EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Jets were facing a stinging loss that would’ve knocked them out of first place in the AFC East and severely damaged their playoff hopes.
A bad play call, a big hit and a lucky bounce changed all that in an instant.
Abram Elam sacked J.P. Losman from behind and caused a fumble, and Shaun Ellis picked up the ball and rumbled 11 yards into the end zone with 1:54 left to give the Jets a 31-27 victory over the Bills on Sunday.
Buffalo (6-8) was nursing a 27-24 lead and close to wrapping up its first win against an AFC East opponent when Losman dropped back to throw and was hit from behind by a blitzing Elam. The ball squirted out and bounced before Ellis grabbed it, tiptoed down the sideline and into the end zone.
The Jets (9-5) were surprised the Bills were passing in that situation, expecting Buffalo to try to run out the clock. After all, Marshawn Lynch gained 127 yards on 21 carries, and New York was struggling to stop him. Instead, coach Dick Jauron overruled offensive coordinator Turk Schonert.
“Clearly the responsibility for the last call, the play-action pass, that was mine,” Jauron said. “It backfired clearly and caused us to lose the game.”
He refused to blame Losman, making his second straight start for the injured Trent Edwards.
“It’s on my shoulders to protect him, to keep him from that situation,” Jauron said, “and I didn’t do it.”
