New York Jets @ Cleveland Browns
1 2 3 4 FINAL
NEW YORK
7 10
7 7
31
CLEVELAND
0 7
7 7 21
CLEVELAND – In a must win game
for the New York Jets (3-5), the team outpaced the Cleveland Browns 31-21 to
keep their flickering playoff hopes alive.
With newly arriving Joey Bosa
and Desmond Trufant playing better than advertised, the Jets defense looked
like a new unit.
Linebacker Darron Lee, taking
over for jettisoned Navorro Bowman, played lights out in the first half with
multiple bone-crunching tackles while picking up his first interception of the
season.
Todd Bowles, in the build-up to
the game, fully committed to a simplified version of the 3-4 defense to
"let the players play."
And play they did.
For the game, the Browns were
able to muster a paltry 29 yards rushing with only nine first
downs.
"You can throw our record
out," Bosa said. "It's a fresh start for us today moving forward. I
said it yesterday and I'll say it today: We are here to eat."
The only Cleveland possessions
that ended in points while the game was still in doubt were due to errant
throws by New York's Sam Bradford.
Bradford had been on a positive
arc for the Jets since his arrival from Minnesota, but Bowles had enough of the
turnovers early in the 3rd quarter and handed the keys over to Jimmy Garoppolo.
The third year signal-caller,
who was previously acquired from division rival Miami, proceeded to finish the
game with a perfect 158.3 passer rating completing 14-of-15 passes for 204
yards with two touchdowns.
"Surreal moment for
me," Garoppolo said. "I've had a lot of people throw dirt on my
career after last year's benching (in Miami). It's just nice to get out here
and play with my guys."
A motivated Garoppolo could be
the ignitor to spark the Jets towards reaching that infamous 'potential' NFL
execs have been eluding to since the draft.
The Eastern Illinois product is
now set to head back to Miami to face the 6-1 Dolphins for his chance to not
only prove that he should be the QB1 in South Beach, but to also proclaim his
new team as a force to be reckoned with in the AFC East.
New
England Patriots @ Buffalo Bills
1 2 3 4 FINAL
NEW ENGLAND 3
7 0
0 10
BUFFALO
3 21
7 14
45
BUFFALO – For years, the knock
on Rex Ryan was that he would never be able to coach up an offense to the level
of his defense.
Many would say that if only he had a quarterback...
Rex Ryan's dreams are coming
true during this 2016 season.
With a fired up, revenge-seeking
squad, the Buffalo Bills (7-1, 3-1 AFC East) embarrassed the New England
Patriots (4-4, 1-2) 45-10 in front of a raucous home crowd.
"Let's put to rest that
unbeatable thing about the Patriots, OK," Ryan said. "They've had a
good run, but golly, it felt good to do whatever we wanted out there today.
He's (Bill Belichick) probably still smarter than me at whatever people think
makes you smart, but I'm pretty sure we proved that we're better at football
stuff today."
Rookie Cyrus Jones was torched
early and often by Buffalo's Tyler Lockett who finished with 11 catches for 118
yards and a score.
Jones, who was relentless with
his trash talk leading up to the game, repeatedly offered no comment while
sitting dejected at his locker after the clock hit :00.
The story of this game however,
rested with the Bills co-MVP candidates: Todd Gurley and Geno Atkins.
If the season ended today,
Gurley would unanimously run away with the league's top individual honor.
After his 25-carry, 202 yard,
four TD performance, Gurley continues to be a fantasy owner's dream.
Atkins however, has been equally
as dominant all season long.
His five tackles and 2.0 sacks
do not properly demonstrate how dominant the defensive tackle was on a
play-to-play basis in this game.
When not double or triple
teamed, Atkins lived in the backfield, hounding a skiddish Tom Brady all game
long.
"He's the best I've seen,
probably ever," Brady said. "I played awful today and it was due to
their pressure for sure."
The NFL's #1 team will take
their road show to the Pacific Northwest next week as they battle the Seattle
Seahawks.
