Allen and the Bills beat the Hail Mary of Rodgers and the Jets

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills overcame Aaron Rodgers' Hail Mary touchdown throw as the first half ended Monday night, defeating the New York Jets 23-20 and taking control of the AFC East.

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Allen threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score, and Tyler Bass made up for the earlier miss by kicking a 22-yard field goal with 3:43 left to help the Bills (4-2) slip into a two-game skid. They never lost three games in a row with Allen starting at quarterback.

The loss was the third in a row for the Jets (2-4), who are coming off a tumultuous week in which coach Robert Saleh was fired, defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich replaced him and interim coach and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett was demoted from playing-calling duties to Todd Downing.

Typically reliable kicker Greg Zuerlein missed two potential field goals for the Jets, hitting both of them inside the left post.

The match was full of yellow penalty flags throughout the night – both teams had 11 penalties each.

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Allen finished 19 of 25 for 215 yards. Rookie Ray Davis, replacing the injured James Cook, ran for 97 yards on 20 carries and caught three passes for 55 yards.

With the Jets leading 23-20, Rodgers threw deep to Mike Williams, but the pass was short and Taron Johnson, returning from a season-opening right forearm fracture, made the interception.

Allen and the Bills then managed to stay within the timeout and seal the victory. They are the only team in the league with a winning record.

Rodgers was 23 of 35 for 294 yards, two touchdowns and an INT, and Breece Hall had 113 rushing yards and 56 receptions.

Rodgers' deep throw on the final play of the first half caused confusion among the Jets, their fans and social media.

With the Jets up 48 points and perhaps hoping to find a field goal before halftime, Rodgers took a few steps back and danced around before releasing the ball toward the end zone. Allen Lazard reached in front of two Bills defenders and fell on his back.

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After a short exchange of words, the officials ruled it a try.

The Jets found a good rhythm on offense with Downing calling the play and Rodgers getting New York into the red zone. Hall's third-down drop resulted in the Jets settling for Zuerlein's 34-yard field goal, New York's first points in its first game of the season.

Buffalo rebounded by running all over New York's defense, gashing Ulbrich's unit for 61 yards – including 48 on Davis' six carries – and ending the Bills' first drive with a 1-yard field goal by Allen to make it 7-3.

Allen's 56th TD appearance placed him one spot behind OJ Simpson for second in franchise history.

Garrett Wilson allowed the Jets to regain the lead on their next drive, scoring on a 5-yard pass to Rodgers in the back of the end zone and both feet on a play that was initially ruled incomplete but was previously overturned on video replay. Ulbrich had to challenge.

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Allen led the Bills on a 90-yard drive to put Buffalo back in front, capped by an 8-yard TD pass to Mack Hollins. Quinnen Williams took part in Bass' extra point attempt, which sailed wide left.

Allen initiated the offense when he ran out of the end zone, switched to the right side and threw his body to the middle of the field, where Davis grabbed the ball, picked it up and made a 42-yard catch. .

Allen's second touchdown pass was a 12-yard toss to Dawson Knox 21 seconds before halftime, giving Buffalo a 20-10 lead.

Bass missed another kick on Buffalo's first drive of the second half, returning a 47-yard pass to the right.

Zuerlein tied the score at 20 on a 22-yard field goal midway through the third quarter.

The Jets appeared to take the lead late on the next possession when Braelon Allen ran up the middle from four yards out, but Tyron Smith was called for holding down the left side. On the next play, Rodgers connected with Wilson in the back of the end zone, but the winger was unable to keep possession of the ball after hitting Damar Hamlin and Taylor Rapp.

Zuerlein then hit the left post with a 32-yard attempt to keep the score tied. He also missed a potential 43-yard field goal with 9:44 left in the fourth quarter, again hitting the post.

Injuries

Jets S Chuck Clark was sidelined in the second quarter with an ankle injury. …CB DJ Reed left in the third quarter with a groin injury.

Next

Bills: Host Tennessee on Sunday.

Jets: Play at Pittsburgh on Sunday night.

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