The Buffalo Bills earned their first AFC East divisional win this season thanks to a persistent attack that gradually wore down an overmatched New York Jets team in all three phases of the game. The Bills were once again held in check until halftime, but the offense came out with an aggressive swagger after the break that broke most of the Jets’ prior momentum.
You might say that head coach Joe Brady has put together a masterclass in his first season at the helm, lulling opponents into a false sense
of hope through the first two quarters, only to pull the rug out from under them when it counts.
Buffalo again started the game on offense, thanks to another lost coin toss. It didn’t work out as Brady probably planned for in New Jersey, though the choice wasn’t his to make this weekend. The Jets’ forced a punt that soon ushered in a mid-tempo battle in the trenches for the duration of the half.
The Bills eventually found the end zone in the first quarter thanks to another goal-line carry by Allen. The Jets’ defense caused plenty of early confusion and frustration for Allen and the passing game, ultimately holding them to just 10 points at halftime.
Thankfully, Buffalo’s defense was ready for a slugfest and limited the Jets to just two field goals through two quarters while having to defend two different quarterbacks in starter Geno Smith (who was injured before the break), and rookie quarterback Cade Klubnik.
If you caught his quick interview after the half, it was clear Brady was annoyed at his mostly stagnant first-half offense. They responded to what must have been an epic challenge speech in the locker room, which led to three second-half touchdowns and a 31-12 blowout win.
A defense that’s been ranked as low as last and currently resides in the middle of the pack held an under-the-radar and (yes) talented Jets offense out of the end zone. These are the sorts of building blocks that matter when it comes to postseason discussions. The Bills can’t control their schedule or who suits up, but in watching the defense it’s clear things have begun to click and they’re responding far better to in-game adversity.
It was a banner day for the pass rush, which claimed four more sacks. The unit was led by rookie edge rusher T.J. Parker, who notched a pair to increase his total to three on the season.
It’s true that it wasn’t Allen’s finest day at the office, with him completing just 11-of-21 passes for 196 yards with one touchdown and one interception. His numbers were propped up by two longs passes: a 54-yard catch and run by tight end Dalton Kincaid, and a 45-yard deep shot to wide receiver DJ Moore.
Importantly, the Jets were unable to stop Allen’s threat as a short-yardage runner, which allowed the offense to stay on the field and gave him another pair of rushing touchdowns. With 90 rushing touchdowns, Allen is now just nine touchdowns shy of tying Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders.
As for running back James Cook III? What a tremendous game, which sounds like a broken record at this point. Cook had 13 carries for 56 yards at halftime. He finished with 18 carries for 157 yards and a career-long 74-yard touchdown run late in action. Do the math and you’ll see that he had just five carries and 101 yards with that touchdown in the second half. He probably would have had a receiving touchdown as well, if not for a dropped catch. Cook is on a mission in 2026, and Bills Mafia should enjoy every second of his play.
The rushing attack is again the story on offense, out-gaining the passing attack and finishing with a total of 201 yards on 32 carries. That’s a machine built for winter football, and Buffalo has an offensive line filled with aggressive run blockers. If they can cut down on the pre-snap penalties, teams may struggle getting the Bills’ offense off the field.
Improving to 8-1 was the Buffalo’s ultimate goal in Week 10, which allows them to maintain their first-place lead in the AFC playoff race. Just over half of the 2026 NFL season is now in the books, and the contenders have begun to separate from the pack.
Teams facing the Bills seem incapable of holding them under 30 points, which often spells doom in professional football. To this point, only the New England Patriots have Buffalo under 30 — defeating the Bills 29-26 in Week 4.
For as dominant as Buffalo’s been this season, it feels like their best is yet to come. They’ll need to continue willing teams to submission via the ground attack while trying to improve efficiency in the passing game. In Week 11, the Bills get their first crack at this year’s version of the Miami Dolphins. Despite a losing record, Miami is likely to have some things up its sleeve in an effort to frustrate Buffalo.
The Bills need to remain focused and avoid any scent of a letdown before their game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Thanksgiving night.
