East Rutherford, N.J. (WGR 550/WBEN) - The Buffalo Bills fall in heartbreaking fashion in their 2023 season opener.
After getting out to a 13-3 lead at halftime, the Bills allowed the New York Jets to climb back in the game and found themselves eventually trailing 16-13 late in the fourth quarter.
Despite tying the game and forcing overtime at MetLife Stadium, the Jets ended up getting a game-winning 65-yard punt return touchdown from rookie Xavier Gipson to hand Buffalo a 22-16 loss in prime-time on "Monday Night Football".
The Bills received the opening kickoff to start the game, but ended up punting after an early first down conversion from the offense.
The Jets appeared to get off to a quick start with Breece Hall breaking free for a 26-yard gain on the opening play of the drive.
However, following a sack from Bills pass rusher Leonard Floyd just four snaps into the drive, veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers went down due to an apparent ankle injury, calling for third-year quarterback Zach Wilson to step into action. The Bills defense held the Jets to another punt, giving the ball back to the Buffalo offense.
As for Rodgers, he ended up not returning to the game after he was carted towards the locker room following a quick evaluation from trainers in the blue medical tent. He was later seen getting off a cart heading into the Jets locker room, but with a walking boot on and no shoulder pads.
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The Bills turned their next drive into three points after calling upon free agent acquisition Deonte Harty a pair of times on the drive, as well as veteran wideout Stefon Diggs for a 15-yard gain. After getting as far as the Jets' 22-yard line, Buffalo turned to kicker Tyler Bass to convert a 40-yard field goal for the first points of the evening.
After forcing another Jets punt, the Bills looked to turn their strong defensive play, to this point, into more points on the scoreboard. However, the drive ended quickly when Allen threw his first interception of the season to Jets safety Jordan Whitehead on a deep pass attempt to Harty.
Despite being pinned down inside their own five-yard line, Hall broke free from the backfield once again on the first play from scrimmage, taking a run 83 yards down to the Bills' 12-yard line. However, the Jets were unable to punch the ball into the end zone, and ended up with a 26-yard field goal from kicker Greg Zuerlien to tie the game at 3-3.
Buffalo responded to Allen's interception and New York's response with an 11-play drive that chewed 5:52 off the game clock in the second quarter. The drive ended with the Bills quarterback rolling out to his right and firing a five-yard touchdown pass to Diggs before crossing the line of scrimmage.
New York's next drive only lasted three plays, as Wilson tossed his first interception of the season to Bills linebacker Matt Milano on a pass intended for wideout Randall Cobb.
With 3:08 to work with and Buffalo starting its drive at midfield following a taunting penalty, the Bills tried to add some more points on the scoreboard before halftime. Despite wanting seven point, the Bills settled for three with a 34-yard field goal from Bass with 17 seconds remaining in the second quarter.
At the start of the second half, the Jets turned to the running backs again both on the ground and in the air. Hall and veteran Dalvin Cook both helped get the Jets as far as the Bills' 22-yard line before Buffalo's defense managed to force another Zuerlein field goal from 43 yards out.
The Bills' first drive of the second half saw the offense getting as far as the Jets' 38-yard line before Allen misfired on a pass to Diggs in the end zone, resulting in another interception from Whitehead.
As the game entered the fourth quarter with the Bills leading by a touchdown, 13-6, Allen fired his third interception of the game to Whitehead, allowing the Jets a chance to tie the game with 9:43 remaining in regulation.
Wilson and the Jets finally managed to drive deep into Buffalo territory on their following drive, resulting in a tipped-ball touchdown catch from wide receiver Garrett Wilson to tie the game at 13-13.
With the Bills in control of the ball and a chance to kill some clock in the late stages of the game, the first snap of Buffalo's next offensive drive was fumbled by Allen as he took the shotgun snap from center Mitch Morse. After regaining possession of the football, Allen fumbled again after colliding with defensive lineman Micheal Clemons, and the Jets were able to recover with 4:47 to go.
Despite working with a short field, the Jets failed to find the end zone, but managed to grab a 16-13 lead with 1:48 remaining on the clock.
Needing a drive to tie the game or take the lead late, Allen went to work, connecting with Diggs three times to get the Bills in position to score late. After a couple of incomplete passes once at the Jets' 32-yard line, the Bills turned to Bass once again for the tying field goal from 50 yards out. Although the kick hit the left upright, it angled through for a successful kick with two seconds remaining to force overtime.
After winning the the coin toss in overtime, the Buffalo offense sputtered on its opening drive of overtime with a three-and-out.
On the ensuing punt, Gipson turned on the jets as he turned the corner, and got some blocking help for a 65-yard return to give New York a 22-16 win on home field.
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GAME SUMMARY
First Quarter:
-3-0 BUFFALO: Bills field goal: (3:05) - Tyler Bass' 40-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 11 plays, 55 yards, 6:19
Second Quarter:
-3-3 TIE: Jets field goal: (10:35) - Greg Zuerlein's 26-yard field goal attempt is good.
Dive info: 5 plays, 88 yards, 2:27
-10-3 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown: (4:43) - Josh Allen fires a five-yard touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 11 plays, 75 yards, 5:52
-13-3 BUFFALO: Bills field goal: (0:17) - Tyler Bass' 34-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 9 plays, 34 yards, 2:51
Third Quarter:
-13-6 BUFFALO: Jets field goal (8:59) - Greg Zuerlein's 43-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 12 plays, 50 yards, 6:01
Fourth Quarter:
-13-13 TIE: Jets touchdown (4:55) - Zach Wilson tosses a three-yard touchdown pass to Garrett Wilson. (Greg Zuerlein's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 8 plays, 57 yards, 4:48
- 16-13 NEW YORK: Jets field goal (1:48) - Greg Zuerlein 30-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 8 plays, 15 yards, 3:03
-16-16 TIE: Bills field goal (0:02) - Tyler Bass' 50-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 9 plays, 43 yards, 1:46
Overtime:
-22-16 NEW YORK: Jets touchdown (0:58) - Xavier Gipson returns a 65-yard punt for a touchdown.
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SKYWORKS EQUIPMENT RENTAL STATS OF THE GAME:
Passing:
Buffalo:
- Josh Allen: 29-of-41, 236 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs
New York:
- Zach Wilson: 14-of-21, 140 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
- Aaron Rodgers: 0-of-1, 0 yards
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Rushing:
Buffalo:
- James Cook: 12 carries, 46 yards
- Josh Allen: 6 carries, 36 yards
- Damien Harris: 1 carry, 3 yards
New York:
- Breece Hall: 10 carries 127 yards
- Dalvin Cook: 13 carries, 33 yards
- Zach Wilson: 4 carries, 6 yards
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Receiving:
Buffalo:
- Stefon Diggs: 10 catches, 102 yards, 1 TD
- Gabe Davis: 2 catches, 32 yards
- Dalton Kincaid: 4 catches, 26 yards
New York:
- Allen Lazard: 2 catches, 46 yards
- Garrett Wilson: 5 catches, 34 yards, 1 TD
- Dalvin Cook: 3 catches, 26 yards
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Defense:
Buffalo:
- Terrel Bernard: 11 total tackles
- Matt Milano: 8 total tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 INT
- Jordan Poyer: 7 total tackles
New York:
- Jordan Whitehead: 2 tackles, 3 pass defended, 3 INTs
- D.J. Reed: 11 total tackles, 1 pass defended
- Quincy Williams: 10 total tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 pass defended
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What's next:
The Bills will return to Orchard Park to take on the Las Vegas Raiders in the home opener on Sunday, Sept. 17 at Highmark Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. ET on the official voice of the Bills - WGR Sports Radio 550.