The defense showed up and the offense did not.
Gang Green’s season ended with a 27-10 loss to the Bills as the defense played well enough, but the offense stunk.
The offense totaled 53 yards on 46 plays. This is the franchise’s worst offensive performance in team history.
Zach Wilson was sacked eight times and went 7-for-20 for 87 yards with one touchdown. Because of all the sacks, the Jets netted five passing yards total.
But the game was competitive till the fourth because the only realistic way the Jets could compete against the Bills was if their defense performed well.
And they did.
The unit played as well as one could ask when their offense was shorthanded. No Elijah Moore, Corey Davis or Braxton Berrios. And Jamison Crowder re-injured his calf in the first half. The Jets starting offensive line was without starting center Connor McGovern and left tackle George Fant.
With limited throwing weapons, the offense needed their rushing attack, but they only mustered 48 yards with a 2.8 yards per carry average.
But the defense held up their end of the bargain.
To start it looked like the Jets said, “Cancun on three!” as the game was on a first-class flight to a blowout.
On the first drive, Bills running back Devin Singletary broke off a 40-yard run. And Josh Allen capped the drive with an incredible off-script throw to Stefon Diggs for a touchdown.
Then the next drive seemed to end in a touchdown for the Bills. It was second and 10 from the Jets 23. Allen floated a deep pass down the sideline to Diggs for a 23-yard score. But the play was overturned. And the Bills settled for a field goal to lead 10-0 in the first quarter.
The very next possession, the Jets suffered a punt block, and the Bills received the ball in Jets territory.
But the Bills went for it on fourth down. And Bryce Hall blanketed Allen’s throw to Garbiel Davis and forced an incompletion.
That was the beginning of an outstanding stretch of defensive football that lasted till the midway point of the third quarter.
After two more Bills punts, the Jets offense finally got on the board. Wilson fired a rocket in a tight window to Keelan Cole on fourth-and-five and Cole zoomed by the Bills defense for a touchdown. Gang Green cut into the lead 10-7 midway through the second quarter.
The Jets defense continued to choke the life out of the Bills offense for the next three quarters.
The unit forced a punt on eight of the following nine offensive possessions. They allowed a field goal during the two-minute drill to close the half, but beside that, Gang Green’s defense clamped the Bills offense.
It wasn’t until eight minutes remaining in the fourth when Singletary rushed for a 1-yard touchdown that the Bills offense finally scored a touchdown.
The fourth quarter was rough for the Jets defense as they allowed 14 points, but it was inevitable.
The unit was going to get gassed and allow points as the offense supported them with little, punting on nine of their 11 possessions.
The Jets season ends as they finish 4-13.
