Buffalo cannot make the most of a slew of penalties against opponents.
It was ugly, but in terms of early season victories, New York Jets coach Rex Ryan will take it and move on.
The Jets gave away a team-record 20 penalties but managed to hang on to beat the Buffalo Bills 27-20 as Geno Smith continued to grow in the starting role for the Jets.
Smith threw two touchdown passes and ran one in himself in what was the difference between the sides, with Ryan happy with the victory but admitting the side still has plenty to improve on.
“I love the fact that our team found a way to win,” Ryan said.
“We persevered and we won. That’s really encouraging to me. That tells you about the fight and spirit of this football team, and that’s what I’m most proud of.
“I know this team is going to get better, there’s no way we can’t. Twenty penalties? That’s on my shoulders. No question about it, but I know we can get better.”
However, the 168 yards given away by the Jets due to their indiscipline cannot be repeated against almost any other sides in the NFL otherwise the Jets will find themselves on the wrong side of the scoreline.
It was a costly defeat for Buffalo, which lost cornerback Leodis McKelvin to a hamstring injury, defensive tackle Marcell Dareus to an ankle injury and defensive end Alex Carringtonwas carted off late in the game with an apparent left knee injury.
Running back C.J. Spiller also left with a knee injury and finished with just nine yards rushing.
The Jets will travel to take on Tennessee to take on the Titans at LP Field while the Bills will face a tough ask when they take on the tough defence of the Baltimore Ravens.
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