Jets' grades: Straight A's in upset win over Bills
Jets running back James Robinson throws the stiff arm during the first half against the Bills at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. Credit: Lee S. Weissman/Lee S. Weissman
OFFENSE: A
Zach Wilson bounced back from his nightmarish outing against the Patriots with an efficient, 18-for-25, 154-yard, one-touchdown performance – including eight completions for 92 yards to Garrett Wilson – but the story of the game was the rushing attack, which totaled 174 yards. Michael Carter had 76 yards and James Robinson added 48 as the tandem ground down the Bills on the game-winning drive, which began with eight rushes in a row.
DEFENSE: A
The high-powered Buffalo offense ran into a huge problem at MetLife Stadium, where the Jets at times had superstar quarterback Josh Allen confused and discombobulated. Allen passed for only 205 yards and threw two interceptions. Gabe Davis was held to two receptions for 33 yards, and Stefon Diggs did not have a single catch in the second half as the Jets’ elite cornerback duo of D.J. Reed and Sauce Gardner kept the Bills’ passing game under wraps. Allen did rush for 86 yards and two touchdowns, but no other Bill ran for more than 24 yards.
SPECIAL TEAMS: A
Facing a fourth-and-1 at their own 48-yard line early in the third quarter, the Jets lined up to punt but sent a direct snap to Ashtyn Davis, who ran 2 yards for the first down. It was the highlight of an airtight day for the special teams, including field goals of 53 and 28 yards by Greg Zuerlein and two of three punts placed inside the 20-yard line by Braden Mann. The only hiccup came on the opening kickoff, when Mann slipped as he struck the ball, and it went only 20 yards.
COACHING: A
Robert Saleh secured a signature victory in his second season at the helm, not only by beating one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl but also by getting his team back on track after a dispiriting loss to the Patriots the previous Sunday. The Jets came up with winning formulas on offense – run, run, run and avoid mistakes – and defense – where they turned the powerful Bills offense in a one-dimensional display of Allen’s running ability. This will be a happy bye week in Jets-land.
Neil Best first worked at Newsday in 1982, returned in 1985 after a detour to Alaska and has been here since, specializing in high schools, college basketball, the NFL and most recently sports media and business.
