GAME RECAP: Bills beat Jets 20-12, continue to hold best record in AFC East
BUFFALO, N.Y. — A snowy game in Buffalo went scoreless until less than a minute before halftime but ended with the Bills winning 20-12 against the Jets.
The game ended much differently than the narrow loss to the Jets in early November. With the win, Buffalo continues to have the best record in the AFC East. The Bills’ record rose to 10-3 while the Jets fell to 7-6. You can see live Tweets from the game from News10NBC’s Jackson Roberts and Mat Mlodzinski here.
The first quarter of the game went scoreless as both the Bills’ Josh Allen and Jets’ quarterback Mike White had trouble connecting with their receivers. All six drives in the quarter ended in a punt.
Early in the second quarter, Allen performed a 360-degree jump in the air during a run to get a first down from 3rd and 15. However, the Bills couldn’t reach another first down that drive, choosing to punt the ball on fourth down from their own 48 yard line. The first score in the game came from Bills’ tight end Dawson Knox less than a minute before halftime. Knox caught a pass from Allen and did a flip over the Jets’ defense to get a touchdown.
Much more scoring came in the third quarter but the Bills still ended with the lead. On the first drive following halftime, the Jets had some impressive catches, including a 25 yard completion to receiver Braxton Berrios. In the end, Jets runningback Zonovan Knight carried the ball through the end zone to tie the score.
The Bills had an answer in the next drive. Allen connected with the trusted receiver Stefon Diggs for a 32 yard completion. Near the end zone, Allen completed a 8 yard pass, 4 yard pass, then ran the ball in himself for the Bills’ second touchdown. The Jets next drive ended with a fumble recovery by Bills defensive tackle DaQuan Jones. With the ball, the Bills moved slowly into Jets territory before Tyler Bass kicked a 38 yard field goal. With his kick the Bills ended the third quarter leading 17-7.
The fourth quarter started with another field goal by Tyler Bass, this time even longer at 49 yards. However, the Jets special teams had an answer. The Jets’ Jermaine Johnson blocked a Bills’ punt that sent the ball rolling into the end zone for a safety, making the score 20-9.
The Bills defense fought hard to ensure the Jets didn’t convert the safety into anything more than 2 points. At the Buffalo 28 yard line, Bills defenders Taron Johnson and Damar Hamlin forced the Jets running back to drop the ball, then all-star linebacker Matt Milano scooped it up for a fumble recovery.
The last score of the game was a 26-yard Jets field goal with 1:21 left on the clock but it was too little too late. The Bills won 20-12.
The Bills next game will be next Saturday for a chance at revenge after losing to the Miami Dolphins in late September. The Bills will host the game and it kicks off at 8:15 p.m.