ORCHARD PARK, NY — Josh Allen threw a touchdown pass and added one on the ground to guide the Buffalo Bills to a 20-12 win over the New York Jets on Sunday.
In snowy, cold and windy conditions, Allen threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Dawson Knox in the final minute of the first half, the first of four straight productive possessions for the Buffalo squad.
Laurent Duvernay-Tardif was in uniform for the first time this season on the side of the Jets (7-6). The offensive lineman, however, was not in the starting lineup in the New York camp. Duvernay-Tardif joined the Jets’ practice roster last month and was added to the active roster on Wednesday.
The AFC-leading Bills (10-3) have won their last four games after posting a two-game losing streak, including a 20-17 streak at the hands of the Jets.
Tyler Bass had two field goals for the Bills, who posted at least 10 wins in their first 13 games for the seventh time in franchise history.
The Jets have lost four of their last six outings and that losing streak has hurt their chances of making the playoffs. They haven’t made the playoffs since 2010 and started the week ranked seventh in the All-American.
“There is nothing guaranteed, of course. I just have a lot of faith in this locker room, in this coaching staff and in everyone involved on a daily basis,” Jets head coach Robert Saleh said. I don’t think there’s a guy in this dressing room who doesn’t believe we’re capable of doing more. »
The Jets struggled as quarterback Mike White was sidelined twice with rib injuries and had two turnovers in the second half.
Saleh said White was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure after the game to have his condition assessed.
A play after White suffered a second injury, backup quarterback Joe Flacco lost the ball when he was sacked by Greg Rousseau in the third quarter. The turnover led to a 38-yard field goal from Bass, which gave the Bills a 17-7 lead.
“We knew we had to take our game up a notch,” said Rousseau, who finished the game with two sacks and a forced fumble.
This week, the Bills learned that star linebacker Von Miller will miss the rest of the season with a ligament injury in his right knee.
“Von is always with us. He always pays attention, added Rousseau. We do all this for him, but also for us. »
Michael Carter then lost the ball as to get a first down at the Bills’ 28 line. Safety Damar Hamlin knocked the ball away from Carter to stall the Jets’ momentum, who had cut the deficit to 20-9.
“We made it clear that Von is a brother and whether he’s there or not, we’re going to try and get the job done,” Hamlin said. We have the mentality that the next player takes over. Our training runs deep right down to the practice squad. It is a standard that we all respect. »
The Jets ran out of time to complete the comeback. After Greg Zuerlein had a 26-yard field goal with 1:18 to go, the New York team got the ball back with 46 seconds left, but White threw four incomplete passes.
White completed 27 of 44 passes for 268 yards without a turnover. Last year, he threw four interceptions in a backhand at the hands of the Bills.
Zonovan Knight scored a major on a 13-yard run. With 78 yards, receiver Garrett Wilson increased his total to 878 this season, breaking the Jets rookie record set by Keyshawn Johnson in 1996.
Allen had 16 of 27 attempts from the air caught for 147 yards, his lowest total of the season.