EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ (AP) Josh Allen scored two touchdowns and threw a touchdown pass to DJ Moore, and the Buffalo Bills pulled away from the New York Jets for a 31-12 victory Sunday that gave them their best start in 35 years.
James Cook had a 74-yard TD run in the fourth quarter that helped seal the victory and put the Bills at 8-1 for the first time since 1991, when they started 10-1 en route to a second straight Super Bowl appearance.
Jets quarterback Geno Smith injured his ankle in the third quarter after missing a series while being evaluated for a head injury late in the first half. Rookie Cade Klubnik made his NFL debut as a backup.
But with what appeared to be at least half the MetLife Stadium crowd dressed in blue, white and red Bills gear, the Jets (2-8) managed just four Jason Sanders field goals while losing their fifth in a row.
Joe Brady, who had the best start by a Bills coach in his first season, joined Jim Caldwell (7-0, Colts, 2009) and Herman Edwards (5-0, Jets, 2001) as the only NFL coaches to win their first five road games in their first season.
It wasn’t a huge statistical game for Allen, who went 11 of 21 for 196 yards with the TD and an interception – just the Jets’ second this season – and ran for 5 yards, including two scoring runs. But Buffalo didn’t need it against New York. Kyle Allen arrived with less than two minutes to play.
Cook totaled 157 yards and the long score on 18 carries.
Aaron Glenn will have to see how Smith’s ankle feels to determine who his quarterback will be when the Jets face the Chargers in Los Angeles next Sunday. Smith was 13 of 21 for 148 yards. Klubnik finished 11 of 20 for 137 yards with one interception and ran three times for 26 yards.
Allen pushed forward for a 1-yard touchdown to give the Bills a 7-0 lead with 2:43 left in the first quarter.
Sanders’ 41-yard field goal got the Jets on the scoreboard early in the second quarter. Tyler Bass followed with a 37-yard field goal on the Bills’ next possession to make it 10-3.
The Jets, who entered having been outscored 107-9 in the final two minutes of the first half in 26 games with Glenn as coach, had a promising drive just before halftime – but had to settle for a field goal.
On third and fourth from the 9, Smith threw a jump pass toward the end zone that fell incomplete. But Terrel Bernard hit Smith with his right shoulder while the quarterback was in the air. Smith remained on his back for a few minutes and was examined by trainers before heading to the injury tent.
With Smith out, Glenn opted for Sanders to throw a 27-yard kick on fourth down to cut the deficit to 10-6.
Klubnik, a fourth-round pick out of Clemson, opened the second half for the Jets in place of Smith and led a score capped by Sanders’ 22-yard run that made it 10-9.
Allen came right back and connected with Dalton Kincaid for 54 yards and the quarterback ran it in from a yard out three plays later to make it 17-9.
With Smith back, Sanders kicked a 48-yarder. But Allen’s 45-yard pass to Moore put the Bills up 24-12.
Klubnik returned for the next possession as Smith headed to the injury tent with an ankle injury. He was sent off a few minutes later.
Klubnik was intercepted by Davison Igbinosun, but the Bills rookie cornerback had the ball punched by Jeremy Ruckert and Josh Myers recovered for the Jets. But New York couldn’t take advantage of the second chance and punted a few minutes later.
Klubnik moved the offense later, but on first-and-10 from the Bills 23, Garrett Wilson caught a short pass and tried to move it laterally to Kenyon Sadiq. But Sadiq had to reach and couldn’t handle it, and Kaleb Elams-Orr recovered for Buffalo.
Allen gave up the first down to Cook, who raced 74 yards down the right sideline to make the score 31-12.
Bills: CB Dee Alford left in the second half with a concussion after being evaluated for a head injury and cleared to return in the second quarter. … LB Dorian Williams injured his calf in the fourth quarter.
Jets: Rookie WR Omar Cooper Jr. injured his ankle on New York’s first offensive play. … LG Dylan Parham injured his knee early in the second quarter.
Bills: Host the Miami Dolphins next Sunday.
Jets: Head to Los Angeles to face the Chargers next Sunday.
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