Josh Allen ran for two touchdowns and threw for another as the Buffalo Bills defeated the New York Jets 31-12 on Sunday.
The win moved the Bills to 8-1, marking their best start in 35 years according to “reporting from Yahoo Sports.”
James Cook contributed to the victory with a 74-yard touchdown run during the fourth quarter.
The Jets struggled throughout the game as quarterback Geno Smith dealt with multiple medical issues.
Smith first left the field in the second quarter for a head injury evaluation and later exited for good during the third quarter with an ankle injury, per “coverage by the Associated Press.”
Rookie Cade Klubnik filled in for Smith during the contest, finishing with 137 passing yards and one interception.
The Jets offense failed to reach the end zone, relying instead on four field goals from Jason Sanders.
Buffalo coach Joe Brady earned his fifth road win of the season, becoming one of the few coaches in NFL history to achieve such a start in his debut year.
Allen completed 11 of 21 passes for 196 yards, including a 45-yard touchdown strike to DJ Moore.
The Bills defense forced mistakes, including a late fumble recovery by Kaleb Elams-Orr that helped secure the final margin.
Injuries impacted both rosters during the physical matchup at MetLife Stadium.
The Jets saw rookie wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. leave with an ankle issue on the opening play, while the Bills lost cornerback Dee Alford to a concussion.
The Jets now hold a 2-8 record and face a difficult road game against the Los Angeles Chargers next Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Bills are scheduled to return home to host the Miami Dolphins.
The Jets coaching staff must now evaluate Smith’s ankle to determine the starting quarterback for the upcoming trip to California, according to the outlets.
Despite the statistical disparity, Buffalo maintained control throughout the second half to pull away from their division rivals.