EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – OCTOBER 25: Cole Beasley #11 of the Buffalo Bills tries for the catch but couldn’t re-establish control of the ball in-bounds resulting in an incomplete pass while being tackled by Brian Poole #34 of the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on October 25, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Josh Allen and the Bills were held out of the end zone for the first time this season, but Tyler Bass tied a franchise record with six field goals to help Buffalo snap a two-game skid with an 18-10 victory over the winless New York Jets on Sunday.
It was the third game in 13 days for the Bills (5-2), who lost to Tennessee and Kansas City before their ugly win against the league-worst Jets (0-7).
The Bills fell behind 10-0 early and looked sluggish for most of the game, and the victory marked their first without getting a touchdown since they beat Washington 17-16 in 2007 on five field goals by Rian Lindell and a safety.
It was also the first time the Jets lost without giving up a touchdown since a 9-6 loss to the Rams in 2016, which was Jeff Fisher’s last win as an NFL head coach.
Bass kicked a 40-yarder with 1:56 left after also making kicks of 53, 48, 46, 37 and 29 yards. He also missed from 45 and 37 yards, but made enough to tie Steve Christie's team mark set against New York in 1996.
New York had a chance late after Micah Hyde was called for an unnecessary hit on Breshad Perriman, who appeared unconscious for a few moments. The penalty put the ball at the Jets 32. But Sam Darnold was intercepted by Jerry Hughes on a tipped pass to seal it.
The Jets dropped to 0-7 for the first time since the 1996 team opened 0-8 en route to a 1-15 season.
News
New York coach Adam Gase said the team was looking for anything that might help it get a victory. So he handed off playcalling duties on offense to coordinator Dowell Loggains — and it seemed to give the Jets an early spark.
Darnold, making his first start since missing two games with a sprained AC joint in his right shoulder, marched New York down the field before the drive stalled in the red zone. Sergio Castillo booted a 29-yard field goal — his first NFL kick in place of the injured Sam Ficken — to give the Jets a 3-0 lead.
The Jets’ second drive also stalled in the red zone, with La’Mical Perine getting stuffed for a 1-yard loss on fourth-and-1 from the Bills 18.
New York's defense came up with a big play on Buffalo's second possession. On third-and-goal from the 14, Tarell Basham sacked Allen and caused a fumble that John Franklin-Myers recovered. The Jets capitalized, with Perine reaching for the pylon on a 5-yard touchdown run that put New York up 10-0 midway through the second quarter — its largest lead of the season.
The drive was helped by pass interference calls on Tre'Davious White and Hyde.
Bass kicked a 53-yarder with 2:42 left before halftime to cut the Bills' deficit to 10-3. He added a 48-yarder as time expired in the opening half after Dane Jackson intercepted Darnold, who made a poor decision throwing into heavy coverage.
Andre Roberts returned the kickoff to start the second half 58 yards to get the Bills in good position, but they had to settle for a 46-yarder by Bass to make it 10-9.
Buffalo took a 12-10 lead on Bass' 37-yard field goal with 1:37 left in the third quarter, but could have had more. Allen found Gabriel Davis open in the end zone for an apparent 22-yard touchdown, but it was wiped out by an illegal formation penalty.
