Bills' defense helps Rex Ryan get revenge in return to Meadowlands

Ron Clements

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Bills' defense helps Rex Ryan get revenge in return to Meadowlands image

Rex Ryan said all week that Thursday's game against the Jets wasn't that big of a deal.

His emotions said otherwise. 

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Bacarri Rambo's interception with 24 seconds remaining sealed the Bills' 22-17 win over Ryan's former team at the Meadowlands. His reaction to Rambo's pick was caught by NFL Network cameras and lip readers immediately knew the coach was excited to get the victory. 

"You guys made it all about me and that's why I stayed in. It had jack s— to do about me," said Ryan, who had fun messing with the New York media. 

"It's definitely satisfying," he added. "Now that I can say the truth, it was kind of like being dumped by some girl you had the hots for. That's really what it feels like. But, hey, you move on. Every now and then they call you back, but they can't get you back."

The Jets (5-4) landed on the scoreboard first with a 29-yard Randy Bullock field goal to cap a 10-play drive highlighted by a 36-yard catch-and-run by running back Chris Ivory. 

Following a Bills field goal to tie, Buffalo (5-4) took the lead on the ensuing kickoff when Jets rookie Devin Smith fumbled and Bills safety Duke Williams returned it 19 yards for a touchdown. Dan Carpenter missed the extra point, but the Bills kicker later added a 41-yard field goal to give the Bills a 12-3 halftime lead.

The fumble was one of four turnovers created by the Bills, as both offenses struggled to find any consistency. 

The Bills opened the second half with the game's first touchdown drive, a seven-play, 80-yard march that ended with a 26-yard pass from Tyrod Taylor to running back Karlos Williams, who swung out from the backfield before crossing under linebacker Demario Davis and darting into the end zone.

Williams, who has scored in all six games in which he's played this season, finished with 24 yards on seven carries to go with his lone reception. Taylor was 17 of 27 through the air for 158 yards. Bills running back LeSean McCoy rushed for 112 yards on 19 carries. 

Rambo quickly got the ball back for Buffalo on the ensuing possession when he ripped it away from Ivory. The Bills safety finished with three tackles to go with the forced fumble and interception. 

Another Carpenter field goal followed to give the Bills a 22-3 lead with 8:42 remaining in the third quarter. 

The Jets finally got in the end zone when Ryan Fitzpatrick connected with Brandon Marshall on a 14-yard touchdown toss. The pass was the 137th of Fitzpatrick's career to tie him with Bears Hall of Famer Sid Luckman for the most all time by an Ivy League quarterback. Luckman, who last played in 1950, was the No. 2 overall pick out of Columbia in the 1939 NFL Draft. Fitzpatrick was a seventh-round pick out of Harvard by the Rams in 2005. 

Fitzpatrick surpassed Luckman on a 31-yard touchdown connection with Eric Decker, who made a great adjustment on the ball before fighting his way into the end zone. 

The Jets then wasted a golden opportunity to take the lead after Bills punter Colton Schmidt fumbled a snap to give the Jets the ball at the Bills' 13-yard line. But Kellen Davis was unable to find Fitzpatrick's pass on fourth-and-goal and the Jets turned it over on downs. 

 

 

The Jets incurred several injuries, with running back Zac Stacy turning his ankle on a kick return before halftime. He did not return. Ivory, who ran for 99 yards on 18 carries and caught two passes for 36 yards, and wide receiver Brandon Marshall also suffered minor injuries. Bills defensive lineman Mario Williams left the game in the first half with what the team called an illness and did not return. 

Williams may have fallen ill, but Jets fans were the ones left sick Thursday night as Ryan got the last laugh. 

Ron Clements