The Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets faced off in a crucial AFC East matchup on “Monday Night Football,” and the Bills emerged with the big win.
The Bills (4-2) outlasted the Jets 23-20 on “MNF,” sending the Jets to 2-4 and to third place in the division. A Taron Johnson interception of Aaron Rodgers in the closing minutes of the game all but sealed the game for Buffalo.
The matchup saw a bevy of flags thrown. Both squads combined for 22 accepted penalties for 204 yards combined. The fourth quarter was particularly sloppy, with the referee crew getting involved down the stretch.
The loss opens up the Jeff Ulbrich era for the Jets; Ulbrich replaces Robert Saleh, who was fired after the Jets’ Week 5 loss vs. the Vikings. The Jets now have an uphill battle in order to contend in the division. They face the Steelers on “Sunday Night Football” in Week 7 in, what could be, a deciding game for their season.
On the Buffalo side, quarterback Josh Allen continued his efficient and effective season. Allen completed 19-of-25 passes for 215 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Ray Davis had something of a coming-out party, with 20 carries for 97 yards and three catches for 55 yards.
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USA TODAY Sports provided live updates, highlights, and more from the Week 6 “Monday Night Football” matchup below:
With the Bills needing one more first down to kneel out the clock, Allen tucked and ran on a third-and-4 play. He picked up the first down then slid down past the marker as the clock continued to tick with under one minute and 40 seconds remaining.
Allen kneeled out the rest of the time on the next set of downs, and Buffalo secured its fourth win of the season, 23-20, to remain atop the AFC East standings at 4-2.
The Jets are 2-4 after the loss, pushing them to third place in the division behind the Dolphins, who had a bye this week and are 2-3.
Rodgers thought he had found veteran wide receiver Mike Williams deep downfield for a big gain, but the Bills’ cornerback had other ideas. Johnson rushed in from several yards behind Williams then dove in front of the pass to snatch it from the receiver’s hands. The defender’s excellent play helped keep the Bills’ lead intact, and Buffalo takes over at its own 18-yard line leading 23-20.
It was Jets vs. the Bills featuring the refs on “Monday Night Football.”
The Jets and Bills combined for 22 accepted penalties for 204 yards on Monday night, with the fourth quarter a flag fest on both squads.
Bass finally got another shot at redemption when the Bills’ drive stalled inside the Jets’ 5-yard line. He drove through a 22-yard field goal for his first successful field goal attempt of the night, and it gave Buffalo a 23-20 lead with just under four minutes left in the game.
One Jets offensive drive after their kicker hit the left upright on what would have been a go-ahead field goal, Zuerlein did it again. His 43-yard field goal attempt doinked off of the left upright once more, keeping the score knotted at 20-20.
Including Bills kicker Tyler Bass’ missed 47-yard field goal and missed PAT, Zuerlein’s miss was the fourth missed kick of the game between the two teams.
Buffalo takes over at its own 33-yard line with nine minutes left to play.
Facing a third-and-11 inside their own territory, Rodgers threw a perfectly placed pass to his former Green Bay Packer teammate to pick up 25 yards and the first down.
Somehow, the veteran quarterback was able to squeeze in a throw that skimmed Terrel Bernard’s backside, and Lazard was able to haul in the catch despite being completely surrounded by defenders.
Jets starting cornerback D.J. Reed suffered a groin injury during the third quarter of Monday night’s Jets-Bills matchup. Reed was originally listed as doubtful to return to the game.
Following the strong defensive play by Hamlin and Rapp, the Jets had to settle for a field goal attempt from inside the Buffalo 15-yard line. Zuerlein’s third field goal attempt of the night was no good after it hit the left upright.
The game is still tied, 20-20, with one minute remaining in the third quarter.
A play after a holding call nullified a Jets touchdown, Rodgers found Wilson in the middle of the end zone for what was almost a go-ahead touchdown. Instead, Bills safeties Damar Hamlin and Taylor Rapp collided into Wilson on either side. It forced the receiver to drop the ball and left him shaken up after the play.
After a commercial break, ESPN’s broadcast showed Wilson upright and walking around.
Garrett Wilson is on pace to having his best showing of the 2024 season. With 3:10 remaining in the third quarter, Wilson eclipsed the 100-receiving yard mark. He also has a touchdown reception.
The Jets offense got back on track – thanks to a roughing the passer call and a 42-yard Breece Hall run – but couldn’t hit the end zone from the 3-yard line. Instead, Greg Zuerlein hit a 22-yard field goal to tie it up at 20.
Keon Coleman is indeed active, but the wide receiver has yet to catch a pass from Josh Allen. The Bills leading receiver is running back Ray Davis, who has caught three passes for 55 yards with 11:55 left in the second.
Any Jets fans holding their breath on a potential Bill Belichick return to New York may want to exhale.
Speaking on the Monday night “Manningcast,” Belichick commented on the Jets firing head coach Robert Saleh, saying the head coach did a good job with the team and seemingly taking a shot at owner Woody Johnson.
The master of Hail Mary passes has done it again. Rodgers completed his fourth career Hail Mary touchdown pass as time expired in the first half. This time, it was Allen Lazard who came down with the catch amidst several Bills defenders.
Following the 52-yard touchdown pass and converted PAT by Zuerlein, the Jets have cut their deficit to three points. It’s 20-17 Bills at the end of the first half. Buffalo will get the ball to begin the third quarter.
With time winding down in the first half, the Bills put together a 10-play, 80-yard touchdown drive to extend their lead. Allen was able to duck under a sack attempt on the final play before rolling out to his left and finding Knox in the front-left corner of the end zone.
It’s 20-10 Bills with 20 seconds left in the second quarter.
The Jets’ starting safety suffered an ankle injury in the first quarter. Though he walked off of the field under his own power, he was listed as questionable to return. New York has since declared him out for the remainder of the game.
Backup safety Ashtyn Davis will continue his duties in relief of Clark.
Following the deep ball to Davis, it took the Bills nine more plays to find the end zone for a second time. This go-around, Allen used his arm for the score, finding Hollins for an elevated, eight-yard touchdown pass.
Tyler Bass missed his PAT following the touchdown, so the Bills weren’t able to extend their lead to four points. Buffalo holds a 13-10 lead halfway through the second quarter.
Davis is up to 94 yards from scrimmage on nine touches.
The Bills’ rookie running back has continued to impress as his big night rolls along. On the second play of the Bills’ drive, Davis made a juggling, diving catch for a 42-yard gain that got Buffalo into Jets territory.
The Bills were unable to score on their first possession after the Jets took the lead. After a punt into the end zone, New York has the ball on its own 20 to begin the second quarter.
One possession after the Bills’ touchdown, the Jets put together a 70-yard scoring drive of their own. Rodgers found Wilson in the back of the end zone, and a replay review confirmed that Wilson remained in-bounds with a toe drag.
Running back Breece Hall didn’t score the touchdown, but his 49 yards from scrimmage on the drive were crucial in getting his team into the red zone.
It’s 10-7 Jets after the Rodgers-to-Wilson connection. There are two minutes left in the first quarter.
The Bills’ 70-yard touchdown drive featured a heavy dose of Buffalo’s run game. Running back Ray Davis, filling in for the injured James Cook, rushed six times for 48 yards. Fellow running back Ty Johnson had one rush for 12 yards. Allen only threw one pass, but he gave the Bills the lead with a one-yard sneak.
It’s 7-3 Buffalo with six minutes left in the first quarter.
New York marched deep into Bills territory after a big, 24-yard reception from Garrett Wilson and a few nice runs from running back Breece Hall. However, a dropped pass by Hall on third-and-4 from the Buffalo 16 stalled the drive.
Zuerlein knocked his first field goal attempt through the uprights on a windy night in New Jersey, and it’s 3-0 Jets.
The Jets vs. Bills matchup will conclude Week 6 of the 2024 NFL season at 8:15 p.m. ET. It’s the lone game on the “MNF” schedule, but a doubleheader will return in Week 7.
ESPN is the broadcast home of “Monday Night Football” in Week 6. Joe Buck (play-by-play), Troy Aikman (color commentary), and Lisa Salters (sideline reporter) will be on the call.
ESPN’s popular alternate broadcast, the “ManningCast” returns. The two former NFL quarterbacks will break down the action, along with a typically star-studded guest list.
Here’s how the USA TODAY Sports staff feels the Jets-Bills “MNF” matchup is going to go:
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After being listed as “questionable” for the Bills’ “Monday Night Football” matchup vs. the Jets, Shakir is expected to play.
We have a complete list at every position:
The Jets fired Robert Saleh after struggling to consistently win under his leadership for three-plus years.
“This was not an easy decision, but we are not where we should be given our expectations,” Jets owner Woody Johnson wrote in a statement announcing the firing. “I believe now is the best time for us to move in a different direction.”
Saleh posted just a 20-36 record with the Jets and, while his defenses routinely ranked among the league’s best, New York’s offenses fell at the opposite end of the spectrum.
Reddick has yet to play a snap for the Jets this season despite coming to New York from Philadelphia in an April trade. As the edge rusher continues to hold out for his contract, new agent Drew Rosenhaus told NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo that “his goal is to work things out with the Jets.”
The former Eagle had previously requested a trade from New York before he appeared in a game, but things appear to be moving in the right direction for both sides to settle the contract dispute.
The NFL’s top 18 players in average annual salary are all quarterbacks, according to OverTheCap.com. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott became the league’s highest-paid player before the season began, agreeing to a four-year, $240 million deal. Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson is the first non-quarterback on the highest-paid list after striking a four-year, $140 million contract extension this offseason.
Whoever exits MetLife Stadium with a win will stand on the top step of the AFC East. Here’s how the division stacks up entering “Monday Night Football”:
Currently, Lions OC Ben Johnson is the clubhouse leader for the potential future opening for the Jets head coaching gig. He is followed by Texans OC Bobby Slowik and former Titans head coach Mike Vrabel.
It’s set to be a chilly but clear night in East Rutherford, New Jersey for “Monday Night Football” in Week 6. There will be a high of 50 degrees at kickoff and a low of 46 degrees at midnight. According to the Weather Channel, winds will range from 8-15 mph, but there’s only a 1% chance of precipitation for most of the game.
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With the Jets wearing their throwback uniforms, it’s only fitting a Jets throwback weighs in on their offensive approach.
Jets legend Joe Namath weighed in on X, saying he’d like to see QB Aaron Rodgers call the plays tonight.
“Personally, I’d like to see Rodgers calling his own plays for the offense tonight. With a win, we’re tied for first place in the Eastern Division. So let’s go Jets!!!,” Namath posted.
New York might be the real “City of Brotherly Love.”
The MetLife Stadium crew decided to show the late stages of Mets-Dodgers NLCS Game 2 on the stadium’s jumbotrons. The Mets would secure a 7-3 win over the Dodgers, keeping New York baseball’s October rolling.
With running back James Cook scratched from the Bills’ roster with a toe injury, Buffalo has elevated running back Frank Gore Jr. from its practice squad to make his NFL regular-season debut.
Gore, 22, is the son of former NFL running back Frank Gore, who played the 2019 season with the Bills and the 2020 season with the Jets. Buffalo signed the younger Gore as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL Draft.
During his four-year career at Southern Miss, Gore Jr. rushed for 4,022 yards and 26 touchdowns. He also caught 75 passes for 692 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns.
A little father-son magic might be in the works.
With Frank Gore Jr. set to make his regular-season debut, he got some words from longtime NFL running back Frank Gore. Gore spent parts of his career with the Jets and Bills.
The Jets introduced a new set of uniforms for the 2024 season, but they’re dipping into their history on Monday night. They’ll be wearing throwbacks, reminiscent of the Joe Namath-era Jets (and, well, Mark Sanchez, too).
James Cook returned to practice on Saturday, but won’t play in the Bills’ “Monday Night Football” game against the New York Jets.
Head coach Sean McDermott told reporters he was injured during the game against Houston.
The Jets are once again going without wide receiver Malachi Corley, who was selected in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft. Cornerback Michael Carter II also will not play (back). On the plus side, they get back linebacker C.J. Mosley, who has missed the last two games with injury.
The Bills will sideline running back James Cook, who returned to practice on Saturday. They will also be without defensive tackle Ed Oliver, who is dealing with a hamstring injury.
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