NFL Week 12 New York Jets Vs. Buffalo Bills Quick Hits
By Craig Hoffman
Nov 24, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; New York Jets quarterback Michael Vick (1) sits on the bench after being pulled from the game during the fourth quarter against the Buffalo Bills at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
The Jets faced the Buffalo Bills in a game that was originally scheduled for Sunday in Buffalo. After seven feet of snow fell on the greater Buffalo area earlier in the week, the NFL decided to move the game to Detroit and make it a Monday Night Football game. The result was a prime-time divisional tilt with some added intrigue. Unfortunately the Jets decided to play listless, uninspired football and lost to the Bills in the same manner as they did a month ago. The Jets lost 38-3.
1) Michael Vick and the offense embarrasses themselves – Vick was 6/15 for 42 yards in the 1st half. He took an awful sack inside the Bills’ 10 yard line and threw three balls that should have been intercepted. He also missed a wide open Eric Decker for a touchdown on a blown coverage. The Jets had 81 total 1st half yards. They ran at 5.6 yards per attempt in the 1st half but only ran it 10 times compared to throwing it 15 times. Chris Ivory only had three carries for eight yards in half number one. Vick left the game with a leg injury after going 7/19 for 76 yards and an interception. The stat line was awful but not nearly as awful as Vick played. The Jets finished with just over 200 total yards. Geno Smith played competently in garbage time.
Nov 24, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan on the sidelines during the first quarter against the Buffalo Bills at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
2) The Jets came out flat and uninspired then quit in the 2nd half- Despite coming off of a win, a bye and getting more practice time the Jets looked flat, rusty and lost which is what you would expect the Bills to look like coming off of their week. Instead the Bills forced an ugly three and out from the Jets then drove it right down the field for a touchdown. The Jets didn’t have any new or interesting wrinkles offensively or defensively and other than a 4th and 1 stuff they showed no emotion. They got outscored 24-0 in the 2nd half. That is on the coach. The Jets cannot handle prosperity under Rex Ryan. They alternated wins and losses last year for most of the season and this year it has just mostly been losses but the constant is that the Jets don’t come out hungry after victories. That is why Ryan will be let go at the end of the year.
Nov 24, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Robert Woods (10) makes a catch in the end zone for a touchdown during the first quarter against the New York Jets at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
3) Robert Woods lights up the Jets secondary – Woods had six catches, a touchdown and an amazing one-handed reception for 27 in the 1st half alone. He finished with nine catches for 118 yards and a touchdown. With the focus on Watkins, Woods was able to get and take advantage of one on one coverage. The Bills, much like most of the Jets opponents, took advantage of post routes, crossing routes and one on one coverage. The Jets continued to blitz the Bills despite their problems doing that in the last meeting between the 2 teams.
Oct 16, 2014; Foxborough, MA, USA; New York Jets special teams coach Thomas Mc Gaughey (second from left) reacts as punter Ryan Quigley (4) comes off the field against the New England Patriots during the second half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
4) Special teams were disastrous – Ryan Quigley shanked one punt resulting in a Buffalo touchdown, then had another punt blocked for a touchdown when there was only one rusher. Percy Harvin keeps bringing the ball out of the end zone 7-9 yards deep. Harvin did that three times and did not get out to the 20 on any of them, on the 3rd one he only got to the six yard line. They also had a block in the back penalty on a fair catch. Kerley had a 41 yard punt return but that was the lone highlight in a night of lowlights.
Nov 24, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; New York Jets quarterback Michael Vick (1) is sacked by Buffalo Bills defensive end Mario Williams (94) during the first half at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
5) The offensive line was abysmal – The Bills dominated the line of scrimmage with 5 sacks and 7 quarterback hits on Michael Vick before he left the game. Mario Williams had two sacks and three quarterback hits in the 1st half and was generally unblock-able. Breno Giacomini got lit up all night and D’Brickashaw Ferguson and the rest of the line wasn’t much better.
Nov 24, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Kyle Orton (18) throws a pass under pressure by New York Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson (96) during the first half at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
6) Injuries – Wilkerson left the game with a toe injury in the 2nd quarter and did not return. Vick hurt himself in the 3rd quarter while preventing a touchdown on an interception and was pulled for Geno Smith. Jace Amaro left the game with a head injury.