SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 22, 2013
Jets 27, Bills 20: Rookie Geno Smith threw for 331 yards and two long touchdown passes as host New York held off Buffalo in an AFC East matchup.
Smith overcame two interceptions by connecting on a 51-yard scoring strike to Stephen Hill and a go-ahead 69-yard TD pass to Santonio Holmes as the Jets (2-1) beat the Bills for the ninth time in 11 matchups. Holmes (154) and Hill (108) eclipsed 100 yards and Bilal Powell had his first career 100-yard day with 149 on 27 carries to lift New York despite a team-record 20 penalties for 168 yards.
Buffalo rookie quarterback E.J. Manuel struggled for most of the day, enduring eight sacks and finishing 19-of-42 for 243 yards, but he pulled the Bills (1-2) into a 20-20 tie with a 33-yard touchdown pass to Scott Chandler with 10:39 to play. Smith needed 76 seconds to counter that when he hit Holmes down the right sideline for the decisive score with 9:23 left.
The Jets set the tone by going 80 yards in 12 plays on their first possession, a drive that featured the Wildcat and a 45-yard catch by Hill to set up Smith's 8-yard run from a quarterback draw. New York took a 17-6 lead into the locker room when Smith hit Hill in stride for 51 yards and Nick Folk nailed a 47-yarder on the final play of the first half.
Dan Carpenter booted two of his four field goals in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 20-12 before the Bills pulled even on Chandler's touchdown and Manuel's conversion pass to Stevie Johnson. Manuel had three more chances to rally Buffalo but never got his team near the end zone.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Hill eclipsed his previous career-best effort, when he had five catches for 89 yards and two TDs against the Bills in his first NFL game in Week 1 last season. ... Bills RB C.J. Spiller gained nine yards on 10 carries before he left in the third quarter with a knee injury. He was joined on the sidelines by CB/PR Leodis McKelvin (hamstring) and DT Marcell Dareus (ankle). ... Jets RB Chris Ivory injured his hamstring in the first quarter and did not return after rushing for five yards on four carries.