Two Bills Drive

‘The players who began the season with four straight losses have no right to whisper the word “playoffs,” even if they are smart enough to figure out the mathematical permutations that suggest such fantasies are still possible. The Jets don’t deserve the benefit of the doubt, not after that zombie-like performance against the Bills that killed every ounce of hope and goodwill.’

‘In a must-win situation, the Jets surrendered a season-high 203 yards on the ground, including a career-high 169 by Henry. The wretched performance, rife with missed tackles and a lack of pursuit, may have sealed the fate of embattled defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell. Privately, some players hinted there was a lack of effort, a damning indictment of the overall defense. That it came after their best game, the Monday night win over the Titans, made it more curious.’

‘The Bills lost a complicated replay challenge in the second quarter. On a Buffalo punt, Kevin Thomas, trying the pin the Jets deep in their own end, batted the ball at the Jets’ 1. It went back toward the field of play and deflected off the Jets’ Aaron Beasley, who tried to grab it at the 9. The Bills recovered. Coach Gregg Williams challenged play, but the rule is that the receiving team can’t lose possession if it’s first touched by the kicking team.’

‘Rushing Defense – F

In a word, lousy. What else is new? The Jets surrendered a season-high 203 yards to an offense that averaged only 101 yards on the ground. The Jets’ interior was eaten alive by RB Travis Henry & Co. Hard to believe, but rookie DT Dewayne Robertson was credited with zero tackles. This isn’t Kentucky anymore, kid.’

‘Pennington was harassed by a barrage of five-man zone blitzes, suffering a career-high five sacks. Only two of the five came on blitzes, but he was hurried on many other throws. The secret to the Bills’ success was isolating a pass rusher on a running back. More often than not, the Bills won that matchup. The Jets responded by moving the pocket with rollouts, but that didn’t help much.’

‘The Jets’ defense allowed Bills’ running back Travis Henry to gash it for a career-high 169 rushing yards and a TD on 32 bone-bruising carries, including a mind-boggling 127 yards on 22 second-half carries.’

‘The 5-8 Jets won’t be in the playoffs (barring a miracle) and don’t deserve to be. They showed no heart, no desperation, no pride and no belligerence against the 6-7 Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium.’

‘Receiver and returner Jonathan Carter was lost for the game – and possibly the season – with a sprained left knee injury when he got his leg bent back while returning a kick in the second quarter of the Jets’ 17-6 loss to the Bills yesterday.’

‘Fortunately for Henry, he was hardly touched by the Jets’ defense, which looked as if it wanted no part of any physical contact as the game wore on and it wore out. Had the teams been playing either touch football or flag football, Henry’s stats wouldn’t have differed by much.’

‘The Jets went to Buffalo needing a win to keep their faint playoff hopes alive, and instead saw their longshot dreams ended by an undersized Bills running back named Travis Henry who had a career day – wait, it gets worse – despite playing with torn rib cartilage and a broken right leg.’

‘”I don’t know when I [last] felt that we just got beat up the way we did today,” Martin said. “I don’t even know that I felt like that this year. This is probably our worst game collectively this year, when we needed it the most.”‘

‘Buffalo blitzed more than it has in the past against the Jets and appeared determined to collapse the pocket and force Pennington to roll out or hurry throws. Tackle Sam Adams had two sacks from the inside, but pressure also came at times from a linebacker or a safety. This strategic mix confused the offensive line, and Pennington, who rushed a number of passes and was not his usual sharp self, completing only 15 of 29 for 155 yards and an interception.’

‘With 39 yards next week against Pittsburgh, Martin will pass former Jet John Riggins for 11th all-time. With 47 yards, he will reach 1,000 yards for the ninth consecutive season. Barry Sanders (10 years) is the only other back in NFL history with as long a streak to start his career.’

‘”They took it to us,” said Pennington, who could not elude Buffalo’s devastating array of blitzes long enough to rescue his team this time. “This game’s not real hard, and they out-executed us, their defense against our offense.”‘

‘”It’s December. That is when you’re supposed to run the ball,” Henry said. “Today I was in the zone. I wasn’t thinking about anything. Every time I got the ball in my hands I was thinking [go] north and south, and trying to take control of the game.”‘