Buffalo Bills defeat New York Jets on Rex Ryan's return to Meadowlands
Friday 13 November 2015 09:57, UK
Buffalo coach Rex Ryan made a successful return to the Meadowlands to take on his old team as the Bills beat the New York Jets 22-17 on Thursday.
Buffalo's defence shut down the Jets and the Bills scored on offense and special teams to move level with New York on 5-4 win-loss records in the AFC East division.
Duke Williams returned a fumbled kick-off 19 yards for the go-ahead points, rookie Karlos Williams had a 26-yard touchdown catch and Dan Carpenter kicked three field goals.
Buffalo's offense made just enough key plays and held off a late surge by the Jets after Ryan Fitzpatrick threw for two touchdowns.
Ryan was fired by the Jets after six seasons and immediately hired by Buffalo last January. When his defence stopped the Jets inside the Bills 10-yard line in the final minutes, he celebrated with some vigorous fist pumps, and repeated them when Bacarri Rambo clinched it with a last-minute interception.
The early action was dominated by some fierce defence. New York's blitzes kept Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor off-balance, and Buffalo got its first three points thanks to Corey Graham's interception off a bobble by Jets receiver Brandon Marshall. Carpenter kicked a 47-yard field goal to make it 3-3.
Duke Williams added to that immediately, scooping up a fumble by rookie Devin Smith on the first kick-off return of his career. Williams scooted nine yards for a 9-3 lead, but Carpenter missed the extra point wide left.
Carpenter added a 41-yard field goal to make 12-3 at halftime, and then kicked a 29-yarder midway in the third period after Chris Ivory's fumble. New York's turnover issued completely turned the game in Buffalo's favour.
That field goal followed rookie Karlos Williams's 26-yard TD reception on the first series of the second half.
The Jets finally held onto the ball long enough to get something going, an 80-yard drive capped by Marshall's 14-yard scoring catch to make it 22-10.
New York forced a three-and-out by the Buffalo offense and regained the ball. When New York reached the Buffalo 20, though, it eschewed a field goal and tried a strange pass to Marshall well behind the line of scrimmage on fourth-and-2. He was well covered and thrown for a two-yard loss, then limped off, but returned on the Jets' next series.
Fitzpatrick hit Eric Decker for a 31-yard touchdown with 7:23 remaining, and then got another golden chance a couple of minutes later when Buffalo punter Colton Schmidt bobbled a snap and was tackled at his 13. But Ryan's defence held.
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