The 2024 New York Jets faced a tough battle against the Buffalo Bills in their first game under interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich, following the firing of Robert Saleh. The Jets had several chances to claim victory, but their performance was marred by mistakes, including a significant number of penalties and missed field goals. A pivotal moment came when Aaron Rodgers connected with Mike Williams on what appeared to be a substantial gain that could have placed the Jets in the red zone. However, Williams fell, leading to a game-ending interception by Bills cornerback Taron Johnson.
With the loss, the Jets fell to 2-4, leaving them two games behind the Bills in a crucial AFC East matchup. They entered the game knowing a win would propel them to a 3-3 record and possibly put them at the top of their division. Following the coaching change, the team hoped for a turnaround, but they continued to struggle.
Despite the setbacks, the Jets showed flashes of potential, led by star players like Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson. Hall seemed to break free from a recent slump, and Wilson caught an impressive touchdown in the first half. The Jets switched play-callers from Nathaniel Hackett to Todd Downing, which appeared to have a positive effect on their offensive strategy.
A highlight of the first half was a successful Hail Mary pass from Rodgers to Allen Lazard, resulting in a 52-yard touchdown that kept the Jets competitive, even as Bills quarterback Josh Allen delivered an impressive performance with three touchdowns.
Mistakes continued to plague the Jets throughout the game. In a critical sequence, a holding call negated a potential touchdown, Wilson dropped a catch in the end zone, and kicker Greg Zuerlein hit the crossbar on both a 32-yard and a later 43-yard field goal attempt. Despite Buffalo’s own errors, including missed kicks, they managed to score a go-ahead field goal late in the game, while the Jets fumbled their last chance with another interception.
In the final minutes, the Jets had opportunities to score, aided by a controversial replay call that overturned a fumble and a defensive pass interference penalty. However, a holding penalty negated a first down, and the game slipped away, concluding with the Bills running out the clock. The Jets’ numerous mistakes underscored their continued struggles, leaving them unable to capitalize on critical moments and solidifying the disappointing start to their season.