New York Jets 27 Buffalo Bills 20 Week 3 Quick Hits

Mandatory Credit: William Perlman/THE STAR-LEDGER via USA TODAY Sports

In a pivotal Week 3 divisional game the Jets came up big and defeated the Buffalo Bills 27-20. That leaves the Jets at 2-1 going into a very difficult portion of the schedule. It was extremely sloppy especially penalty-wise but those are easier to correct after a win. Here are the quick hits:

1) Geno Smith plays well – Smith finished 16/29 for 331 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Smith was money when he had to be. He led a 12 play first drive that resulted in a designed QB draw for the score then responded well to his interception by connecting to Stephen Hill for a 51 yard touchdown on a bomb. Stephen Hill had 108 yards on 3 receptions. Holmes has been much more active with 5 catches for 154 yards and Jeremy Kerley had 2 receptions for 25 yards and should have had a 3rd reception that was not corrected by replay. Austin Howard has held Mario Williams without a sack. After the Jets were imploding with penalties Smith took the ball and found Holmes for a 69 yard touchdown to regain the lead.

2) Powell wows with agility – Bilal Powell had his first 100 yard game as a Jet with 146 yards on 26 carries mostly on cutbacks but it was tough sledding for the other rushers as the Bills plugged the holes including a key fourth down stop of Tommy Bohanon. Ivory started the game but was ineffective with 4 carries for 5 yards. Alex Green even was given time with 5 carries for 14 yards. The middle of the Jets line was not getting push up front.

3) Jets defense dominates  – Manuel looked confused and was running for his life as he was 19/41 for 244 yards a touchdown despite turning the ball over the possession he threw the touchdown but getting the benefit of referees incompetence. Manuel did have 40 yards on 6 rushes. CJ Spiller was held to 9 yards on 10 carries and did not return after halftime leaving with a knee injury. A freak play where Fred Jackson broke a tackle on a 3rd and 1 and ran 59 yards was one of the only blemishes. The Jets registered 8 sacks on Manuel with Coples, Davis, Richardson, Pace, Harris, Wilkerson and Allen all recording the sacks. Richardson and Douzable have been monsters up front with stopping the run. Demario Davis was terrific with a sack, setting the edge and a tipped ball on a key 3rd down that forced an interception. Kyle Wilson and Dee Milliner held Stevie Johnson to 2 catches for 14 yards in the first half before imploding in the second half both had an excellent pass break up against Johnson who seemed to injure his wrist on Wilson’s break up. On his first catch Jaiquawn Jarrett leveled Johnson. Johnson beat Cromartie for 23 with nice footwork. Johnson began to dominate in the 4th quarter owning Wilson on the game-tying drive and gaining separation to the tune of 6 catches for 85 yards and a two point conversion.

Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

4) Penalties – The Jets had 20 penalties for 168 yards in this game and most were very costly but some were not deserved. The referees lost control of the game in the early part of the 4th quarter and started throwing flags haphazardly and mostly in the Jets direction. Vlad Ducasse had 4 penalties by himself including a personal foul as well as 2 consecutive ones that forced a field goal instead of a touchdown. Colon also was penalized multiple times. Kyle Wilson and Antonio Cromartie were called for pass interference with Wilson’s costing them 3 points. Winslow was called for offensive pass interference. Wilson was targeted by the referees during the Bills game tying drive as he got baited by Stevie Johnson. Wilson had to be removed from the game for committing 4 consecutive penalties. Quinton Coples was called offsides multiple times as was Muhammad Wilkerson.

5) Misused challenges – Rex challenged a spot on the field on a 3rd and short that he shouldn’t have and lost a timeout then challenged a Stevie Johnson catch that wasn’t a good challenge either leaving the Jets with 1 timeout remaining in the 3rd quarter. It cost the Jets a turnover as Manuel was incorrectly ruled down when he clearly fumbled.

6) Injuries – Ivory did not return after the 1st quarter he had only 4 yards on 5 carries. Harris looked to injure his ankle in the 4th quarter but returned after 1 play.