things went south from there.
The Bills take over after a touchback on the punt.
Bills score after loooong drive
What a drive from the Bills.
Ten plays, 90 yards, capped by a Mack Hollins eight-yard touchdown reception.
The highlight of the drive was a 42-yard pass from Josh Allen when Buffalo was backed up deep in its own territory.
The Bills now lead 13-10 after a missed extra point.
Jets can’t add to lead, punt
The Jets inspired confidence after Garrett Wilson picked up 14 yards on third down, but New York ended up losing four yards on its next set of downs and punted from its own 35.
The Bills will take over from their own 10.
Bills punting after only three plays
The Bills are punting after a three-and-out. Buffalo was behind the sticks after an incomplete pass on first down and ran only once on the drive.
The Jets take over after a touchback on the punt.
Jets storm back with touchdown of their own
The Jets are back on top!
New York went 65 yards in eight plays, a nice mix of moving the ball through the air and on the ground. On 3rd-and-Goal, Aaron Rodgers found Garrett Wilson for the go-ahead score.
The Jets now lead 10-7. They’ve moved the ball well on both their drives so far.
Bills take the lead after a ground-and-pound drive
The Bills are up 7-0 after running the ball with ease against the Jets on their opening drive.
Buffalo threw only once on the drive compared to eight rushes for 61 yards. Josh Allen capped off the possession with a rushing touchdown.
Jets settle for field goal in red zone
After seven plays, 54 yards and three first downs, the Jets settled for a 34-yard field goal to open the scoring.
Breece Hall dropped a pass on third down that was likely to convert for a first, which seemed to frustrate Aaron Rodgers. Still, it was a nice drive by New York.
The Jets now lead 3-0.
We’re off ...
... And the Jets will start with the ball. Their first play from scrimmage was a Breece Hall run for three yards.
Bills rookie Frank Gore Jr. to make debut
The rookie running back, who signed with the Bills after going undrafted out of Southern Mississippi, will make his pro debut against the Jets. His father, Frank Gore, played 15 seasons in the NFL and made multiple Pro Bowls.
Matthew Berry previews tonight's matchup
Neither Allen, Rodgers 100% for Week 6
Both Josh Allen and Aaron Rodgers are a little nicked up after Week 5, with Allen saying he took a shot to his chest and rolled his ankle (and was evaluated for a concussion), and Rodgers saying he has a low ankle sprain.
Both will start and play Monday night.
Aaron Rodgers has arrived at MetLife Stadium
Jets struggling early in games
New York trailed 17-0 in the second quarter of their eventual 23-17 loss to the Vikings. The Jets have scored 0 points in the first quarter during this two-game losing streak.
Sean McDermott takes blame for Week 5 loss
With the game tied in the final minute of regulation and the Bills backed up on their own 3-yard line, Buffalo made the puzzling decision to pass three straight times — all incompletions — effectively making the decision to give the Texans the ball with a chance to win by a field goal (which they did).
Houston had all 3 of their timeouts left at the time.
Bills head coach Sean McDermott took the blame after the loss saying, “We needed to run the clock and move the chains and that’s on me. We didn’t do that there, and that’s my fault… I've got to do a better job in that situation.”
Jets playing with new head coach
In a shocking early season move, the Jets fired head coach Robert Saleh last Tuesday after more than three seasons. Hired in 2021, Saleh went 20-36 with New York, never having a winning season.
Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich will take over as interim head coach.