The lights were blinding at MetLife Stadium. It was loud. It was chaotic. If you missed the box score or just caught the highlights between commercials, you’re probably asking who won the Bills Jets game during their high-stakes Monday night divisional clash.
The Buffalo Bills took it.
They won 23-20. It wasn't pretty. Honestly, it was a mess of yellow flags and missed kicks, but Josh Allen did just enough to nudge Buffalo to a 4-2 record while the Jets slid further into a season that feels increasingly like a fever dream.
Why the Bills Jets game was a total officiating nightmare
Nobody tunes in to watch guys in striped shirts blow whistles for three hours. Unfortunately, that’s basically what we got. There were 22 accepted penalties in this game. Twenty-two. That is over 200 yards of movement based entirely on officiating decisions rather than athletic prowess. It felt disjointed. Every time someone made a big play, everyone—players, coaches, fans—looked at the turf for a yellow flag before celebrating.
You had roughing the passer calls that made defenders look confused. You had holding calls that seemed ticky-tack at best. This wasn't just "playing it safe." It was a game where the rhythm was strangled.
✨ Don't miss: Finding the Best Texas Longhorns iPhone Wallpaper Without the Low-Res Junk
Josh Allen’s legs vs. The Jets' defensive wall
Josh Allen didn't have his most prolific passing night. Far from it. He threw for 215 yards and two touchdowns. But his real value? The 18-yard touchdown run where he looked like a runaway freight train. That’s the thing about Allen; even when the Jets' secondary—led by Sauce Gardner—bottles up the deep ball, Allen can just decide to be a linebacker with a quarterback's arm.
Ray Davis stepped up too. With James Cook sidelined due to a toe injury, Davis, the rookie, ran with a chip on his shoulder. He put up nearly 100 yards on the ground. People weren't sure if the Bills could run the ball without Cook, but Davis proved that Buffalo’s offensive line is currently playing at an elite level, regardless of who is in the backfield.
Aaron Rodgers and the "Almost" Comeback
The Jets are a weird team right now. They just fired Robert Saleh. Jeff Ulbrich was making his debut as the interim head coach. Todd Downing was calling plays instead of Nathaniel Hackett. It was supposed to be a fresh start. And for a second, it looked like it might work.
Aaron Rodgers threw for 294 yards. He looked more mobile than he has all season. The highlight? A 52-yard Hail Mary touchdown to Allen Lazard at the end of the first half. It was vintage Rodgers. The stadium erupted. It felt like the momentum had shifted permanently.
🔗 Read more: Why Isn't Mbappe Playing Today: The Real Madrid Crisis Explained
But "almost" doesn't win games in the NFL.
The Jets' kicking situation was, frankly, a disaster. Greg Zuerlein missed two field goals. Both hit the left upright. If he makes those, the Jets win. It’s that simple. Instead, the Jets left six points on the board in a game they lost by three. You can't do that against a team like Buffalo. You just can't.
The Taron Johnson Interception
The game essentially ended on a spectacular play by Bills cornerback Taron Johnson. With less than two minutes left, Rodgers tried to force a ball deep to Mike Williams. Williams slipped. Johnson, who was playing with a massive wrap on his arm because of an injury, made a diving, acrobatic interception.
Game over.
💡 You might also like: Tottenham vs FC Barcelona: Why This Matchup Still Matters in 2026
It was a reminder that while stars like Josh Allen get the headlines, the Bills' defense has a knack for being in the right place when the game is on the line.
The AFC East landscape after the Bills Jets game
Buffalo is now firmly in the driver's seat. At 4-2, they have a two-game lead in the division. The Jets, at 2-4, are in trouble. They have the talent. They have the quarterback. They even traded for Davante Adams shortly after this game to try and fix the offense. But the chemistry isn't there yet.
- Buffalo's Outlook: They look like a playoff lock, though the defense needs to stop leaking yards in the middle of the field.
- New York's Outlook: It's desperation time. They need a winning streak immediately to stay relevant in a crowded AFC.
What most people get wrong about this game is the idea that the Jets played poorly. They didn't. They outgained the Bills. They had more first downs. They held the ball longer. But they committed more penalties and missed more kicks. In the NFL, the gap between "good enough to win" and "finding a way to lose" is razor-thin.
What you should do next
If you're a Bills fan, enjoy the cushion in the standings, but keep an eye on James Cook’s injury status for the upcoming weeks. If you're a Jets fan, watch how Davante Adams integrates into the lineup; his presence should, in theory, stop Rodgers from having to force balls to Mike Williams in triple coverage.
For everyone else, keep an eye on the officiating trends. If 20+ penalties per game becomes the new normal, it’s going to change how teams approach defensive aggression for the rest of the season.
- Check the injury report for James Cook before setting any fantasy lineups.
- Watch the Jets' kicking situation; they might be looking for a new leg soon if the misses continue.
- Keep an eye on the trade deadline, as the Bills might still look for one more veteran receiver to help Allen out.