The New York Jets were left without Aaron Rodgers, but they managed to come out on top against the Buffalo Bills in the first Monday Night Football of the season (22-16). The star quarterback was only on the field for four plays with his new team before injuring his left ankle after being sacked by Leonard Floyd.
Rodgers didn't get up and, visibly in pain, was attended to on the field and later taken off in a cart to the locker room for X-rays, which came back negative and prevented him from returning to the field. He wore a protective boot before and after the examination.
A miracle in East Rutherford
But the Jets improved as the game went on to win. The Bills took the lead with a 40-yard field goal by Tyler Bass, and New York responded when Jordan Whitehead made the first of his three interceptions against Josh Allen, allowing Greg Zurlein to tie the game with a 26-yard attempt.
Buffalo pulled ahead with a five-yard touchdown pass from Allen to Stefon Diggs, along with another field goal by Bass, but they couldn't respond in the second half. Zurlein narrowed the gap with a 50-yard field goal, and two more interceptions by Whitehead put New York in an unexpected situation.
Zach Wilson, Rodgers' backup, threw the ball to Garrett Wilson, who bounced it off with his right palm and then caught it with the same arm to tie the game. Nothing went right for the Bills when Allen lost the ball and, even though he recovered it, he was tackled by Micheal Clemons, who forced another fumble. Quinnen Williams recovered it and the offense moved the chains, allowing Zurlein to give the Jets their first lead of the night.
After a good offensive series by Buffalo, Bass sent the game to overtime with a 50-yard field goal. But Allen failed in overtime and the Jets won when Xavier Gipson returned the ball 65 yards to the end zone.
FCM