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Week 4 Game Recap: New York Jets 14, Buffalo Bills 17
What you need to know
| New York Jets |
Despite having defenses ranked 28th and 34th entering the game, the Jets and Bills played to a scoreless tie in the first half. The Jets were unable to establish a consistent running game. Instead, New York turned to Chad Pennington. Pennington put the ball in the air 39 times and completed 32 of those passes. At one point, he connected on 15 straight attempts. However, Pennington threw two costly interceptions. The first set up Buffalo deep in Jets' territory and resulted in a Michael Gaines touchdown catch. The second pick killed New York's chances of setting up a potential game tying field goal at the conclusion of the contest.
Thomas Jones gained only 35 yards on 12 attempts. He generally found the running lanes hard to come by. The Jets mostly abandoned the running game, despite the game being close.
| Buffalo Bills |
The battered Bills were home underdogs to the 1-2 Jets and many considered their season to already be over. With 12 players out for the game and already with seven players on injured reserve, the Bills could have easily folded and given up. Instead, they were led by two rookies. Quarterback Trent Edwards made his first ever start and outplayed his opponent, Chad Pennington. Running back Marshawn Lynch had another solid effort (23 carries and 79 yards) that including a bruising, hard fought ten yard touchdown run.
Edwards played so well for injured starter J.P. Losman that a quarterback controversy may begin brewing in Buffalo. Edwards was calm, cool, and collected throughout the game. He threw the ball with zip and great accuracy, usually leading receivers nearly perfectly. His one interception came on a deep attempt to Lee Evans. The pass was well thrown. Unfortunately, for Edwards, Andre Dyson made a much better play for the ball than Evans.
Buffalo finally was able to get star receiver Lee Evans back on track. After averaging over 80 yards per game last season, Evans had managed only five receptions for 29 yards in the Bills' first three games. Evans led the Bills with six catches for 72 yards.
The Bills entered the game ranked last in all major defensive categories. With seven defensive players either on injured reserve or out for the game, the Buffalo defense figured to continue to struggle. Thomas Jones was expected to get a healthy dose of the football, but the Bill defense never let him get rolling. Jones gained only 35 yards on twelve rushing attempts. Instead, New York moved the ball through the air with success. However, the Bill pass defense came up with two big interceptions, including a game sealing interception by Terrence McGee with six seconds to play.
What you ought to know
| QB Chad Pennington, Pass: 32 - 39 - 290 - 1 TD / 2 INT, Rush: 1 - 1 - 0 |
Pennington played well during most of the game. He connected on 82 percent of his passes for 290 yards. At one point, he completed 15 consecutive pass attempts. As usual, Pennington displayed a deft touch on most of his passes. His accuracy allows him to get by with less than ideal arm strength. However, his arm sometimes puts his receivers in less than ideal positions. Pennington threw two costly interceptions. The second one came with six seconds left and with the Jets threatening to get into position for a tying field goal. Pennington's pass attempt to Justin McCareins fluttered like a wounded duck before Terrence McGee plucked it out of the air and sealed the Jets' fate.
With time running out at the end of the first half, Pennington faked a clock killing spike and instead hit Laveranues Coles for a 16 yard connection to set up a 37 yard field goal attempt by Mike Nugent.
Pennington threw mainly short and medium type routes, but did have a few deep attempts. His 28 yard completion to Jerricho Cotchery is his longest pass of the season. Prior to the game, he had not attempted a pass more than 16 yards downfield.
| RB Thomas Jones, Rush: 12 - 35 - 0, Rec: 2 - 20 - 0 (3 targets) |
With Buffalo's defensive woes, Jones figured to have a big game. Instead, he gained only 35 yards on 12 carries. 31 of those yards came on four runs, meaning Jones gained only four yards on his other eight attempts. Although Jones was not having a big game, the Jets abandoned the running game in favor of Pennington passes, even though the game was close. Given more of an opportunity, Jones may have been able to post more respectable numbers.
Jones caught two passes for 20 yards.
| RB Leon Washington, Rush: 4 - 24 - 1, Rec: 8 - 38 - 0 (9 targets) |
Washington was featured prominently when the Jets ran their no huddle and two minute offenses. His four rushing attempts included runs of nine and eight yards. The latter was a quick touchdown burst up the middle of the Bills' defense. The touchdown was the fifth of Washington's career.
Washington was targeted nine times and caught eight short passes. He also returned two kickoffs for a 27 yard average.
| WR Jerricho Cotchery, Rush: 1 - -2 - 0, Rec: 8 - 106 - 0 (10 targets) |
Cotchery led the Jets with eight receptions for 106 yards. His 28 yard reception is Chad Pennington's longest completion of the season.
Cotchery had one carry on an end around. The defense snuffed out the play for a two yard loss.
| WR Laveranues Coles, Rec: 8 - 65 - 1 (10 targets) |
Coles hauled in eight passes for sixty five yards. He caught a short five yard fade in heavy traffic for Chad Pennington's only touchdown of the game. Coles was featured mostly on shorter routes and had a long gain of 18 yards. He made a particularly nice grab on the penultimate play of the first half, when Chad Pennington faked spiking the ball and threw a quick pass to Coles. The pass was slightly off target and Coles had to stretch out over a defender to corral it.
| WR Brad Smith, Rush: 1 - 2 - 0, Rec: 2 - 36 - 0 (3 targets) |
Smith has been gaining more time as he competes to become the Jets' third receiver. He was targeted only three times, however. Smith caught a swing pass for a ten yard gain. He also had a 26 yard reception.
The versatile Smith took one handoff for a two yard gain.
| WR Justin McCareins (2 targets) |
McCareins has been losing some time to Brad Smith, who is threatening to take over the third wide receiver role. He was not targeted until Pennington tried to hit him on a go route down the sideline late in the fourth quarter. McCareins was the targeted receiver on Pennington's last pass of the game. McCareins never had a chance as the short, fluttering pass was picked off.
McCareins was guilty of an illegal motion penalty.
| TE Chris Baker, Rec: 3 - 24 - 0 (3 targets) |
Baker caught a season high three passes for 24 yards. His final reception came on a short sideline route. On the play, Baker dragged a Bills' defender and was able to reach the ball to get out of bounds and stop the clock. Earlier, he was guilty of a false start penalty.
| TE Joseph Kowalewski, Rec: 1 - 1 - 0 (1 targets) |
Kowalewski tallied his first career reception, but gained only one yard.
| PK Mike Nugent 0 - 1 FG, 2 - 2 XP, 2 points |
Nugent hit the right upright from 37 yards on his only field goal attempt. He converted his two extra point tries.
| NYJ Rush Defense |
The Jets run defense held the Bills to 86 yards rushing on 28 attempts, a 3.1 yard per carry average. Jonathan Vilma led New York with seven solo tackles, one assist, and a forced fumble.
| NYJ Pass Defense |
The Jets were victimized by Trent Edwards' great performance. Edwards was razor sharp with most of his throws. He completed nearly eighty percent of his passes for 234 yards. Andre Dyson made a nice play on a deep pass attempt for the Jets lone interception. Shaun Ellis and Victor Hobson had sacks. Hobson also recovered a fumble. Rookie cornerback Darrelle Revis looked good and had six solo tackles and two assists.
| QB Trent Edwards, Pass: 22 - 28 - 234 - 1 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 1 - -1 - 0 |
The sixth quarterback taken in the 2007 draft made his first career start due to J.P. Losman's knee injury. It was fitting that Buffalo was playing the Jets, because Edwards had a Chad Pennington-like performance. In fact, he outplayed his opponent. Edwards completed ten of his first eleven throws for 116 yards. He would have been a perfect eleven for eleven, but was victimized by Lee Evans' drop of his third pass. Edwards looked as composed as a wily veteran and had little difficulty going through his progressions. He was also amazingly accurate. Nearly all of his passes were crisp and right on the money. Edward threw one interception. He tried to hit Lee Evans on a bomb from the New York 38 yard line. The pass was well thrown, but Andre Dyson made a great play on the ball for the interception.
Edwards calmly found tight end Michael Gaines for a one yard touchdown on a fourth and goal play in the fourth quarter. It was the first touchdown pass of his career. It was a good indication of how much faith the coaching staff has in Edwards as the team was initially lined up for a field goal but after a timeout, decided to go for the touchdown.
Edwards was credited with one yard loss on a kneel down play to end the game.
| QB J.P. Losman |
Losman was hurt on the opening play of the Bills' previous game. With as well as Trent Edwards played, he might have to fight for his job, when he is healthy.
| RB Marshawn Lynch, Rush: 23 - 79 - 1 |
Lynch, Buffalo's rookie running back from Cal, had another solid effort. He averaged 3.4 yards on his 23 rushing attempts. Lynch did not find many huge holes to run through. However, he ran hard and frequently broke tackles for extra yardage. He does a good job of keeping his feet moving and gaining extra yards after contact.
Lynch's best run may have been his touchdown run. On the play, he powered through the middle of the Jet defense for a ten yard score. He was later stopped at the one yard line twice before Michael Gaines scored on fourth down.
Lynch lost the football on two occasions, but neither were fumbles. The first time was on his touchdown run after the ball had already crossed the plane of the end zone. On the second occasion, Lynch was already down.
| RB Anthony Thomas, Rush: 2 - 4 - 0 (1 targets) |
Thomas had two rushing attempts for four yards. He was targeted once and muffed the catch. In fact, he looked more like a volleyball player, who was trying to set up a teammate; the pass was batted up and nearly intercepted
| RB Dwayne Wright, Rush: 1 - 0 - 0 |
Wright had Buffalo's first rushing attempt, but was stopped for no gain.
| WR Lee Evans, Rec: 6 - 72 - 0 (8 targets) |
Buffalo made sure to get Evans involved in the game early; the first offensive play was a quick pass to Evans for a six yard gain. Evans was targeted a team high eight times and led the Bills in receiving. Trent Edwards' lone interception came on a deep pass attempt to Evans in the end zone. The ball may have been slightly underthrown, but Evans waited for it to get to him (it never did) rather than go up and fight for the ball. Evans also dropped a pass early in the game. He had lots of room to run, if he had caught the pass. Evans later made a pretty leaping catch, where he had to fully extend to reach a high Edwards' pass. It was an encouraging game for Evans after such a slow start to the season.
| WR Josh Reed, Rush: 1 - 4 - 0, Rec: 4 - 64 - 0 (6 targets) |
Reed caught four of his six targets. He had Buffalo's longest gain on a 27 yard reception. Reed also added a 22 yard catch. Reed was unable to hold onto a third down pass with just under two minutes in the game and the Bills were forced to put their fate in the hands of the defense.
Reed gained four yards on an end around.
| WR Roscoe Parrish, Rec: 4 - 33 - 0 (4 targets) |
Parrish caught all four of his targets for 33 yards. He was used primarily on quick outs or swing passes which give him a chance to make people miss in hopes of using his speed and agility in the open field.
Parrish returned one punt for 12 yards.
| WR Peerless Price, Rec: 1 - 14 - 0 (1 targets) |
Price was targeted only once and had a 14 yard catch.
| TE Michael Gaines, Rec: 4 - 20 - 1 (4 targets) |
Gaines caught all four of his targets. His one yard touchdown grab was his first touchdown of the season and third of his career.
| TE Robert Royal, Rec: 3 - 31 - 0 (3 targets) |
Royal caught all three of his targets. He was responsible for Buffalo's first turnover when he lost a fumble after a six yard gain early in the game.
| PK Rian Lindell 1 - 1 FG, 2 - 2 XP, 5 points |
Lindell nailed a 46 yard field goal on his only attempt. He hit both extra point tries. Lindell is a perfect 14 for 14 on field goal attempts again the Jets.
| BUF Rush Defense |
The Bills defense held New York to 60 rushing yards, a pretty remarkable feat, considering the unit was rankled dead last in the NFL coming into the game. Angelo Crowell had a strong game with eight solo tackles and three assists.
| BUF Pass Defense |
Chad Pennington completed 82 percent of his passes for nearly 300 yards against the Buffalo defense. The unit had two key interceptions, though. Jabari Greer's interception set up Trent Edwards' touchdown pass to Michael Gaines. Terrence McGee picked off Chad Pennington's last pass to seal the victory for Buffalo. McGee also broke up a deep pass attempt to Justin McCareins in the fourth quarter. Chris Kelsay had Buffalo's only sack. Buffalo's defense, which has been decimated by injures, lost defensive back, Ashton Youboty, who was taken for x-rays on his ankle.
