EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.—Just when it looked like things couldn’t get any worse for the Jets, they did.
Quarterbacks Geno Smith and Michael Vick combined for six turnovers—three by each—and the New York Jets (1–7) were blown out at home 43–23 by the Buffalo Bills (4–4), to continue their downward spiral.
That’s now seven straights losses for the Jets for the first time since 2005—Herm Edwards’s final season as coach.
There were a number of culprits—one played under center. Smith threw interceptions on three consecutive possessions in the first quarter and was pulled in favor of Vick, who was picked off once and lost two fumbles.
“Let me tell you,” coach Rex Ryan said, “I’m getting sick and tired of the losing, that’s for sure.”
New York announced after the game that Smith had X-rays on his right shoulder after the game, but did not immediately announce results. The injury was not believed to have affected Smith’s performance.
“We didn’t execute,” Smith said. “And when I say ‘We,’ I mean myself because it was just atrocious the way I started out.”
Ryan didn’t immediately announce whether Smith or Vick would start next week at Kansas City.
Buffalo got on the scoreboard on its first possession, with Kyle Orton zipping a pass to Robert Woods for a 22-yard touchdown early in the first quarter.
Smith then threw three straight interceptions and was benched after the Bills turned the last interception by Aaron Williams into a score one play later, on Lee Smith’s 1-yard touchdown catch with 4:36 left in the opening quarter.
Smith was then finally benched after one of the worst quarterback stat lines in the history of the NFL: 2/8 passing for 5 yards with 3 interceptions—a QB rating of 0.0.
Vick jogged onto the field to loud cheers from the MetLife Stadium crowd, which had booed Smith moments earlier, and led the Jets on a 13-play, 76-yard scoring drive—capped by the first of Chris Ivory’s two 2-yard touchdown runs.
But the Jets defense gave up a huge play on the Bills next possession as Sammy Watkins hauled in a long pass from Orton and took off down the field. But the rookie receiver looked up at the videoboard and pointed in premature celebration as New York wide receiver Saalim Hakim, put in on defense, caught him from behind. The play ended up as an 84-yard reception.
“I thought I was by myself and the guy ran me down and caught me,” said Watkins, who later had a 61-yard TD catch. “I was shocked.”
Two plays later, fullback Frank Summers pushed his way into the end zone from 2 yards to make it 21–7.
“It was a relief that we scored because I was upset,” Watkins said. “I know I won’t let it happen again.”
Vick, who finished 18 of 36 for 153 yards, was an early spark but wasn’t without his share of mistakes. He had a 12-yard scramble negated by a questionable 15-yard taunting penalty when he spiked the ball on the sideline at the end of the run. He finished with a team-high 69 rushing yards on 8 carries.
His presence in the first half at least helped the Jets close to within 24–17 at the half, which seemed improbable after Smith’s trio of interceptions had the Jets down 14–0.
In the second half he was unable to continue the comeback as the Bills converted his two second half turnovers into 10 points and the rout was on.
Orton burned the Jets four times for touchdowns finishing 10/17 passing for 238 yards and zero turnovers.
New Jet Percy Harvin had an uneven debut catching three balls for 22 yards, while rushing four times for 28 yards. He also returned 6 kickoffs for 144 yards, including a 35-yarder.
“All things considered I thought Percy played well,” Ryan said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
