Advertisement

NFL Week 17 scores: Tyrod Taylor, not Aaron Rodgers, prevents shut out as Jets get utterly annihilated by Bills

Tyrod Taylor was the only reason the Jets didn't put up a goose egg against the Bills.

yahoo sports staff

The New York Jets are hopeless. That's a harsh thing to say, but after Sunday's 40-14 loss to the Buffalo Bills, what else can you say?

The Jets weren't expected to win against the Bills, who have been anchored by Josh Allen's late-season MVP performances, but they were expected to put up some points. They did do that, but not until there were seven minutes left in the entire game. And it wasn't starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers who scored the Jets' first (or second) touchdown. It was Tyrod Taylor, who replaced Rodgers earlier in the 4th quarter.

In between the start of the game and the Jets' first TD, it was one failed drive after another. It began with a turnover on downs after holding the ball for six minutes. Then an interception, followed by Rodgers getting sacked in the end zone for a safety. Action picked up in the second half, but not in a way that was good for the Jets. Here are the results of their possessions in the second half until Taylor scored that touchdown: punt, interception, punt, fumble, punt.

The Jets' defense held strong in the first half, allowing just 12 points, but they fell apart in the 3rd quarter, allowing the Bills to score the bulk of their points and fully demoralize the Jets and their fans before Taylor came in. Rodgers even got an unnecessary roughness penalty for a late hit on a Bills player after throwing an interception, and was grinning about it — essentially the only thing he had to grin about all day.

What does it say about Aaron Rodgers that the Jets measurably improved the moment he left the game? A lot, considering that the Bills didn't ease up on the gas at all. They played all four quarters, but the Jets weren't even close to competitive until Taylor came in.

LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER46 updates
  • Liz Roscher

    Bills setting records of their own

  • Liz Roscher

    Saquon Barkley becomes the ninth RB in history to cross 2K yards

    Saquon Barkley, in the 16th game of the season, became the ninth running back in history to cross 2,000 yards in a season on Sunday. He joins Eric Dickerson, Adrian Peterson, Jamal Lewis, Barry Sanders, Derrick Henry, Terrell Davis, Chris Johnson, and O.J. Simpson in the 2K club.

    Here's the run that put him over the line to 2,003 yards. Barkley will go for the all-time rushing record in Week 18 against the Giants.

  • Liz Roscher

    Baker Mayfield has thrown FIVE touchdowns today

  • Liz Roscher

    The Jets are the only team being shut out in the early window

    The Jets cannot score a point. Not a single point. Not one. Right now it's not clear if they can even run a clean play.

    Meanwhile, the Bills take advantage as the wheels fall off the Jets' poorly constructed wagon.

  • Liz Roscher

    Whoopsie! A.J. Brown threw Tanner McKee's first TD ball into the stands

    A.J. Brown was trying to throw a gift to the fans, but what he actually threw was the ball from Tanner McKee's first NFL touchdown.

    Brown felt terrible about it, and signaled to the fan who caught it that he would trade his game-worn jersey for it. So head of security Big Dom went up to get the TD ball and negotiate with the fan, who seemed more than happy to hand it over.

  • Liz Roscher

    Duck on the field!

    This adorable duck got to see a great play up close, and was later taken off the field gently and nestled into the arms of a Buccaneers employee with a fantastic mullet.

  • Liz Roscher

    No seriously, give A.J. Brown this TD!

    This play was recalled on a penalty, but it's so cool that it should count.

    It's even cooler from this angle!

  • Liz Roscher

    This Amari Cooper catch is fantastic

  • Liz Roscher

    The 2024 Aaron Rodgers experience in a nutshell

  • Liz Roscher

    Kenny Pickett getting looked at on sideline after taking shot to the ribs

    Pickett was replaced by Tanner McKee.

  • Liz Roscher

    Colts not letting the Giants win without a fight

  • Liz Roscher

    Did you know the Titans are playing today? They are!

    The Titans are apparently playing today, but until now you wouldn't have known it. They finally get a TD on the board to open the third quarter.

  • Liz Roscher

    The Giants — yes, the GIANTS — get a kick return touchdown!

    Who are these guys and what have they done with the Giants we've watched for the last 10 weeks?

  • Liz Roscher

    Kenny Pickett connects with Devonta Smith for 49-yard catch

    Jalen who? (JUST KIDDING.)

  • Liz Roscher

    Colts show some life vs. Giants

  • Liz Roscher

    Bryce Young, Panthers not done yet

    The Panthers defense can't stop the Bucs, but their offense is doing its own thing.

  • Liz Roscher

    Can anyone stop Baker Mayfield? Because the Panthers can't

  • Liz Roscher

    Brock Bowers breaks Mike Ditka's 1961 record for rookie TE receiving yards

    What an incredible season for Brock Bowers of the Raiders.

    Read more about his mighty accomplishment here.

  • Liz Roscher

    Incredible one-handed catch from Grant Calcaterra leads to Eagles TD

    Eagles TE Grant Calcaterra made this absolutely bonkers one-handed catch, which led to a TD catch from Devonta Smith. Eagles lead 14-7.

  • Liz Roscher

    Bucs get close to another TD thanks to Bucky Irving

  • Liz Roscher

    The Jets can't stop hurting themselves

    The Jets can't stop getting in their own way. In the red zone during another long Jets drive, Aaron Rodgers throws into traffic. The ball is batted and intercepted. Womp-womp.

  • Liz Roscher

    Saints score TD on this very fun play

  • Liz Roscher

    Do the Colts know they need to win this game?

    The Giants are looking alive, while someone might want to poke the Colts to see if they're still with us. The Colts need to win this game to keep their playoff hopes alive, but this is a Giants team that clearly wants to play spoiler.

  • Liz Roscher

    What a grab from Jax WR Parker Washington!

  • Liz Roscher

    This won't clinch the NFC East for the Eagles

    The Eagles are going to have to do a lot better than this if they want to win and clinch the NFC East on Sunday.

  • Liz Roscher

    Bills aren't screwing around, even against the Jets

    Let the Jets tie the game? Oh no, says the Bills defense.

  • Liz Roscher

    Giants set a record — a good one this time!

    Giants fans, you may feel bad about your team now, but they've got some special players.

  • Liz Roscher

    Malik Nabers doing his part to prevent the Giants from going 0-9 at home

  • Liz Roscher

    Cowboys tie it up after Eagles penalties

  • Liz Roscher

    Panthers tie it up with Adam Thielen TD

  • Liz Roscher

    Josh Allen gets Bills on the board with rushing TD

  • Liz Roscher

    CJGJ makes up for Week 16 ejection with early pick-6 on Cowboys

  • Liz Roscher

    Buccaneers get an early lead on Panthers

  • Liz Roscher

    Giants pick off Joe Flacco

  • Liz Roscher

    Jaguars fans are not happy

  • Liz Roscher

    Another tribute to the late, great Greg Gumbel

    "The NFL Today," the show Greg Gumbel hosted for years on CBS, gave a touching tribute to him on Sunday morning. Gumbel, 78, died of cancer on Thursday.

  • Liz Roscher

    The Giants are so bad they're making history

    The Giants aren't just a bad team. They're *so* bad that they're creating new NFL history with their badness. To have done something that's so egregiously awful that no team has ever done it before? Truly incredible.

  • Liz Roscher

    Yes, Dion Dawkins is wearing his own jersey for Jets week

    Did Bills LT Dion Dawkins run out of clothes this morning? Or is he hyping himself up for Jets week?

  • Liz Roscher

    Kenny Pickett is living his dream with the Eagles

    Eagles backup quarterback Kenny Pickett, who is starting against the Cowboys on Sunday in place of Jalen Hurts (who is recovering from a concussion), is a Jersey boy who grew up an Eagles fan. Today he's living his dream: starting for his hometown team as they attempt to win the NFC East — while wearing those classic kelly green uniforms.

    And if you need proof Pickett was an Eagles fan from birth, Adam Schefter has the goods.

  • Liz Roscher

    Raiders TE Brock Bowers could break Mike Ditka's 1961 record

    Brock Bowers, rookie tight end for the Raiders, could break Mike Ditka's longstanding record for rookie TE receiving yards on Sunday. The Raiders play the Saints, one of the worst defenses in the league, so Bowers could get a chance to eat today. Not that he needs a full meal to break the record. He just needs a snack.

    Going into Sunday, Bowers has 1,067 receiving yards. He needs just 10 more to break Ditka's record of 1,076.

  • Liz Roscher

    Inactives: Cowboys vs. Eagles

  • Liz Roscher

    Inactives: Panthers vs. Buccaneers

  • Liz Roscher

    Inactives: Raiders vs. Saints

  • Liz Roscher

    Inactives: Titans vs. Jaguars

  • Liz Roscher

    Inactives: Jets vs. Bills

  • Liz Roscher

    Inactives: Colts vs. Giants