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Allen and the Bills’ offense was revived in a 32-6 rout of the division-rival Jets

ikramshoukat16 November 20, 2023

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Allen and the Bills' offense was revived in a 32-6 rout of the division-rival Jets

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Josh Allen threw three touchdown passes and a sluggish Buffalo Bills offense responded to a change in coordinators by scoring points on six of their first eight possessions in a 32-6 rout of AFC East rival New York. Planes on Sunday.

The Bills (6-5) snapped a two-game skid and led by 25 points for the first time in seven weeks to end the team’s worst drought since six games during Allen’s rookie season in 2018. After building a 9-0 lead on three field goals by Tyler Bass, Allen opened up The game was down three touchdowns on four possessions spanning halftime.

The Jets (4-6) dropped their third straight and coach Robert Saleh will likely open the door to a quarterback swap. Rookie Zach Wilson was benched with 2:17 remaining in the third quarter and was replaced by Tim Boyle, who didn’t do much better overseeing an offense that managed just its ninth goal of the season.

Allen was instrumental finishing 20 of 32 for 275 yards with an interception that came on a desperate Hail Mary to end the first half. Otherwise, he put the game on ice with a 26-yard touchdown pass to Ty Johnson on fourth-and-1 to cap Buffalo’s opening drive of the third quarter. He followed that up four minutes later with an 81-yard touchdown to Khalil Shakir to put the Bills up 29-6.

The 81-yard touchdown was the longest scoring play from scrimmage this season, and the offensive explosion came with quarterbacks coach Joe Brady taking over as coordinator after Ken Dorsey was fired on Tuesday following a 24-22 loss to Denver.

Newly acquired linebacker Rasul Douglas had two interceptions — Buffalo’s first in seven games — and also recovered a fumble.

The offensively challenged Jets finally scored a goal, but nothing else was going well for a team that ranks at or near last in the league in several offensive categories.

Wilson’s 9-yard touchdown pass to Breece Hall with 45 seconds left in the first half was the Jets’ first TD in three weeks.

And the Jets needed a trick play to extend their touchdown run as punter Thomas Morstead completed an 18-yard pass to cornerback Brandin Echols on fourth-and-2 from the New York 24.

Wilson finished seven of 15 for 81 yards with an interception. Boyle was 7 of 14 for 33 yards and an interception.

Buffalo’s offense, by comparison, showed signs of rhythm, balance and imagination, all issues that have become evident under Dorsey.

More importantly, the offense’s ability to build and maintain an early lead took the pressure off an injury-depleted defense that had already lost three starters and lost three defensive backs to head injuries during the game.

The most serious injury was suffered by safety Taylor Rapp, who moved his hands while being loaded into an ambulance on the field. Rapp suffered a neck injury, while Taron Johnson and Dean Jackson were ruled out with head injuries.

Buffalo had four takeaways, with recently acquired cornerback Rasul Douglas intercepting Wilson and recovering a fumble by receiver Garrett Wilson. The game began with Buffalo’s Reggie Gilliam forcing Xavier Gipson to lose a fumble on first down.

Injuries

Jets: Tony Adams left with what Saleh said was a dislocated finger, but Adams came back. … Lt. Mekhi Becton injured his ankle and will undergo tests Monday.

NOTES: Coach Sean McDermott improved to 68-40 in matching Lou Saban (68-45-4) for second place in franchise wins. Hall of Famer Marv Levy is first at 112-70. …Allen caught a touchdown pass in 19 straight games to break a franchise record set by Hall of Famer Jim Kelly that stretched through the 1986-87 seasons. … The 32 points were the most for Buffalo since a 48-20 win over Miami on Oct. 8, and the most the Jets have surrendered since a 33-18 loss to Philadelphia on Dec. 5, 2021.