• Fri. Mar 29th, 2024

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. – The New York Jets held complete control of their own playoff destiny coming into Sunday’s contest against the Buffalo Bills. Beat Buffalo, and the Jets would be in as the final AFC Wild Card team. The Pittsburgh Steelers took care of business against the Cleveland Browns, 28-12. This meant that New York needed to win Sunday. Unfortunately, Rex Ryan would take full advantage of his opportunity to spoil his former team’s playoff hopes. Buffalo stunned the Jets by winning 22-17, and ending New York’s season in Orchard Park on Sunday.

For the first time since late November, Ryan Fitzpatrick had a bad game. There’s no way around saying that Fitzpatrick’s three interceptions (New York’s only turnovers) cost New York a trip to the playoffs. Each of the three interceptions Fitzpatrick threw, were on the Jets’ final possessions of the game. The most costly of the three was the first one Fitzpatrick threw. Fitzpatrick made a bad decision by throwing to Eric Decker, even though Leodis McKelvin was draped all over Decker. This turnover was in the end zone, and would be the last time New York would get to the red zone. Fitzpatrick finished with just 16 completions on 37 attempts for 181 yards (2 TDs, 3 INTs).

New York missed the help of Bilal Powell, who was sidelined with an ankle injury. Powell had at least 75 all-purpose yards in each of the Jets’ last four games. Chris Ivory had 81 yards (six carries), but most of them came on a 58 yard rushing attempt. Stevan Ridley didn’t help much, adding only 29 yards on nine carries.

Brandon Marshall and Decker did their job for New York. Both, Decker and Marshall caught touchdowns for the Jets Sunday. Marshall finished the game with eight receptions for 126 yards. Decker had five receptions for 50 yards. Other than Marshall and Decker, no other receiver really showed up for New York. Ridley had two receptions for zero yards, and Quincy Enunwa had one reception for five yards. Marshall and Decker can’t do it alone, and Sunday that was proven true.

Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
(Credit: Kevin Hoffman/USA TODAY Sports)

Tyrod Taylor did a great job of making good decisions in key moments. Taylor ran when he needed to, and threw the ball well for Buffalo. Sammy Watkins had his way with “Revis Island“, as he tallied 11 receptions for 136 yards. The connection that Watkins and Taylor have created, will be dangerous for years to come.

New York finished the year with a 10-6 record and are much improved from last year. Coach Todd Bowles did an excellent job in his first year with New York, but couldn’t get the big win Sunday. The Jets will have many questions to answer in the off-season, but plenty of time to do so.

Stats of the Game:

  • Taylor had 10 rushing attempts for 51 yards and a TD.
  • Dan Carpenter hit all three of his field goal attempts, but missed one of his two extra point attempts.
  • David Harris had a monster game, tallying 14 tackles (10 solo), two sacks and one tackle for loss.
  • Watkins accounted for 61% of Taylor’s completions.
  • New York had six penalties for 41 yards, three of those penalties gave Buffalo first downs.

Barry Holmes is a Senior Writer for PureSportsNY.com. Follow him on Twitter @BHO732

(Credit: AP Photo/Gary Wiepert)

 

 

 

 

By Barry Holmes

Graduate of Millersville University, with a BS in Communications focused in Broadcast. Senior Writer & Social Media Manager for PureSportsNY.

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