What went right:
1.
When the Jets (3-1) signed San Diego castoff LaDainian Tomlinson, he was supposed to be another wrinkle in the offense. Instead, Tomlinson has become an offense all his own.
The 31-year-old former MVP accounted for 155 yards of total offense, highlighted by a 26-yard score in the third quarter where he juked a safety to put the Jets up 38-7. It was part of a 21-0 third quarter for Gang Green.
“I thought he was going to be outstanding, but he’s better than that,” coach Rex Ryan said.
LT hit the rushing century mark for the first time in nearly two years.
2 Defense in control
Besides allowing a touchdown drive that drew Buffalo within 10 before halftime, the Jets’ defense had its way.
The Bills went 0-for-10 on third down and held the ball for just 19:31. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick had more rushing yards (74) than all three of his backs combined (40).
3 Go long
Mark Sanchez took several shots downfield off play action, including a 41-yard scoring strike to Braylon Edwards. Dustin Keller also grabbed TDs — one from Sanchez and one from Brad Smith. With the win over the Bills, the second-year quarterback has now thrown eight touchdowns over the past three games. Even better for the Jets, he has yet to throw an interception through four games to start the season. Oh, and speedy wide receiver Santonio Holmes returns from suspension for the Monday night game, giving Sanchez yet another target.
What went wrong:
1. What The Folk – The rout could have been on early. Following their first quarter touchdown drive to start the game, the Jets called an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff that caught Buffalo napping. With possession of the ball, the Jets’ drive stalled and Nick Folk had the chance to give New York a 10-0 lead midway through the first quarter. Instead, Folk hooked the 30-yard chip shot wide left. For a kicker who has been close to automatic for the Jets this year, it was an embarrassing miss.
2. Hold This – With the Jets dominating possession and yardage but only holding a 7-0 lead through the second quarter, Sanchez and the offense pushed the ball deep into the red zone. With the ball inside the Bills 5-yard line on third-and-goal, tight end Dustin Keller was twice held on the play. First at the line of scrimmage, Keller got held trying to get off of his block, and then there was a significant hold on the tight end by Buffalo’s Brian Scott as he began his route in the end zone. Sanchez’s pass to Keller just missed and would have been a likely touchdown if there had not been the hold.
3. No Hot Dogging It – Last year in a 38-0 laugher over Oakland, sideline cameras caught Sanchez snacking on a hot dog brought in from the stands while sitting on the bench in the fourth quarter. This time around, Sanchez spent the last half of the quarter blowout actually watching his teammates play in scrub time rather than enjoying a wiener on a bun. It’s been almost two weeks since the Jets have had some form of controversy, and we were really hoping for something to snack on here.
