New York Jets, Ryan Fitzpatrick Out Gun Buffalo Bills 37-31 (Highlights)
Kevin Hoffman, USATSI

Despite their best efforts in giving the game away, Ryan Fitzpatrick and the New York Jets out gunned Rex Ryan’s Buffalo Bills.

  • New York Jets 37 (1-1)
  • Buffalo Bills 31 (0-2)
  • NFL, Week 2 Final, Box Score
  • New Era Field, Orchard Park, NY
While most expected a football game on CBS’s Thursday Night Football, what we saw, instead, was one wild rollercoaster ride. The ups and downs, ebbs and flows between the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills were nothing that you wouldn’t expect between these two specific teams.

Todd Bowles‘s squad severely outplayed Rex Ryan’s, yet the game was close throughout. Instead of a route, the Bills picked up three monstrous plays for touchdowns to keep the score close in the end, 37-31.

Ryan Fitzpatrick was dynamite. He threw for 370 yards and this score to Eric Decker to provide the Jets a comfortable 20-7 lead in the second quarter:

Decker finished with six receptions for 126 yards and that score.

Fitz continually took what Rex gave him. This was the deep ball:

Entering the second half, with Buffalo down seven, New York allowed the Bills back in the game. First, Tyrod Taylor broke containment and abused third safety Rontez Miles by hitting former Jet Greg Salas for a big one:

Before the Jets even knew what him them, rookie Jalin Marshall fumbled the ball on the ensuing possession. The Bills, after being completely dominated in most of the major statistical categories including time of possession, were suddenly on top by the score of 24-20:

From that moment on, Gang Green collected themselves. They relied on an offense that took what Rex’s defense gave them. This meant Fitzpatrick going down the field time and time again. It also meant Matt Forte playing his usual role as a workhorse.

Forte went for 100 yards and three scores on a ridiculous 30 carries. The reason for the high attempt number was the Jets dominance in the time of possession category (39:12-20:48).

He tallied the Jets first score of the game, one in the third and then his last to put a seal on it:

Where the Jets really turned the game around came early in the fourth quarter when the big boys up front, Muhammad Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson, Leonard Williams and Steve McLendon, bottled up LeSean McCoy on this 4th-and-short attempt:

Up six points with just over seven minutes remaining, Forte and the offensive line took over to take a two-possession lead. Not even a late Buffalo score and an onside attempt could save them at that point.

The Jets will now enjoy 10 days off before heading to Kansas City to take on a very tough Chiefs squad in Week 3.

Game Notes:

Quincy Enunwa was a monster from the opening snap. Along with Decker and Brandon Marshall (who both went for 100 yards), he also flirted with 100 (six catches, 92 yards). This Jets offense is equipped with some serious weaponry.

Marcus Williams came up with huge interception of Tyrod Taylor with the Jets nursing a slim three-point lead early in the fourth:

Darrelle Revis, yet again, was beaten by a burner. After the Jets kicked a field goal to open the game, Marquise Goodwin went for 84 on Revis Island:

B-Marsh suffered a scare early in the game after he was dragged down by his facemask. He did, however, return a possession later.

James Carpenter was also injured on the very same play Marshall was hurting. He did not return to the game. Wesley Johnson, who replaced him at right guard, played very well.

The game featured a phenomenal amount of pass attempts over 20 yards. Both Bowles and Ryan love to blitz, but Buffalo allowed Fitzpatrick to absolutely shread their secondary down the field. The Jets secondary played their second straight poor game.

Rookie Darron Lee enjoyed an active night thanks to the new 4-3 scheme that we saw. All four of the big monsters up front started with Big Mo and Sheldon playing the bookends. Erin Henderson played the Mike with David Harris on one outside spot with Mike Catapano on the other:

NEXT: New York Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick Is Chad Pennington, Part Deux

Robby Sabo is a co-founder, CEO and credentialed New York Jets content creator for Jets X-Factor - Jet X, which includes Sabo's Sessions (in-depth film breakdowns) and Sabo with the Jets. Host: Underdog Jets Podcast with Wayne Chrebet and Sabo Radio. Member: Pro Football Writers of America. Coach: Port Jervis (NY) High School. Washed up strong safety and 400M runner. SEO: XL Media. Founder: Elite Sports NY - ESNY (Sold in 2020). SEO: XL Media. Email: robby.sabo[at]jetsxfactor.com