Week 14 Game Recap: Buffalo Bills 31, New York Jets 13

What you need to know

Buffalo Bills

Despite being outplayed by the Jets by most accounts, the Buffalo Bills made more than enough big plays to upset the New York Jets. The Bills used big first half plays by running back Willis McGahee (57 yard touchdown run), wide receiver Lee Evans (77 yard touchdown reception) and cornerback Nate Clements (58 yard interception return for a touchdown) to go up early on the Jets and they never looked back. They went into halftime with an eight point lead and proceeded to shut out the Jets’ offense in the second half.

Willis McGahee had a big game, primarily on the strength of his long first quarter touchdown run. After the run he left the game with an upset stomach and didn’t return until the beginning of the second half. Even with reduced playing time, he rushed for 125 yards on 16 carries. Backup running back Anthony Thomas saw more action that usual with McGahee ailing in the first half, adding 42 yards on 15 carries.

J.P. Losman had a very efficient game, despite throwing only 15 pass attempts. He completed 66.7% of them (ten completions) for 157 yards, including the deep scoring strike to Evans and a six yard touchdown to tight end Robert Royal in the third quarter. Evans was his favorite target, whom he threw to five times.

The Bills’ defense played well despite the Jets’ offense out gaining their own. They used opportunistic big plays to stop Jets’ drives and score points. Linebacker London Fletcher-Baker intercepted Chad Pennington mid way through the fourth quarter, effectively ending any chance of a Jets’ victory. They only allowed one touchdown, a Pennington to Laveranues Coles first quarter connection. They gave up 182 yards passing, 134 yards rushing, had four sacks (three by Aaron Schobel), had two interceptions, and forced two fumbles (one of which they recovered). It was a solid all around performance by the Buffalo defense.

New York Jets

In a game the Jets really needed to win to stay in the think of the hunt for a wildcard playoff birth, they lost due to a series of mistakes, particularly by signal caller Chad Pennington. Pennington threw two interceptions, the first proving very costly as it was returned by Nate Clements for a 58 yard touchdown. He was also sacked four times and fumbled twice (losing one). Coupled with the big plays given up by the Jets’ defense, the game was over at halftime—New York wouldn’t score again.

Pennington’s favorite targets were wide receivers Laveranues Cole, Jerricho Cotchery, and running back Leon Washington. Coles caught a ten yard touchdown in the first quarter on a drive that was set up by Justin Miller’s excellent kickoff return. Coles was the only receiver with more than 50 yards receiving (67). Washington led the team in receptions with seven, as Pennington looked to him frequently for dump offs as he came out of the backfield.

Washington got the start at running back and was the most productive Jet at the position (55 yards rushing, 28 yards receiving). Cedric Houston had most of the touches, though, gaining 50 yards on 18 carries.

Kickoff returner Justin Miller was one of the consistent bright spots for the Jets, as his averaged 29.0 yards per return, including a long of 42.

The Jets’ defense gave up big first half touchdown plays to McGahee and Evans, but tightened up a bit in the second half and only allowed ten points. They sacked Losman three times, and recovered an Anthony Thomas fumble.

What you ought to know

QB J.P. Losman, Pass: 10 - 15 - 157 - 2 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 1 - -1 - 0

Losman completed 66.7% of his passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns. He was very effective with the limited number of passes he threw, and didn’t make any crucial mistakes. Losman favored wide receiver Lee Evans with his looks, and found him wide open on a deep sideline route for a 77 yard second quarter touchdown. He added another scoring strike in the third quarter when he hit tight end Robert Royal for a six yard touchdown.

RB Anthony Thomas, Rush: 15 - 42 - 0, Rec: 3 - 23 - 0 (3 targets)

Thomas was the primary back when McGahee was out with his upset stomach, but actually saw most of his touches in the second half when the Bills were milking the clock. His 15 carries and 42 yards were good for second on the team. Thomas caught all three of the passes thrown his way. He lost a fumble early in the second quarter.

RB Willis McGahee, Rush: 16 - 125 - 1

McGahee started the game fantastically, racing mostly untouched for a 57 yard touchdown run on the Bills’ third possession of the game. He left the game immediately after the long touchdown run, and it was reported that he had an upset stomach. McGahee returned at the beginning of the second half and added another ten carries and 50 yards after halftime. He finished with his second 100 yard rushing game of the season, and his second highest total for 2006.

WR Peerless Price, Rush: 1 - -3 - 0, Rec: 2 - 19 - 0 (3 targets)

Price started the game as the second wide receiver. His three targets all came in the first half.

WR Lee Evans, Rec: 2 - 91 - 1 (5 targets)

Evans was once again the Bills’ leading receiver, earning team-highs in targets and yardage. His 77 yard touchdown hook up with Losman exhibited his superior speed and ability to fake out defenders, as he was wide open after a series of moves. Only one of the three passes thrown his way that he didn’t catch could be considered a drop.

WR Josh Reed, Rec: 1 - 11 - 0 (2 targets)

Reed dropped his first look but caught his second for an 11 yard gain.

TE Robert Royal, Rec: 2 - 13 - 1 (2 targets)

Royal caught both balls thrown his way, including a six yard touchdown in the third quarter.

PK Rian Lindell 1 - 1 FG, 4 - 4 XP, 7 points

Lindell had a perfect game, making his only field goal attempt of 34 yard and connecting on all four of his PATs.

BUF Rush Defense

The Bills’ rush defense 134 total yards, but no more that 55 yards to any one player (Leon Washington). The gave up no touchdowns, and forced no turnovers.

BUF Pass Defense

The Bills’ pass defense was excellent, despite allowing a high percentage of Chad Pennington’s passes to be completed. They had two interceptions, the first of which Nate Clements returned 58 yards for a touchdown. The second was made by linebacker London Fletcher-Baker and essentially ended any chance the Jets had of making a comeback. The pass rush got to Pennington for four sacks, including three by defensive end Aaron Schobel. They forced Pennington to fumble twice, one of which was recovered by end Ryan Denney. They allowed 182 and one touchdown.

QB Chad Pennington, Pass: 22 - 35 - 182 - 1 TD / 2 INT, Rush: 4 - 19 - 0

Pennington played his typical game of short, high percentage passes, but he also made enough mistakes and turnovers to lose the game for the Jets. He threw two interceptions, the first of which was returned for a touchdown. Pennington was sacked four times and fumbled twice, one of which was recovered by Buffalo. On the positive side, he completed 62.9% of his passes, and connected with Laveranues Coles for a ten yard touchdown in the first quarter. Pennington’s favorite targets were Coles, running back Leon Washington, and wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery. He targeted nine different receivers.

RB Cedric Houston, Rush: 18 - 50 - 0, Rec: 1 - 7 - 0 (2 targets)

Houston didn’t start the game but had starter like carries, finishing with a team high 18 rushes. No other Jets’ player had more than seven. He didn’t rip off any big gains, with his longest rush being nine yards. Houston added one catch in the passing game. He appeared to be outplayed by rookie Leon Washington.

RB Leon Washington, Rush: 7 - 55 - 0, Rec: 7 - 28 - 0 (8 targets)

Washington started the game at tailback, and finished with a career-high in targets and receptions. Pennington frequently looked to him as a dump off options out of the backfield. Washington led the team in total yards (83) and was the more productive back on the ground, averaging 7.9 yard per carry.

RB James Hodgins (1 targets)

Hodgins had one target in the game, a first quarter look from Pennington that was either too high or a possible attempt to throw the ball away.

WR Jerricho Cotchery, Rec: 5 - 37 - 0 (8 targets)

Cotchery tied for the team lead in targets with running back Leon Washington. Most of his passes were of the short variety, as his long was 15 yards. Cotchery was targeted in all four quarters, and was the intended receiver on Pennington’s first interception that was returned for a touchdown. The pass was too high, was tipped by Cotchery, and fell into the waiting hands of Nate Clements.

WR Laveranues Coles, Rec: 4 - 67 - 1 (7 targets)

Coles was the most productive receiver for the Jets, gaining 67 yards on four receptions. He scored a ten yard touchdown in the first quarter. All of Coles’ looks came in the first half.

WR Brad Smith, Rush: 1 - 2 - 0, Rec: 1 - 4 - 0 (1 targets)

Smith had a catch on his lone target of the game.

WR Justin McCareins, Rec: 1 - 14 - 0 (2 targets)

McCareins was targeted twice in a row in the fourth quarter. He caught the first but Bills’ linebacker London Fletcher-Baker intercepted the second.

TE Chris Baker, Rec: 2 - 17 - 0 (4 targets)

Baker caught two of the four passes thrown his way, and led the Jets’ tight ends in catches and yardage.

TE Sean Ryan, Rec: 1 - 8 - 0 (2 targets)

Ryan caught one of his looks for an eight yard gain.

PK Mike Nugent 2 - 2 FG, 1 - 1 XP, 7 points

Nugent made his only PAT and both of his field goals (30 and 38 yards).

NYJ Rush Defense

The Jets’ rush defense gave up 174 total rushing yards. This number was inflated by McGahee’s long touchdown run (where he went untouched) and the fact that the Bills ran the ball a lot in the second half to milk the clock. They forced a fumble by Anthony Thomas that was recovered by Justin Miller.

NYJ Pass Defense

The Jets’ pass defense gave up 157 yards on 66% passing and two touchdowns. The first touchdown went deep to Lee Evans and the defenders on the play got burned by his good fake moves and blazing speed. The pass rush sacked Losman three times, but forced no turnovers.