The Jets Get Grounded by the Buffalo Bills in Week 2

In Week 2 of the 2025 NFL season, the Buffalo Bills reminded the New York Jets that they are still the beasts of the AFC East.  The Bills traveled to MetLife Stadium ready to show that not only are they still the best team in the division, but they are also capable of completely dominating a game on the road.  A final score of 30 to 10 only tells part of the story of the Bills’ dominant performance against the New York Jets.

During Week 1 of the season, the Buffalo Bills struggled to stop Ravens running back Derrick Henry.  The Bills’ inability to stop Henry drew some criticism, questioning the quality of Buffalo’s defensive front seven this season.  In addition, the Bills lost defensive tackle Ed Oliver due to an ankle injury in practice this week.  So, could the Buffalo Bills defense step up in Week 2 and shut down the Jets’ running game?  The answer is yes, the Bills completely shut down the Jets’ rushing attack, while also keeping a cap on the Jets’ passing game.

Along with stepping up on the defensive side of the ball, the Buffalo Bills’ offense showed that they are more than just Josh Allen.  The Bills’ running game took over against the Jets, allowing Allen to simply manage the game and get the ball to his offensive weapons.  Allen did sustain an injury to his nose early in the game, and that injury scare led to Buffalo taking some of the load off of Allen, allowing James Connor and wide receiver Elijah Moore to play a bigger role this week.

Coming into the 2025 season, the New York Jets were sporting a new look with head coach Aaron Glenn taking the reins, and quarterback Justin Fields leading the New York offense.  Fields came into this game after putting together a great performance against the Pittsburgh Steelers in a 34- 32 loss to open the 2025 season.  Based on that performance, it appeared that a Jets offense featuring Fields at quarterback, along with running back Breece Hall and wide receiver Garrett Wilson, would pose a challenge for the Bills’ defense.

On the other hand, the Bills’ defense did not buy into the hype that they may struggle this season. Buffalo limited Fields to just 3 completions on 11 pass attempts for 27 yards. Fields only ran the ball 5 times for 49 yards. Fields left the game after taking a shot to his head, and the Jets’ training staff had to evaluate him for a concussion. Tyrod Taylor stepped in for Fields, posting only 56 passing yards. However, Taylor did throw one touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to tight end Jeremy Ruckert.

During the off-season, the Buffalo Bills made a financial commitment to running back James Cook with a contract extension.  This week, Cook showed that he is worth the money that Buffalo is paying for the next few seasons.  Against a solid Jets defense, Cook ran the ball 21 times for 132 rushing yards, and Cook also scored two rushing touchdowns.

The ability to run the ball without needing to put Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen at risk is a big step forward in Buffalo.  Over the last few seasons, Cook has consistently demonstrated the ability to produce big plays on the ground for the Bills, and that ability was a significant factor in the Bills’ success today.  In addition to Cook’s rushing touchdowns, wide receiver Elijah Moore also scored a touchdown on the ground to help put away the Jets in the 4th quarter.

When Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen injured his nose against the Jets and had to come out of the game, the Bills Mafia had to think for a moment about life without Allen.  Backup quarterback Mitchell Trubisky stepped in and showed that he can lead the Bills’ offense, but he was only in for a short time before Allen returned.  In addition to Trubisky’s success, the offensive weapons around Allen stepped up and showed that they can win without Allen needing to carry the entire load for the Buffalo offense.

Allen only needed to pass the ball for 148 yards and run the ball 6 times for 59 yards.  While Allen did not score any touchdowns this week, his supporting cast raised their level of play.  The emergence of running back James Cook, tight end Dalton Kincaid, and the Bills’ wide receivers demonstrates that the Bills have made significant growth on the offensive side of the ball.  The Bills’ ability to be productive on offense without Allen putting out an exceptional effort will be important as Buffalo looks ahead this season.