Live updates: Buffalo Bills vs. New York Jets
The Buffalo Bills (11-5) will play what is likely their final game at Highmark Stadium when they take on the New York Jets (3-13) at 4:25 p.m.
FINAL
It's all over.The Buffalo Bills finished a 35-8 victory over the New York Jets in what is probably the final game at Highmark Stadium. They finish the regular season at 12-5 and will move on to the AFC wild-card round.
It's an emotional scene here at Highmark. After the traditional "Shout!" sing-out, the public-address system is playing a farewell video with highlights, paired with the Goo Goo Dolls' "Iris," Virtually no one has moved from his or her seat.
The Broncos hold a 16-3 lead late in their game over the Chargers. If that lead holds, the Bills will take the No. 6 seed into the playoffs.
Fourth quarter, 2:00 remaining
"Mr. Brightside" is here.Fourth quarter, 7:33 remaining
Well, they scored.The New York Jets are on the board after having gone scoreless over their first seven possessions against the Buffalo Bills. Jets quarterback Brady Cook connected with fullback Andrew Beck for a 2-yard touchdown, then hit rookie wideout Quentin Skinner for a two-point conversion, cutting the Bills' lead to 35-8.
Of more important interest to Bills fans: Rookie cornerback Maxwell Hairston went to the locker room with an apparent ankle injury.
The Bills have already lost kicker Matt Prater today. They'd just as soon see the final minutes of this game vanish quickly.
Elsewhere, the Broncos hold a 16-3 lead over the Chargers. The Bills are closing in on the No. 6 seed.
Fourth quarter, 12:05 remaining
Ty Johnson is the latest to cash in.Johnson scored his second touchdown of the day on a 6-yard pass into the flat from Mitchell Trubisky, and the Buffalo Bills have a 35-0 lead over a New York Jets team that's counting down the seconds to Oahu.
Johnson's second touchdown clinched a $250,000 bonus, and it was clear the Bills' coaching staff was trying to get it for him.
One major issue for the long term: kicker Matt Prater. The Bills have one for two (one good, one failed) because Matt Prater re-aggravated his quadriceps injury earlier in the game. That'll be a big, big problem for the Bills, who didn't exactly have reason to place their faith in Prater's fill-in, Michael Badgley, over the previous two weeks.
"Mr. Brightside" has yet to play over the public-address system, but we all know it's coming. For now, it's "Closing Time" by Semisonic.
Out in Denver, the Broncos are holding their 13-3 lead over the Chargers. A Bills win and a Chargers loss would give Buffalo the No. 6 seed in the AFC wild-card round next week.
Third quarter, 7:46 remaining
The New York Jets are ready for the Bahamas. The Buffalo Bills are pouring it on. Highmark Stadium is getting a proper sendoff.Gabe Davis made a circus catch in the end zone on fourth-and-goal, and the Bills even worked on a two-point conversion play, as Mitchell Trubisky hit Keon Coleman(!) at the front left pylon to put the home team ahead 29-0.
Meanwhile, the Denver Broncos' lead over the L.A. Chargers is at 13-3. If the Broncos win and the Bills win, the Bills will move up to the No. 6 seed for the AFC wild-card round next week.
HALFTIME
This game itself has been anticlimactic. The Buffalo Bills benched or have pulled most of their starters. They hold a 21-0 lead over the New York Jets, who look completely prepared to head off to Cancún.The Highmark Stadium videoboard is playing memories of games gone by at this old stadium, which is likely to have closed tonight after 53 years.
Meanwhile, the Broncos have a 10-3 lead over the Chargers. If the Bills hold on to win this game and the Chargers lose, the Bills will lock up the No. 6 seed for the AFC playoffs (opponent, date and time to be determined).
And in the second half, the reality of the end will start to hit hard here in Highmark Stadium.
Second quarter, 4:58 remaining
The Buffalo Bills have taken a 21-0 lead over the New York Jets, capping a 2-minute, 53-second drive with Mitchell Trubisky's 2-yard pass in the flat to Ray Davis.The celebration afterward was a little muted. Should the rest of this game continue in similar fashion, the second half will have the minds of thousands of fans here wandering, reflecting back over the past 53 years at what is now known at Highmark Stadium.
In the meantime, the Broncos hold a 10-0 lead over the Chargers late in the second quarter in Denver. Should that hold, the Bills will have the No. 6 seed going into the AFC playoffs.
Second quarter, 11:43 remaining
Ty Johnson capped a workmanlike 13-play, 84-yard drive when he took a direct snap and raced into the end zone from 6 yards out, giving the Bills a 14-0 lead over the Jets ... who look every bit like the 3-13 Jets.After three series, the Jets have 29 yards of offense. They're ready to pack it up. More than anything, the atmosphere here at Highmark Stadium is that of a three-hour-long goodbye. Fans were louder than loud at one point. They're much quieter now.
In the meantime, the Broncos hold a 10-0 lead over the Chargers in Denver. Should that hold, the Bills will have the No. 6 seed going into the AFC playoffs.
First quarter, 8:17 remaining
We're underway, and the sellout crowd at Highmark Stadium is already in a frenzy.After Josh Allen took an early seat, Mitchell Trubisky capped the Bills' opening drive against the New York Jets with a 17-yard play-action pass to a wide-open Dawson Knox, who picked up a cook $100,000 bonus with his fourth touchdown of the season.
This is the first time the Bills have taken the lead to start a game since Nov. 2, when they defeated the Chiefs 28-21.
It is also the Bills' NFL-leading ninth touchdown on their opening offensive possession.
Bills 7, Jets 0.
Underway!
We're underway in the grand finale at Highmark Stadium, and we've got a few updates already in this game between the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets:• As expected, Josh Allen handed off on the game's opening play and then immediately left, giving way to Mitchell Trubisky
• James Cook took the first carry and has 15 yards on his first two rushes. He began this game with a 137-yard lead on Derrick Henry for the NFL rushing title.
• Dawson Knox gained 7 yards on his first reception, earning a bonus.
Sit tight. More to come.