If you’re looking for a Bills Jets play by play, you probably already know that these games are never just "normal" football. They’re weird. They’re chaotic. One minute you're watching a tactical defensive struggle, and the next, Aaron Rodgers is hucking a 52-yard Hail Mary into a windy Meadowlands sky. Honestly, the 2024 season series between these two was basically a microcosm of their entire history: Buffalo finding ways to win while New York finds increasingly creative ways to break their fans' hearts.
The two matchups in 2024 weren't just about the box score. They were about a rookie running back named Ray Davis emerging out of nowhere, Tyler Bass trying to find his confidence, and the Jets offense looking like a Ferrari one drive and a broken-down lawnmower the next.
The Monday Night Chaos: Week 6 Breakdown
Let’s go back to October 14, 2024. MetLife Stadium was buzzing. The Jets had just fired Robert Saleh, Jeff Ulbrich was the new guy in charge, and Todd Downing was calling the plays.
Buffalo won the toss but deferred. Smart move. Aaron Rodgers came out looking sharp, finding Garrett Wilson for a quick 24 yards. The Jets stalled and took a field goal. 3-0.
But then Buffalo took over. They ran the ball. Then they ran it again. Then they ran it some more. Ray Davis, filling in for an injured James Cook, was a monster. He accounted for 48 yards on that first drive alone. Josh Allen eventually punched it in from the one-yard line. 7-3 Bills.
That Wild Second Quarter
The middle of this game was pure insanity.
📖 Related: Heisman Trophy Nominees 2024: The Year the System Almost Broke
- The Jets answered with a Rodgers-to-Wilson TD. 10-7 Jets.
- Josh Allen pulled a "Houdini" act, escaped a sack, and found Mack Hollins for a TD. 13-10 Bills.
- Allen found Dawson Knox for another score right before the half. 20-10 Bills.
Then, with only 21 seconds left in the half, Rodgers did the Rodgers thing. He threw a 52-yard prayer. Allen Lazard tracked it in the wind, fought through traffic, and hauled it in. 20-17 at the half. People were losing their minds.
The second half was a "penalty-fest." Both teams were flagged 11 times. The Jets had a Braelon Allen touchdown wiped out by a Tyron Smith holding call. Greg Zuerlein, who usually has a "leg of gold," hit the upright on two different field goal attempts.
In the end, it came down to a Taron Johnson interception. Rodgers tried to force a deep ball on 3rd-and-18 with under two minutes left. Johnson snagged it. Josh Allen scrambled for a first down on the next drive, and that was that. Final: Bills 23, Jets 20.
The Orchard Park Rout: Week 17 Analysis
By the time the December 29 rematch rolled around, the vibes were very different. Buffalo was fighting for the No. 2 seed. The Jets were just fighting to finish the season.
This Bills Jets play by play was much less competitive. It was cold in Orchard Park, and the Jets secondary was a mess of flags. They were penalized 16 times in this game. 16! You can't win in the NFL like that.
👉 See also: When Was the MLS Founded? The Chaotic Truth About American Soccer's Rebirth
The Turning Points
The Bills scored first on a classic Josh Allen sneak. Then the defense took over.
- The Safety: A.J. Epenesa blew past Max Mitchell (who was subbing for the injured Olu Fashanu) and sacked Rodgers in his own end zone. 9-0 Bills.
- The Big Man Pick: Jordan Phillips tipped a pass, caught it himself, and literally jumped into the stands to celebrate with the fans.
The third quarter was a bloodbath. In a span of just five minutes, the Bills put the game away. Amari Cooper caught a 30-yard TD, James Cook scored from the one, and Keon Coleman caught a 14-yarder.
Rodgers was eventually pulled for Tyrod Taylor. Tyrod actually looked decent, throwing two late touchdowns to Garrett Wilson and Tyler Conklin, but it was purely cosmetic. Final: Bills 40, Jets 14.
Why the Play by Play Data Matters
If you're looking at the Bills Jets play by play for betting or fantasy, there’s a massive takeaway here: discipline. The Jets were their own worst enemy. Between the two games, New York committed 27 penalties.
Buffalo, meanwhile, showed they could win in different ways. In October, they leaned on a rookie RB and won a shootout. In December, they used a suffocating pass rush to force Rodgers into his worst game of the year.
✨ Don't miss: Navy Notre Dame Football: Why This Rivalry Still Hits Different
Key Stats That Defined the Series
- Josh Allen's Efficiency: He didn't have to throw for 400 yards. He just had to be "Playoff Josh" in spurlets.
- The Breece Hall Factor: Hall had 113 rushing yards in the first game but was completely neutralized in the second as the Jets fell behind early.
- Red Zone Success: In the October game, Buffalo was 3-of-4 in the red zone. The Jets were 1-of-4. That’s the ballgame right there.
What Most People Miss
Kinda crazy, but everyone talks about the Rodgers Hail Mary, yet they forget the wind. Allen Lazard later said the wind actually blew the ball back into his path. If that wind is blowing five miles per hour slower, that ball is an incompletion and the Jets lose by double digits in the first meeting too.
Also, we gotta talk about Taron Johnson. He is arguably the most underrated nickel corner in the league. His interception in Week 6 was the turning point of the Bills' entire mid-season stretch. Without that play, the Jets might have snatched momentum and the AFC East race could have looked a lot different.
Lessons for Next Season
If you're following this rivalry, keep an eye on the offensive line matchups. The Jets' inability to protect Rodgers against A.J. Epenesa and Greg Rousseau was the "death knell" in both games.
Actionable Insights for Fans
- Watch the Penalties: When the Jets start stacking "illegal formation" or "holding" calls, the game is usually over. They don't have the offensive rhythm to overcome 1st-and-20.
- Focus on Ray Davis: He isn't just a backup. The Bills' play-calling changed when he was on the field, becoming much more "downhill" and physical.
- The Home Field Advantage is Real: Buffalo is now 16-1 in divisional home games since 2020. Don't bet against them at Highmark Stadium in December.
The 2024 season proved that while the names on the back of the jerseys change, the story of the Bills and Jets stays the same. Buffalo plays through the chaos; the Jets get consumed by it.
To stay ahead of the next matchup, start tracking the "pressure rate" of the Bills' defensive ends. If Rousseau and Epenesa are winning their 1-on-1 matchups early in the first quarter, the play-by-play will almost certainly trend toward a Buffalo blowout. Focus on the turnover margin in the first three possessions, as both 2024 games were decided by who blinked first during the opening drives.