AFC East roundup: What happened in the division in Week 7
The Buffalo Bills defeated the Tennessee Titans in Week 7 by a score of 34-10. With the win, the Bills remain atop the AFC East with a record of 5-2.
Like Buffalo, the rest of the AFC East was in action. How did each fare last week, and how does the division stack up right now?
Here is a quick recap of what went down in Week 7 with the Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, and New England Patriots:
Miami Dolphins
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Going into their Week 7 game against the Indianapolis Colts, the Dolphins were still without starting quarterback Tua Tgovailoa. To make matters worse, their backup QB was injured in the game.
Tyler Huntley left the game with a shoulder injury and was replaced by Tim Boyle. Neither QB was effective as Dolphins wide receivers only caught four total passes. The Dolphins lost 16-10 and dropped to 2-4 on the year.
New York Jets
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The Jets made headlines last week after trading for WR Davante Adams. But, even rekindling the relationship between him and Aaron Rodgers couldn’t get the team on track.
The Jets lost 37-15 to the Pittsburgh Steelers on ‘Sunday Night Football’. Rodgers threw two interceptions and running back Breece Hall only averaged 3.1 yards per carry. The loss has the Jets sitting at a disappointing 2-5 record after many in the offseason predicted they would make a run at the division title.
New England Patriots
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The Patriots had to travel to London in Week 7 to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars. They had a disappointing flight home after a 32-16 loss.
Their defense couldn’t make stops and their offensive line couldn’t protect their young QB Drake Maye. They allowed 32 points to the Jags who average 20 per game. The loss drops the Pats to 1-6 on the year.
Give Jets’ HB Breece Hall the ball and not the blame
Again, New York Jets running back Breece Hall was off to a good start in week seven versus the Pittsburgh Steelers. Yet, passing-game coordinator Todd Downing found a way to alienate him from the game sequence, especially in the second half against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 7
Hall finished Sunday night’s 37-15 loss with six receptions for 103 yards and 12 carries for 38 rushing yards. His struggles on the ground are indicative, and some of his carries should be delegated to rookie Braelon Allen. Ball distribution continues to be an area lacking in the Jets offense as an inability to sustain drives compels them to be more pass heavy.
Inside a very divided locker room, Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers is possibly looking for someone to blame and it definitely shouldn’t be Hall after these last two weeks. Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson took some blame for his game-changing drop that led to an interception.
Ultimately, Hall has played better under Downing, but the team’s love for the pass has made his contributions null and void. Until the Jets settle in on an offensive identity they will continue to struggle.
Breece Hall didn’t need to improve, the Jets’ play calling did
Instead of forcing New York Jets running back Breece Hall in the a-gap on inside zone plays, new play caller for the offense, Todd Downing, sequenced in misdirection, toss, sweeps, and outside runs to create lateral advantages for his dynamic half-back.
By forcing opposing linebackers to pursue Hall laterally, Downing understands that this increases the probability of Hall making defenders miss. While Hall’s nimble stature and quickness allows him to elude tackles in the open field, versus interior linemen, he’s like a candle in a the hot sun.
Inside runs should alternatively be handled by Hall’s reserve, running back Braelon Allen. The Jets did sequence in some 21 personnel versus the Buffalo Bills, with Allen and Hall on the field simultaneously but limited Allen to just three carries.
Hall finished Monday night with 18 carries for 113 yards at a six yards per carry average. However, things will be much more difficult versus the Pittsburgh Steelers defense in week seven.
While an improved performance on ground may boost morale in the Jets locker room, there’s really little room for moral victories when the team is two games under .500 and two games behind the Bills in the AFC East.
A new era requires a new Aaron Rodgers: Jets’ pass attack is excessive
New York Jets running back Breece Hall played incredible on Monday night. Yet, instead of letting Hall pilot the team to victory, the Jets’ were determined to make quarterback Aaron Rodgers the hero.
42 pass attempts in week four, 54 attempts in week five, and 35 in week six have amounted to three consecutive losses for the Jets. What if Rodgers’ cry for Nathaniel Hackett wasn’t a sincere gesture of remorse, but actually a sob for his enabler (Hackett), knowing that interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich would lead a more balanced offensive attack by running the ball?
Still, coach Todd Downing allowed Rodgers enough autonomy in the pass game but the Jets squandered three of their four red-zone chances and threw a crucial interception that was somehow wide receiver Mike Williams’ fault.
Robert Saleh couldn’t get hug from Rodgers, Hackett could barely get a first-down from Rodgers, and if the Jets continue to spiral south after acquiring Adams, Ulbrich secretly knows he’ll be the blame. Nine AFC teams have a better season record than the Jets but none can say that they converted a hail-mary (sarcasm).
QB Josh Allen and company bounced back from their first two losses of the season in back-to-back weeks by returning to their scoring ways early.
After scoring a touchdown and a field goal, Buffalo appeared headed into halftime with a 10-point lead.
That is until four-time NFL MVP and South American tea enthusiast Aaron Rodgers threw a signature 52-yard Hail Mary touchdown as the clock ran out to end the first half.
“Yeah, obviously kind of a gut punch,” Allen said postgame about Rodgers’ latest feat. “Going in thinking you’re gonna have a two-score lead there and they catch a Hail Mary.”
But the Bills fought back into the game in the second half.
The offense added two more touchdown tosses later in the contest, tying the game at 20 points each before a Tyler Bass field goal gave Buffalo a lead they would not lose the rest of the way.
“Fighting through adversity, getting in at halftime, regrouping, saying let’s just control one play at a time,” Allen added. “We didn’t score as many points as I’d like in the second half, but found a way.”
Allen went 19-of-25 passing for 215 yards with a 127.9 rating and two touchdowns in the air plus one on the ground.
“I wanted to come out and play a clean game and get through my reads quickly” Allen continued.
His teammates had faith in his ability to bounce back from the consecutive losses.
“We totally expected him to be able to flush that (loss),” left guard David Edwards said via The Buffalo News. “Some of the plays he made – awesome.”
The Bills improved to 4-2 atop their division, and have still never lost three straight games with Allen at quarterback. His playmaking has had a substantial impact on the win column this season.
“He’s just Josh Allen,” tight end Dalton Kincaid noted as well. “He can do miraculous things with the ball in his hands.”
The leadership of the club’s quarterback in gutting out the win was noticed and credited by his head coach as well.
“A good division win on the road,” head coach Sean McDermott said to the media. “Last three games in a row on the road, thought it was a gritty win led by Josh. Offense got off to a good start, established the line of scrimmage, really in the game.”
Allen realizes the importance of the division matchups “counting double” in their postseason implications, a concept that may begin to apply to key matchups against the AFC’s top playoff contenders on the Bills’ schedule as well.
“Our No. 1 goal is making the playoffs and you do that by winning your division,” Allen said. “We understand the gravity of this type of game, us being 4-2 with a 2 1/2-game lead with a head-to-head win, as opposed to being 3-3 and in second place.”
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen should be careful not to target Reed or all-pro Sauce Gardner in one-on-one situations tonight at Met Life Stadium. While rookie wide receiver Keon Coleman does possess extraordinary attributes, he hasn’t lined up versus a secondary this dynamic in 2024.
The outcome of this week six AFC East rival matchup will come down to which team can force a crucial turnover and/or win field position. Reed and others have their eyes on Allen and that football, and an interim head coach ready to turn things around.
Sure, it isn’t all Hall’s fault. Hackett’s clueless play calling had Hall plunging the a-gap, where his undersized frame yielded a disadvantage.
Hall is best when he is used in the counter game, outside zones, or as a pass catcher out of the backfield and interim coach Todd Downing needs to make the adjustment versus the Buffalo Bills.
As for Allen, interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich is too prudent to ignore the signs anymore. Expect Ulbrich to get both Hall and Allen the touches they need on Monday night.
Bills’ Dion Dawkins on facing Jets: ‘The tensions are extremely high’
Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins isn’t one to shy away from telling the media how he feels, especially when it comes to his thoughts on facing the New York Jets.
Ahead of the Week 6 clash on “Monday Night Football,” Dawkins was honest about the rivalry between the two AFC East teams.
“The tensions are just high,” Dawkins said in a press conference this week. “They talk, we talk. And we’re entertainers. I’m for sure an entertainer. Why not? … I like tension.”
“Who wants to play when everybody’s friends,” he added. “Let’s push ourselves.”
The Bills (3-2) will have to push themselves to get back on track Monday night. Not only is the team coming off back-to-back losses, but they have also lost their last two games at Metlife Stadium against the Jets (2-3)
The team is aware of their shortcomings in recent years against the Jets. They need a win to maintain control of the AFC East. With a loss, New York would become the division leader.
Even though Dawkins has a history of disliking the Jets, what he does like is the great competition between the two teams.
“Number eleven [Jermaine Johnson] … he’s hurt. Like even though imma talk my stuff, I wish that he was playing,” Dawkins said. “I like great competition. I actually prayed for him the other night. I’m hoping for a speedy recovery so we can get at it when he comes back.”
While Dawkins is tossing the fuel onto the fire that is the Bills-Jets rivalry, this one will be different than in recent memory. Robert Saleh was fired as New York’s head coach and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich was named the interim.
A longtime NFL man both as a player and coach, Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott is not taking Ulbrich’s appointment lightly.
“A lot of respect for him as a player years ago and then also a lot of respect for him as a coach, what he’s done with that defense,” McDermott said. “We look forward to the challenge.”
There’s a lot on the line for both teams in Week 6. Not only is the division lead up for grabs but both teams are trying to get back on track after setbacks in recent weeks.
The talking from players like Dawkins leading up to the matchup just adds to the game’s intensity.
Listen to the full soundbite from Dawkins here:
LT Dion Dawkins on why he seems to have some extra animosity for the Jets: “The tensions are just high. They talk, we talk, and we’re entertainers… It’s what I do. Shnowman going to cause some tension.” #Bills#BillsMafiapic.twitter.com/cvbHwebYJX
The Buffalo Bills will visit the New York Jets at Metlife Stadium on “Monday Night Football” in Week 6. The winner will become the leader in the AFC East.
The Bills (3-2) and Jets (2-3) are both coming off tough losses to good football teams. The Bills fell at the Texans while the Jets lost to the Vikings in London. Both teams are looking to bounce back.
The Bills are mostly searching for answers on offense while the Jets are searching for a new direction for the team after firing their head coach Robert Saleh on Tuesday. The Jets’ defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich has been promoted to interim head coach, while Todd Downing has taken over the offensive play calling for Nathaniel Hackett.
The Bills aren’t exactly sure what to expect given the coaching changes for the Jets, but they’ll be focused on themselves getting back in the win column.
Here are three keys to a Bills win in Week 6:
Play to the strengths of personnel
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It took one Khalil Shakir ankle injury for the Bills to learn what they had in their new offensive weapons. Under offensive coordinator Joe Brady, they haven’t had to pass much this year. Josh Allen is tied for 23rd in the NFL in pass attempts.
When they passed, Shakir was the go-to guy. Without him in Week 5, newcomers had to step up. They didn’t.
Mack Hollins, Curtis Samuel, Keon Coleman, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling were targeted a total of 18 times in the loss. They caught just four of the passes.
The pass catchers looked out of place and were misused. Hollins hasn’t made a living on go-balls. MVS in the short field hasn’t been his strong suit. According to former NFL WR Steve Smith, Coleman belongs in the slot. And, Samuel has been nonexistent in the offense. So, why are they being used this way?
It’s still a newly formed unit, and Brady will have to play some chess to figure out how they can be most effective. But, changes ought to be made to how they are being utilized, and quickly.
Don’t let Jets running backs heat up
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Jets running backs Breece Hall and Braelon Allen have been held in check lately on the field. In the last two weeks, they have averaged 37 combined rushing yards per game.
They are capable of much more. They can make defenders miss and are one of the more talented duos in the league. They are threats through the air as well. Both backs have a receiving touchdown this year.
The Bills’ rush defense ranks as eighth-worst in the NFL through five weeks. They give up over 144 yards per game on the ground. Sure, Breece Hall has averaged an abysmal 3.0 yards per carry to start the year, but the Bills defense has allowed big ground games this year. Ed Oliver was ruled out for the game as of Saturday morning, which makes things more difficult for the middle of the Bills defense.
More efficient offense
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Last week Allen was 9-for-31 passing (29%). He was 1-of-14 on passes ten or more yards downfield. Under pressure, he was 0-for-15.
What happened? Week 5 was night and day from what we saw the first three weeks when Allen and Brady had the offense humming. After three games, Allen was completing 75% of his passes and the Bills led the league in points per game.
The offense knows they have to be better. An early learning curve is expected due to all the new pieces and having a young OC, but no one expected the curve to look that bad. Eyes will once again be on the Bills offense to see how they turn it around, just like they were last week after their poor performance in Week 4.
Causes for concern as the Bills face the Jets in Week 6
The Buffalo Bills will head to Metlife Stadium to take on the New York Jets on Monday Night Football in Week 6.
The divisional clash will feature Bills (3-2) and Jets (2-3) teams that both lost last week.
The winner of Monday’s game will be the leader in the division. If the Bills win, they will gain a stranglehold on the division even after an up-and-down start to the season.
For the Bills to improve to 4-2 and take a two-game lead in the AFC East, they will need to be wary of these three things from the Jets on Monday:
Pass coverage
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Sauce Gardner and DJ Reed are arguably the best cornerback duo in the NFL. They are a big reason the team is ranked second in the the NFL in both total defense and pass defense. According to PFF, Reed is graded as the best cornerback in the league through five weeks. His 90.8 coverage grade is second in the entire NFL to the 49ers’ Fred Warner.
Despite losing last week, the Jets held a red-hot Minnesota Vikings offense to just 179 passing yards. Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold posted a 50.3 passer rating while completing just 14 passes on 31 attempts (45%). Last week, Josh Allen posted even worse numbers than those. He and offensive coordinator Joe Brady need a bounceback game in the worst way. It’s a tough matchup for the Bills after their wide receivers struggled against the Houston Texans.
Pass rush
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It’s not just the coverage downfield that makes the Jets’ defense a nightmare. The big guys up front can reach the quarterback with the best of them. The Jets are fourth in the NFL in sacks with 18. Jets edge rusher Will McDonald IV is tied for second in the league in sacks with 6.
After Allen was pressured on 41.7% of his dropbacks against the Texans, the Bills offense now faces a team who can get after the QB in the same way.
For all the times Allen was under pressure in Week 5, he didn’t complete a single pass when pressured. Protection for Allen needs to be on point Monday or McDonald and company will have a major impact. And, receivers need to get open as well.
Unpredictability?
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The Jets promoted defensive coordinator to interim head coach after firing head coach Robert Saleh. They also changed offensive playcallers. Todd Downing takes over for Nathaniel Hackett as the team’s singal caller. After five weeks, ownership had seen enough of the same old problems.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers ranks 26th in the NFL in passer rating and has a 7-4 touchdown ratio. But still, the shakeup within the organization was unexpected.
As far as what the Bills can expect from Jets, there probably won’t be too much difference in what they were last week. There may be a couple added wrinkles in playcalls. Regardless, it will be a good test for head coach Sean McDermott and coordinators Joe Brady and Bobby Babich.
