Ryan O'Halloran: Here's how Josh Allen erased last week's loss, previous Jets demons in Monday night win
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.
The previous two times Josh Allen had walked across the hallway and into the Buffalo Bills press conference room in the bowels of MetLife Stadium, he was ticked off, disappointed, frustrated all of it.
Two years ago, Allen threw two interceptions and had a 46.8 rating in a loss to the New York Jets.
Last year, after months of talking about his improved decision-making, Allen threw three interceptions and had a 62.7 rating in an overtime defeat.
This metal-and-concrete structure in the shadows of midtown Manhattan was fast becoming Allens house of horrors.
He could win in Kansas City and Miami, New England and Los Angeles (both opponents), but playing here was like fighting the Jets and all kinds of swamp monsters at the same time.
Not Monday night, though.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) runs off the field after the Bills' 23-20 win over the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
on Monday night, Oct.
14, 2024.
(Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) In a game his team should have treated with extreme urgency to avoid falling to 3-3, to avoid a three-game losing skid, to avoid dropping into an AFC East tie with the Jets Allen played as such.
The Buffalo Bills were able to do good work on the ground in a wild, ugly 23-20 victory that was marred by mistakes and penalties aplenty, but nonetheless improved Buffalo to 4-2 on the season and kept the Bills atop the AFC East.
But ...
He was urgently conservative.
He was safely efficient.
He was wisely aggressive.
Translation: Allen didnt produce a repeat of his eyesore-of-a-performance (9-of-30 passing) from last week in Houston.
In the Bills 23-20 win over the Jets, Allen was 19-of-25 passing for 215 yards and two touchdowns (127.9 rating), and he rushed for one score.
Smart.
Sound.
Safe.
We totally expected him to be able to flush that (loss), left guard David Edwards said.
Some of the plays he made awesome.
If the Texans loss was Anti Josh, this was Typical Josh.
Keep plays alive.
Avoid the backbreaking mistake.
And be OK taking the short profit.
Five Bills caught at least two passes.
They had 33 rush attempts for 149 yards.
This was not the time for Hero Ball.
Takeaways and what we noticed during the Bills' Monday night game against the New York Jets.
We understood the gravity of this game 4-2 with a head-to-head win (over the Jets), Allen said.
Big, big game for us in terms of where it stands.
Minus his top running back (James Cook) and getting back his top receiver (Khalil Shakir) only in a limited role, Allen knew he couldnt get arrogantly greedy.
Throwing downfield all the time didnt work in a 23-20 loss at Houston, and it wasnt going to work against the Jets.
I wanted to come out and play a clean game and get through my reads quickly, Allen said.
Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid (86) is knocked out of bounds by New York Jets safety Tony Adams (22) and safety Chuck Clark (36) during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
on Monday night, Oct.
14, 2024.
(Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) His first pass was a short completion to tight end Dalton Kincaid, who ran over cornerback D.J.
Reed and through safety Tony Adams for a 14-yard gain.
On the third drive, he extended a play for 7.45 seconds before he threw 42 yards to running back Ray Davis (how good was the rookie?) and finished the march with an 8-yard touchdown pass to receiver Mack Hollins.
On the fourth drive, he bought 4.73 seconds before finding old friend/tight end Dawson Knox for a 12-yard touchdown.
The Bills were in control at 20-10 with only 21 seconds left in the first half.
Until they lost control.
The Jets connected on a 52-yard Hail Mary to close the half, another one for quarterback Aaron Rodgers highlight tape.
Allens reaction on the sideline? That fricking guy, he said of Rodgers.
Buffalo Bills defensive end AJ Epenesa (57) celebrates a sack during the fourth quarter at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
on Monday night, Oct.
14, 2024.
(Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) Penalties ruined the second half, and the Bills went missed field goal , punt and punt .
On the game-winning drive, Allen was 3-of-4 passing and drew a roughing-the-passer penalty to set up Tyler Bass 22-yard field goal.
One more play was required, though, after nickel cornerback Taron Johnsons interception with 1:52 remaining.
Last week, the Bills passed three times from their 3-yard line, allowing Houston to win as time expired.
This time, the Bills faced a third-and-4 from their 24.
Allen scooted the 6 yards to seal the game.
I just kind of peeked backside and there was an opportunity to go get it, Allen said.
So I did.
And it helped deliver the Bills a key win.
The Bills survived the NFL schedule-makers gauntlet.
Four of their next six games are at home.
Three primetime road games.
Would they have taken 4-2 before the season started? Of course.
Now its time to handle Tennessee at home, travel west to beat reeling Seattle and then start November by beating Miami.
Hello, 7-2, and right in the thick of the AFCs race for the top two seeds.
Against the Jets, they got Johnson (forearm) and Shakir (ankle) back from injury.
They still need to get Cook (toe) and defensive tackle Ed Oliver (hamstring) healthy, but the Bills young depth is certainly impressive with Davis and DeWayne Carter subbing for Cook and Oliver, respectively.
Most important of all, Allen showed he had equal parts short-term memory (forget the Texans loss) and long-term memory (remember why it was such a mess).
Hes just Josh Allen, Kincaid said.
He can do miraculous things with the ball in his hands.
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