Bills Dominate Jets with Run-Heavy Game Plan at MetLife

On Sunday afternoon, the Buffalo Bills arrived at MetLife Stadium, took control of the game, and sixty minutes later, walked away with a commanding blowout victory. Here are the key takeaways:

Ground Game Dominates

Offensively, their game plan was straightforward: run the ball. They accumulated 224 rushing yards, with 132 of those coming on James Cook’s 21 carries. Not only did they run the ball frequently, but they also repeated the same plays multiple times, sometimes on consecutive plays. A prime example was the sequence leading up to Cook’s 44-yard touchdown run. The play before that was a 7-yard gain on the same design. This strategic repetition by Joe Brady allows the Bills to exploit what’s working and forces the opposing defense to make adjustments mid-drive, which is much more challenging.

Passing Game Still Out of Sync

The passing game, however, appeared a bit out of sync. There were a few drops and some miscommunications between Allen and his receivers. By halftime, it was clear that the Jets had no signs of life. The Bills put the game on cruise control, controlling the line of scrimmage and repeatedly running the ball with no answer from the Jets.

Defense Shuts Down Jets Offense

The main storyline from this game was the performance of the Bills’ defense. They were simply dominant on Sunday. The Jets managed just 154 total yards, went 0-11 on third down, and Justin Fields was held to only 27 yards passing, fewer than Mitch Trubisky, who had 32 yards passing on one play. The Jets didn’t move the ball at all until the Bills’ starters left the field. Once Tyrod Taylor entered, he threw for 57 yards after Fields was sidelined with a concussion. Beyond the impressive numbers, the Bills’ defense appeared a step ahead of the Jets’ offense throughout the game, executing run blitzes at the right moments and maintaining solid coverage in the secondary (with a couple of exceptions). It was a complete, dominant performance.

Special Teams Remain Steady

On special teams, Matt Prater remains perfect in his field goal attempts, and Bill Burr had a strong showing in his first game as a Bill punter. Since the coaching change, the special teams unit has looked to be in good shape. Additionally, Sam Franklin Jr. has been a standout on the coverage units, making noticeable plays on broadcast and the All-22 film. He’s been a valuable late-offseason addition for Brandon Beane.