Just when we, fans, thought that this Jets team was different from the Jets teams of the past, the Gang Green let us down. They blew a great chance to get within one game from the New England Patriots and solidify their position in the Wild Card hunt. The Jets lost to the Buffalo Bills, 31-13, and are now one game behind Cincinnati and Jacksonville who currently hold Wild Card seats in the AFC.
Both teams struggled on offense when the game started but later in the first quarter the Jets’ defense gave up a 57-yard touchdown run, which put the Bills on top, 7-0. The Gang Green got even on the ensuing drive set up by a 42-yard kickoff return by CB Justin Miller. Following Miller’s return, the Jets moved the ball into the Bills’ territory where QB Chad Pennington connected with WR Laveranues Coles on a 10-yard TD pass.
In the second period New York took a 10-7 lead when PK Mike Nugent converted a 30-yard field goal attempt early in the quarter. Then, with about five minutes left to play before halftime the Jets’ defense gave up yet another big play – this time a 77-yard TD pass. The Gang Green tried to level the game again but this time Pennington’s pass was picked off and returned for a touchdown, making the score 21-10. Nugent converted another field goal before the first half ended, 21-13.
The Jets got the ball first in the third quarter and easily moved inside Buffalo’s territory only to fail on a 3rd and 2 and punt into the end zone. Their second possession, however, was even worse. Chad Pennington got sacked and fumbled the ball on the Jets’ 18-yard line; the Bills recovered and instantly found themselves in a scoring position. The Bills scored four plays later, making it a 2-score game. As the final quarter began, the Bills sustained another scoring possession that took almost seven minutes off the game clock and basically put this game out of reach for the Jets, 31-13.
QB Chad Pennington had a horrible game, completing just 22 of 35 passes for 182 yards, 2 INT, 1 TD. RB Leon Washington carried the ball 7 times for 55 yards. RB Cedric Houston added 50 yards on 18 carries (2.8 yards/carry). WR Laveranues Coles caught 4 passes for 67 yards, 1 TD.
The defense gave up 174 yards on the ground, including 125 yards to RB Willis McGahee who once again had a great game against the Jets. FS Kerry Rhodes led the team with 7 solo tackles. LB Victor Hobson had 6 tackles (4 solo) and 2 sacks. DE/LB Bryan Thomas registered a sack, increasing his total to 7.5. CB Justin Miller forced and recovered a fumble in addition to averaging 29.0 yards on four kickoff returns. Next week the Jets will travel to Minnesota to take on the Vikings (6-7). The kickoff is at 1:00 PM ET.