East Rutherford, N.J. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - While it wasn't the prettiest performance from the Buffalo Bills under the bright lights of prime-time on "Monday Night Football", sometimes you chalk it up as "a win is a win."
The Bills managed to hold off a late push from the New York Jets, and also avoid a three-game losing streak in the process with a 23-20 win over their divisional opponent on Monday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The Jets received the opening kickoff, and were able to march down the field and into scoring position. The drive included a 24-yard reception from quarterback Aaron Rodgers to wide receiver Garrett Wilson.
However, the drive stalled out, and the Jets got on the board first with a 34-yard field goal from kicker Greg Zuerlein.
The Bills' first drive of the game saw plenty of action in the run game with rookie running back Ray Davis leading the way. He carried the ball six times on the drive, helping set up a one-yard touchdown run by quarterback Josh Allen to give the Bills a 7-3 lead.
The Jets responded with a touchdown drive of their own, as Rodgers and Wilson connected again for seven points, this time from five yards out.
After both teams exchanged punts, the Bills found themselves pinned back as far as their own 10-yard line. However, Allen and Davis went to work again, coming together for a 42-yard completion toward midfield.
Moments later on the same drive, the Bills get back into the end zone thanks to an eight-yard strike from Allen to wide receiver Mack Hollins in the back of the end zone.
The Bills defense got into the action on the Jets' next offensive drive with two sacks of Rodgers, courtesy of defensive tackle DaQuan Jones and defensive end A.J. Epenesa to force a punt.
With over two minutes to go in the first half, the Bills got some help to extend their drive with two defensive pass interference penalties. With the clock under 30 seconds remaining in the half, Allen was able to escape pressure, roll to his left and find tight end Dawson Knox for a 12-yard touchdown pass.
After an extra point attempt from Bills kicker Tyler Bass was blocked, Buffalo was able to take a 20-10 lead heading into the final seconds of the half.
However, right before the end of the second quarter, just as the Bills thought they'd head to halftime with a 10-point lead, Rodgers pulled some magic from his hat in order to find wide receiver Allen Lazard on a 52-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass to cut the Bills' lead down to 20-17 at halftime.
Starting with the ball to start the second half, Allen's first play from scrimmage was a 38-yard connection between Allen and wide receiver Curtis Samuel.
However, the Bills got behind the chains and ended up turning to Bass for another field goal attempt. However, his kick drifted wide to the right from 47-yards out, giving the Jets the ball at their own 37-yard line.
After the missed field goal, the Jets were able to get some help from the officials on a roughing the passer call against the Bills on a third down sack by Epenesa. Breece Hall was also able to break loose for a 42-yard run to get the Jets into the Bills' five-yard line to set up 1st-and-goal.
Then the Buffalo defense put the clamps down deep inside the red zone, forcing the Jets to settle for a 22-yard field goal from Zuerlein to tie the game at 20-20.
After a Bills punt, the Jets, once again, marched down the field and into field goal range for Zuerlein, but a holding penalty pushed the Jets back enough to make the field goal attempt just a bit tougher. It ended up costing the Jets, as Zuerlein's kick hit the upright to keep the score tied.
The Bills started to run into some disciplinary troubles into the fourth quarter, as left tackle Dion Dawkins was flagged with a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, killing the Buffalo drive and resulting in a punt.
Once again, Rodgers and the Jets managed to get into field goal range, but yet again, New York came up empty-handed. While this kick was a bit more difficult from 43 yards out, Zuerlein's kick, once again, hit the upright and fell no good.
Buffalo took advantage of this missed field goal, managing to get back in the red zone, where they had success all night with three touchdowns on three trips.
While the Bills were unsuccessful to turn their fourth trip of the night in the red zone into seven points, Bass was able to hit a 22-yard field goal with 3:43 to go in regulation to give Buffalo the lead back again, 23-20.
On a critical third down with the Jets driving down the field, Rodgers heaved a pass intended for wide receiver Mike Williams inside the Bills' 20-yard line. However, Williams slipped just enough, allowing for nickel cornerback Taron Johnson to jump up and come away with an interception as the clock hit the two-minute warning.
Only needing a first down to be able to run out the clock, Allen was able to break free on a six-yard run on third down to seal the victory for Buffalo. From there, it was victory formation for the Bills, as the Jets had burned all three timeouts in the process.
With the win, the Bills now take a two-game lead in the AFC East standings with a 4-2 record, and the tie-breaker over both the Jets and Miami Dolphins.
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SCORING RECAP
First Quarter:
- 3-0 NEW YORK: Jets field goal (11:06) - Greg Zuerlein's 34-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 8 plays, 54 yards, 3:54
- 7-3 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (6:12) - Josh Allen sneaks for a 1-yard touchdown run. (Tyler Bass' extra point is good)
Drive info: 9 plays, 70 yards, 4:54
- 10-7 NEW YORK: Jets touchdown (2:01) - Aaron Rodgers finds Garrett Wilson for a 5-yard touchdown pass. (Greg Zuerlein's extra point is good)
Drive info: 9 plays, 70 yards, 4:11
Second Quarter:
- 13-10 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (6:54) - Josh Allen fires a strike to Mack Hollins for an 8-yard touchdown pass. (Tyler Bass' extra point is no good)
Drive info: 10 plays, 90 yards, 5:12
- 20-10 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (0:21) - Josh Allen finds Dawson Knox for a 12-yard touchdown pass. (Tyler Bass' extra point is good)
Drive info: 10 plays, 80 yards, 2:28
- 20-17 BUFFALO: Jets touchdown (0:00) - Aaron Rodgers hits Allen Lazard for a 52-yard touchdown pass. (Greg Zuerlein's extra point is good)
Drive info: 3 plays, 70 yards, 0:21
Third Quarter:
- 20-20 TIE: Jets field goal (6:13) Greg Zuerlein's 22-yard field goal attempt is good.
Dive info: 10 plays, 60 yards, 4:53
Fourth Quarter:
- 23-20 BUFFALO: Bills field goal (3:43) Tyler Bass' 22-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 11 plays, 64 yards, 6:01
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SKYWORKS EQUIPMENT RENTAL STATS OF THE GAME:
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What's next:
The Bills head back home to take on the Tennessee Titans at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. ET, with full play-by-play action heard on the official voice of the Bills - WGR Sports Radio 550.