Jets' grades vs. Buffalo Bills in Week 18
New York Jets running back Khalil Herbert (31) is brought down by Buffalo Bills cornerback Maxwell Hairston, right, in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y. Credit: AP/Adrian Kraus
OFFENSE: F
The Jets, without Breece Hall (knee), had only 122 total yards in another putrid performance. Rookie Brady Cook (11-for-22 for 60 yards and a TD) did not throw his first completion until 3:22 into the second quarter, and the Jets went three-and-out on their first two drives. They scored their only points with 7:33 left when Cook threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Andrew Beck (and a two-point conversion pass to Quentin Skinner) to end the 35-0 shutout. They gained only 2.7 yards per play.
DEFENSE: F
It’s official: The Jets are the only team in NFL history to not record an interception in a season. Josh Allen played only one snap, but the Jets allowed a season-high 470 yards to a Bills offense led by Mitch Trubisky (22-for-29 for 259 yards and four TD passes), Ray Davis (21 carries for 151 yards) and Ty Johnson (two TDs). Safety Keidron Smith (game-high 15 tackles) and cornerbacks Ja’Sir Taylor, Tre Brown and Samuel Womack made their first starts for the Jets.
SPECIAL TEAMS: B-
The highlight was Arian Smith and Kene Nwangwu combining to down Austin McNamara’s punt at Buffalo’s 2 late in the first half. McNamara averaged 42.2 yards on five punts, below his season average of 47.1 entering Sunday. Isaiah Williams had a 49-yard kickoff return. Nick Folk did not see the field as McNamara handled both kickoffs.
COACHING: F
The Jets were flagged for too many men on their third offensive play. Aaron Glenn did not use his challenge early in the second quarter after Davis was ruled down, nullifying a potential fumble forced by Malachi Moore that immediately was recovered by Jermaine Johnson in the end zone for what would have been a touchback. The Jets were trailing 7-0, and the Bills scored a touchdown five plays later. There also was the puzzling design on fourth-and-1 near midfield on the next drive, when Cook lined up in shotgun and flipped an errant pass for a turnover on downs. Glenn’s team lost five straight games by at least 23 points to end his first season as coach.
Ben Dickson is Newsday Sports' general assignment reporter. He joined Newsday’s high school sports staff in 2023 after graduating from Maryland, where he covered several of the Terrapins' teams.
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