When the Jets signed safety Ed Reed earlier this week, coach Rex Ryan said that he thought Reed’s presence would make teams think twice about throwing deep on the Jets defense.
The Bills didn’t get the memo. E.J. Manuel hit T.J. Graham and Marquise Goodwin on consecutive plays of 40 and 43 yards for a Bills touchdown that extended their lead to 27-7 in the third quarter. Graham beat Dee Milliner down the left sideline and got his feet down while reeling in Manuel’s throw. Goodwin torched Antonio Cromartie on the next play for Manuel’s second touchdown pass of the game.
The Jets took advantage of a blunder by Bills punter Brian Moorman in the third quarter to set up a Chris Ivory touchdown, but Geno Smith was intercepted for the second time on the day after Goodwin’s touchdown to set the Bills up in Jets territory once again.
The defense held this time, but Smith can’t keep handing the ball over if the Jets want to get back into this game.
UPDATE 3:26 p.m. ET: That didn’t take long. Bills safety Da’Norris Searcy picked off Smith on an attempted screen to Santonio Hokmes and returned the ball 32 yards for a touchdown. It’s now 34-7 Bills with 1:14 to go in the third.
UPDATE 3:41 p.m. ET: Matt Simms replaced Smith on the first Jets possession of the fourth quarter. Smith’s final line was an ugly 8-of-23 for 103 yards and three interceptions. Simms hit tight end Jeff Cumberland for a touchdown to cap his first drive to cut the Bills lead to 34-14.