2 — Applying Pressure
The Bills defense was a tour de force from top to bottom as they held the Jets to 155 total yards, combined for six sacks, forced four turnovers and did not allow a third-down conversion.
It’s the first time since 1987 that the Bills defense did not allow an opponent to convert a third down play.
After the Jets fumble on the opening kick led to a Tyler Bass field goal and Rasul Douglas’ interception in the second quarter led to a James Cook TD, the Bills now have 65 points off turnovers this season, the most in the NFL.
Bills cornerback Rasul Douglas, whom they acquired at the trade deadline, has been a key cog as part of that takeaway resurgence. Douglas intercepted Zach Wilson in the first half, backup Tim Boyle in the second half and added a fumble recovery.
Douglas is the first Bill with multiple interceptions in a game since Tre’Davious White in 2019.
“He’s a smart football player,” McDermott said of Douglas. “The game makes a lot of sense to him. So there’s a reason why he can (do) what he did.”
Buffalo’s defensive front also came to play with five different players getting credited with either a full or partial sack. Leonard Floyd’s 2.5 sacks made him the first Bills player with multiple sacks against the Jets in both games of the season series since Bruce Smith in 1990. Floyd leads the Bills with 9.5 sacks on the season.
Ed Oliver also recorded a sack during the game, setting a career-high for sacks in a single season (6.0).
Safety Jordan Poyer said the Bills defense never lost their confidence after the last two losses and Sunday’s dominant victory can be proof of the team’s mental toughness.
“Just being able to respond to adverse situations,” he said. “Kind of backs against the wall and that’s the type of team that we have. Put in a good week of practice and it showed today.”
