Two Bills Drive

‘Receiver and returner Jonathan Carter was lost for the game – and possibly the season – with a sprained left knee injury when he got his leg bent back while returning a kick in the second quarter of the Jets’ 17-6 loss to the Bills yesterday.’

‘Fortunately for Henry, he was hardly touched by the Jets’ defense, which looked as if it wanted no part of any physical contact as the game wore on and it wore out. Had the teams been playing either touch football or flag football, Henry’s stats wouldn’t have differed by much.’

‘The Jets went to Buffalo needing a win to keep their faint playoff hopes alive, and instead saw their longshot dreams ended by an undersized Bills running back named Travis Henry who had a career day – wait, it gets worse – despite playing with torn rib cartilage and a broken right leg.’

‘”I don’t know when I [last] felt that we just got beat up the way we did today,” Martin said. “I don’t even know that I felt like that this year. This is probably our worst game collectively this year, when we needed it the most.”‘

‘Buffalo blitzed more than it has in the past against the Jets and appeared determined to collapse the pocket and force Pennington to roll out or hurry throws. Tackle Sam Adams had two sacks from the inside, but pressure also came at times from a linebacker or a safety. This strategic mix confused the offensive line, and Pennington, who rushed a number of passes and was not his usual sharp self, completing only 15 of 29 for 155 yards and an interception.’

‘With 39 yards next week against Pittsburgh, Martin will pass former Jet John Riggins for 11th all-time. With 47 yards, he will reach 1,000 yards for the ninth consecutive season. Barry Sanders (10 years) is the only other back in NFL history with as long a streak to start his career.’

‘”They took it to us,” said Pennington, who could not elude Buffalo’s devastating array of blitzes long enough to rescue his team this time. “This game’s not real hard, and they out-executed us, their defense against our offense.”‘

‘”It’s December. That is when you’re supposed to run the ball,” Henry said. “Today I was in the zone. I wasn’t thinking about anything. Every time I got the ball in my hands I was thinking [go] north and south, and trying to take control of the game.”‘

‘The Jets failed to adjust to the Bills’ varying blitzes and stunts.’

‘That’s how it has often been for teams playing against the Jets, who let Henry run through holes so large that even the Bills’ linemen seemed a bit surprised. The running back rarely got touched behind or near the line of scrimmage.’

‘Because when they needed their biggest effort of the season following a stunning upset of the Tennessee Titans on Monday night, the Jets came up small in a 17-6 loss to the struggling Buffalo Bills yesterday at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Once again, the Jets were exposed as a team in need of a major talent infusion, especially on defense. And owner Woody Johnson and general manger Terry Bradway saw it all live.’

‘Running back Curtis Martin reached another milestone, rushing for 84 yards on 25 carries to pass former Bills star O.J. Simpson (11,236) and move into 12th place on the NFL’s all-time rushing list with 11,314 career yards. Martin is closing in on John Riggins, who is in 11th place with 11,352 yards.’

‘”This was probably our worst game this year, collectively, when we needed it most.”‘

‘”How can you play with one of the best teams in the NFL and then go out here and play the way we did is hard to understand,” the defensive tackle said as he choked back the tears that eventually came, leaving him silent. “There’s so much at stake,” Evans whispered.’

‘”He played very physical and won his matchup,” Bills coach Gregg Williams said. “We were hoping, coming into this ballgame, that he would. It was a very key and integral park of what we were setting our defense to do.”’