NFL Recap (Buffalo-NY Jets)
Posted: Sun November 8, 1998 at 9:53 p.m. EST
NY JETS 34, BUFFALO 12
EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Vinny Testaverde soundly
outplayed Doug Flutie in
the battle of Heisman Trophy winning quarterbacks as the New York Jets rolled to a
34-12 rout of the Buffalo
Bills.
Testaverde completed 22-of-31 passes for 258 yards and three
touchdowns while Flutie appeared confused by the Jets' defensive schemes
and finished 12-of-30 for 154 yards with two interceptions. It was the
first matchup of Heisman quarterbacks since 1977, when Roger Staubach and
Jim Plunkett squared off.
"Vinny played a great game," said Flutie. "He was right on, locked in
and looked very comfortable. He had time to throw and hit his receivers."
The Jets (6-3) snapped a six-game losing streak against the Bills and
continued to share first place in the AFC East with Miami, which defeated
Indianapolis, 27-14. New York has the edge in all tiebreakers with a 4-0
record in the division.
"I know the tiebreaker comes down to division record and right now,
we're 4-0," said Jets receiver Dedric Ward. "That's
great, but we have to continue to play well."
The loss snapped Buffalo's five-game winning streak. The day started
with the Bills (5-4), Jets, Miami and New England in a four-way tie for
first place. The Patriots (5-4) were crushed by Atlanta, 41-10.
"We didn't play them very well and we didn't come after them," said
Bills coach Wade Phillips. "We needed to come after them more and we
didn't."
Testaverde, who won the Heisman Trophy at Miami 12 years ago, improved
to 6-0 as the Jets' starter. He hit Keyshawn Johnson with a
25-yard touchdown in the first quarter and connected with Ward and Wayne Chrebet on scoring
plays of 36 and 12 yards, respectively, in the second half. Johnson led
the Jets with seven catches for 95 yards.
"I think the experience I've had over the years, playing with some
poor teams has helped me," said Testaverde. "It has made me a better
quarterback."
New York's leading rusher Curtis Martin was held to
54 yards on 21 carries. He scored on a six-yard run in the fourth quarter.
Steve Christie
accounted for all of Buffalo's points with four field goals.
Flutie, who won the Heisman for Boston College in 1984, led the Bills
to four straight wins before this game. The Jets effectively prevented him
from improvising by keeping Flutie in the pocket and shutting off the
outside lanes.
"Shutting down the running game was the key," said Jets linebacker
Bryan Cox of the defense's success. "Their play action wasn't as effective
without a running game."
Buffalo rushed for just 48 yards on 18 carries. Antowain Smith was held to
37 yards on nine carries.
New York committed three turnovers in the first half, but the Bills
turned them into only one field goal and the Jets held a 13-9 halftime
lead.
"The defense got us some turnovers in the first half and we ended up
turning them into field goals (just one) instead of touchdowns and that was
where I think the difference came," said Flutie.
Testaverde had his first pass of the game intercepted by linebacker Sam Cowart off a
deflection at the Jets 38. But the Bills gained just two yards on three
plays and punted.
"It was a real difficult start for us with the interception," said
Testaverde. "I think out of the three turnovers they only got three points.
Our defense really stepped it up and played hard."
The second turnover came when fullback Jerald Sowell caught a
short pass and then had the ball stripped by linebacker Marlo Perry. Donovan Greer recovered
for the Bills and returned it 18 yards to the New York 37.
But after two incompletions and a one-yard loss on a running play, the
Bills again failed to capitalize and punted the ball away.
"I thought our defense responded real well to quite a bit of adversity
very early in the game," said Jets coach Bill Parcells.
Christie kicked a 40-yard field goal to open the scoring after a
10-play, 43-yard drive. But the Jets answered with a seven-play, 72-yard
scoring drive, capped by Johnson's touchdown. Testaverde completed 4-of-5
passes for 71 yards, including a 22-yard toss to Chrebet.
A 37-yard field goal by Christie 1:55 into the second quarter pulled
the Bills within 7-6.
Buffalo finally capitalized on a turnover when Christie kicked a
44-yard field goal six plays after cornerback Emanuel Martin recovered
another fumble by Sowell at the New York 49. Christie's third field goal
gave the Bills a 9-7 lead with 4:51 left in the half.
The Jets responded with an 11-play, 45-yard drive to set up a 49-yard
field goal by John Hall
with 27 seconds left in the half. Testaverde hit Johnson with two passes
for 32 yards to key the drive.
On Buffalo's ensuing possession, cornerback Otis Smith intercepted a
pass by Flutie and returned it two yards to the New York 45. Testaverde
then connected with Ward on a 25-yard play to set up a 43-yard field goal
by Hall as time expired in the half.
"We let things happen that we don't normally let happen," said a
frustrated Phillips. "We've got five games where we don't let up any big
plays and this game we just kept giving them up."
The Jets set the tone in the second half when Testaverde hit Ward with
a 36-yard scoring bomb down the right sideline four minutes into the third
quarter to increase their lead to 20-9.
Christie kicked a 21-yard field goal later in the third quarter, but
the Jets sealed it on Chrebet's 12-yard touchdown catch and Martin's
six-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter.
© 1998 Sportsticker Enterprises, LP
|
