Aaron Rodgers became the most sacked quarterback in NFL history on a freezing December afternoon in Buffalo. That’s your headline from the Buffalo Bills vs New York Jets match player stats from their Week 17 clash on December 29, 2024, but honestly, it barely scratches the surface of how badly the Jets got whooped.
I’m breaking down every significant stat from this 40-14 beatdown that locked up the AFC’s second seed for Buffalo and sent the Jets home to start their 15th straight January without playoff football.
The Three Stats That Decided Everything
Forget the final score for a second. These three numbers explain why Buffalo’s celebrating and New York’s cleaning out lockers:
Turnovers: Bills 0, Jets 3
Penalties: Bills 60 yards, Jets 120 yards
Sacks: Bills allowed 0, Jets allowed 4
That’s it. That’s your game. The Jets beat themselves with three backbreaking turnovers while getting flagged 16 times. Buffalo just had to show up and collect the gift-wrapped presents.
Sean McDermott’s squad clinched their fifth straight division title and earned home field advantage through the divisional round. With 35 mph winds ripping through Highmark Stadium, ball security mattered more than ever. Guess which team figured that out?
Quarter-By-Quarter: From Bad to Worse to Embarrassing
First Half Stats (Bills 12-0)
The Jets actually moved the ball early. 112 total yards in the first half. Zero points. How? Let me count the ways:
First Quarter Disasters:
- 4th and 1 from Buffalo’s 24: Braelon Allen stuffed
- Pass interference on Sauce Gardner: Gift-wrapped Buffalo TD
- Josh Allen 1-yard TD run: Bills 7-0
Second Quarter Meltdown:
- Rodgers throws into traffic: Jordan Phillips picks it off
- A.J. Epenesa sacks Rodgers for a safety: Bills 9-0
- Tyler Bass drills 39-yarder into howling wind: Bills 12-0
The Jets even pinned Buffalo at their own 1-yard line with a perfect punt. Didn’t matter. They got nothing from it.
Third Quarter: Complete Collapse (21 points in 5:01)
This is where it got ugly. Really ugly.
| Time | What Happened | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| 7:37 | Rodgers INT #2 (Christian Benford) | Allen to Cooper 30-yard TD |
| 2:36 | Jets go three-and-out | Cook 1-yard TD |
| 1:15 | Garrett Wilson fumbles | Allen to Coleman 14-yard TD |
Three possessions. Three turnovers. Three touchdowns. Game over.
Fourth Quarter: Garbage Time Glory
Mitchell Trubisky threw a 69-yard TD to practice squadder Tyrell Shavers. Tyrod Taylor tossed two meaningless scores against Buffalo’s backups. Who cares? The Jets were already buried.
Individual Player Stats That Mattered
The Quarterback Disaster
Josh Allen’s Chill Day:
- 16/27, 182 yards, 2 passing TDs
- 5 rushes, 17 yards, 1 rushing TD
- Zero sacks. Zero turnovers.
- Tied Thurman Thomas with 65 career rushing TDs
Aaron Rodgers’ Record-Setting Nightmare:
- 12/18, 112 yards, 0 TDs, 2 INTs
- 44.0 passer rating (yikes)
- Sacked 4 times, surpassing Tom Brady for most sacked QB ever (568)
- Benched for Tyrod Taylor
The wind was brutal, sure. But Allen handled it fine because his offensive line gave him time. Rodgers? He spent most of the day running for his life or picking himself up off the frozen turf.
Offensive Production
Bills Playmakers:
James Cook carried 15 times for 53 yards and punched in a touchdown. Not spectacular numbers, but Buffalo didn’t need spectacular. They needed steady.
Amari Cooper hauled in 3 catches for 56 yards including that back-breaking 30-yard score. Keon Coleman added his 8th TD of the season. Even practice squad call-up Tyrell Shavers got in on the action with a 69-yard touchdown.
The Bills had 13 different players catch touchdowns this season, tying an NFL record. That’s what depth looks like.
Jets Bright Spots (Sort Of):
Garrett Wilson caught 7 passes for 66 yards and became the first Jet ever to post three straight 1,000-yard seasons. Great accomplishment. Too bad his third-quarter fumble sparked Buffalo’s 21-point explosion.
Breece Hall averaged 4.5 yards per carry (10 attempts, 45 yards). Davante Adams? Quiet day with 5 catches for 47 yards. When your Hall of Fame QB is getting destroyed, nobody eats.
Defensive Dominance
Buffalo’s Wrecking Crew:
| Player | Position | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Terrel Bernard | LB | 8 tackles, ran the show |
| Christian Benford | CB | INT, 3 tackles |
| Jordan Phillips | DT | INT, 2 QB hits |
| Matt Milano | LB | Fumble recovery, 5 tackles |
| Gregory Rousseau | DE | 1 sack, constant pressure |
The Bills recorded 4 sacks, forced 3 turnovers, and scored a safety. They made Rodgers look every bit of his 41 years.
Jets Defense? What Defense?
Quincy Williams led with 9 tackles. C.J. Mosley added 7. But they generated zero sacks on Allen and forced zero turnovers. Hard to win when your defense can’t get off the field.
Team Stats: The Full Picture
| Category | Bills | Jets |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 348 | 281 |
| Passing | 251 | 169 |
| Rushing | 97 | 112 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 3 |
| Third Downs | 8/14 (57%) | 4/9 (44%) |
| Penalties | 7-60 | 16-120 |
| Red Zone TDs | 3/3 | 1/2 |
| Time of Possession | 31:17 | 28:43 |
Those penalty numbers? Absolutely killed the Jets. Every time they built momentum, yellow flags flew. Jeff Ulbrich called it “frustrating, embarrassing, and maddening.” No arguments here.
Special Teams in Howling Winds
Tyler Bass went 1-for-1 on field goals and 5-for-5 on extra points despite 35 mph gusts. That 39-yarder before halftime? Money.
The Jets’ lone special teams highlight was downing a punt at Buffalo’s 1-yard line. Fat lot of good it did them.
Records and Milestones
Buffalo’s Achievements:
- Josh Allen: First player ever with 5 straight 40+ TD seasons
- 13 different TD catchers (tied NFL record)
- McDermott: 5th consecutive AFC East title
- Clinched #2 seed and home playoff game
Jets’ Lowlights:
- 14th straight season without playoffs (NFL’s longest active drought)
- Rodgers: Most sacked QB in NFL history (568 career sacks)
- Finished 5-12 after all that preseason hype
What These Stats Really Mean
Buffalo heads into the playoffs with momentum, health, and home field advantage. Their defense is peaking at the right time. Allen doesn’t need to play hero ball because the team around him is clicking.
The Jets? They need to fix everything. The offensive line that got Rodgers killed. The penalties that killed drives. The turnovers that killed games. Pro Football Reference data shows they allowed 68 sacks this season. That’s not on the 41-year-old quarterback. That’s organizational failure.
For more context on the Jets’ season-long struggles, check out our breakdown of the New England Patriots vs New York Jets match player stats.
FAQs
Buffalo demolished New York 40-14 at Highmark Stadium on December 29, 2024.
The Jets coughed up the ball 3 times (2 Rodgers interceptions, 1 Wilson fumble) leading directly to 21 Buffalo points.
Josh Allen (1 rushing), James Cook (1 rushing), Amari Cooper (1 receiving), Keon Coleman (1 receiving), and Tyrell Shavers (1 receiving).
Rodgers was sacked 4 times, pushing his career total to 568 and making him the most sacked QB in NFL history.
The Bills locked up the AFC’s #2 seed, guaranteeing at least one home playoff game.
Brutal. 16 accepted penalties for 120 yards compared to Buffalo’s 7 for 60.
Yes. 35 mph wind gusts affected both passing games, but Buffalo handled it better with superior pass protection.
The 35 mph winds made every kick an adventure and limited deep passing. Tyler Bass still went perfect on kicks, while both QBs averaged under 7 yards per attempt. Teams relied more on short passes and running plays.
The Buffalo Bills vs New York Jets match player stats reveal a team ready for January football and another counting down the days until September. In freezing conditions with playoff stakes on the line, one team executed while the other imploded. That’s the difference between champions and also-rans.
