Jets’ run defense shredded as Bills rush for 224 yards in 30-10 loss

The New York Jets' emphasis on stopping the run since the start of training camp unraveled Sunday as the Buffalo Bills raced to 224 rushing yards in a 30-10 win at MetLife Stadium.

Buffalo averaged 5.2 yards per carry and repeatedly broke through the Jets' front seven, turning a second-quarter James Cook 44-yard touchdown run into a game-changing play. Quarterback Josh Allen also ran effectively, and while he completed 14 of 25 passes for 148 yards, the Bills' ground attack dictated the game's flow.

The 224 rushing yards were the most the Jets have allowed since giving up 260 yards to the Indianapolis Colts on Nov. 5, 2021. New York's difficulties against the run were evident across multiple drives; the defense failed to contain rushing lanes, missed tackles and was repeatedly pushed off the line of scrimmage.

"I would say there wasn’t a challenge. There was a struggle," linebacker Jamien Sherwood said. "Again, self-inflicted wounds. We have to stay in our gaps. We need to get downhill faster. We need to use our hand techniques. We have to rely on all of our preparation. We have to see formations. We have to adjust on the sidelines."

Coach Aaron Glenn pointed to over-pursuit and missed tackles, but added he would reserve fuller judgment until film study. "I think it was more over-pursuit," Glenn said. "But again, I don’t want to really stamp that until I get ready to watch it. But, missed tackles did happen on that play."

The second-quarter Cook run, which began with a missed tackle at the point of attack by Quincy Williams, stretched the Bills' lead to 20-3 and marked a turning point. The Jets did not mount a sustained offensive response afterward, and their defense could not recover its earlier Week 1 run-resistance shown against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Safety Andre Cisco, asked to assess the start of the season, said the team must confront its shortcomings. "It's not OK," Cisco said. "[A] hard look in the mirror, I think, is the best way to go about it."

Through two games the Jets have allowed 64 points, a tally that reflects regression from Week 1 to Week 2 despite offseason and training-camp emphasis on improving the run defense. Returning players and coaches had identified stopping the run as a priority after last season's struggles, and the performance against Buffalo intensified scrutiny.

The Jets will review game tape this week as Glenn and his staff seek technical corrections and scheme adjustments. The club's inability to control the line of scrimmage and to limit chunk runs will be central to the evaluation as New York attempts to stabilize its defense early in the season.