The Jets (0-7) remained the only winless team in the league after an 18-10 loss to the Bills on Sunday. Adam Gase relinquished play-calling duties to Dowell Loggains, but it ultimately didn’t matter. The NFL’s worst offense still looked lost for the better part of another agonizing day.
OFFENSE: F-plus
Sam Darnold & Co. started off on fire with three trips to the red zone on the first three offensive drives before going ice cold. The Jets’ season-low 190 total yards, 3.7 yards per play and horrific pass protection summed up a nightmarish day.
Dowell Loggains provided an early spark for the league’s worst offense after taking over play-calling duties. The Jets had as many first downs (13) on their first three drives than they did in their shutout loss in Miami last week. But the spark faded quickly.
Everything fell apart after the Jets took a 10-0 lead three possessions into the game.
How ugly was it?
Darnold completed 1 of his final 10 passes for four yards and two interceptions after starting off 11-for-13. The Jets managed a laughable four total yards and two first downs in the second half.
He was sacked six times and hit 10 behind an offensive line that continues to struggle in pass protection.
DEFENSE: B-minus
Gregg Williams’ unit held Buffalo out of the end zone, but Josh Allen made too many plays with his feet (61 rushing yards). In the end, you should win a game when you hold the opponent to just six field goals and hold the NFL’s third-down offense to just 3 of 11 on the money down (27 percent). Alas, these are unusual times for the NFL’s only winless team.
Williams’ unit made the first critical play of the day by forcing Josh Allen to cough it up in the red zone on Buffalo’s second possession. Darnold & Co. took capitalized by finding the end zone on the ensuing drive.
Gang Green held Buffalo to just a pair of field goals in the first half. The Jets also got some good luck thanks to two missed field goals and a third-quarter touchdown pass by Allen that was wiped out due to an illegal formation penalty.
The Jets only allowed 4.7 yards per play, but Allen did enough against an inferior opponent.
SPECIAL TEAMS: C
Practice squad call-up kicker Sergio Castillo’s made his only attempts (29-yard field goal and PAT).
The Jets kick coverage team didn’t do Gase any favors by allowing Andre Roberts to rip through with a 58-yard return to open the second half. The Bills took advantage of the great starting field position in Gang Green territory by tacking on their third field goal to cut into their halftime deficit.
Braden Mann wasn’t nearly as busy as last week. He averaged 42 yards (with a 36.3 net) on four punts.
COACHING: D-plus
Loggains did a nice job moving the pocket for Darnold, who looked comfortable early in his first game back after missing two games with a sprained AC joint in his throwing shoulder. Adam Gase’s right-hand man had a solid run-pass blend that helped breathe life into a slumping group for three drives. But then it all fell apart in a very big way. The offense did nothing for the final two and a half quarters.
Williams played a zone that Allen slowly picked apart in between the 20s. But credit the defensive coordinator for tightening up inside the red zone. Buffalo was 0-for-5 inside the 20.
Credit Gase for trying to spark his offense by letting Loggains take a crack at it. Gase wouldn’t say who would call plays against the Chiefs next week, but let’s be honest: It won’t matter.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Tyler Bass made 6 of 8 field goal attempts to help the Bills become only the second team to win this season without scoring a touchdown.
@MMehtaNYDN
How to Watch
Bills vs Jets Sunday, Oct. 25 at 1 p.m. ET
TV: CBS | Stream: fuboTV (seven-day free trial)
