New York Jets break strange streak with touchdown against Buffalo Bills

The New York Jets were denied a touchdown on their first drive of the game against the Buffalo Bills – but not on their second.

Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw a touchdown pass to wide receiver Garrett Wilson in the back of the end zone on third-and-goal late in the first quarter, giving the Jets a 10-7 lead over the Bills.

It was a close play in the back of the end zone and the officials initially called the pass incomplete. But New York's replay intervened and overturned the call, resulting in a touchdown.

It also spared New York interim coach Jeff Ulbrich a challenge since he had already thrown his red flag onto the field.

The score also ended a strange streak for New York. The touchdown ended a streak of 25 consecutive drives without a touchdown that began in Jets territory. It was the longest current streak in the NFL.

The score was also the first touchdown under new offensive lineman Todd Downing, who took over those duties from offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett this week.

It's been a tumultuous week for the Jets and Ulbrich mentioned it in his pregame interview with ESPN.

The Jets were returning from London after their second straight loss, and former head coach Robert Saleh had reportedly decided Tuesday morning to relieve Hackett of his playing duties and promote Downing.

Before the fourth-year head coach had a chance to implement that decision, Jets owner Woody Johnson fired him, ending Saleh's tenure with New York and leaving him with a 20-36 record as a head coach.

The Jets named Ulbrich, their defensive coordinator, interim coach for the remainder of the season. Ulbrich joined the Jets when Saleh took over as head coach prior to the 2021 season. Previously, he was linebackers coach for the Atlanta Falcons under Dan Quinn and Quinn's successor, then-interim head coach Raheem Morris.

Morris is now the Falcons' full-time head coach. Ulbrich consulted both as he prepared for his debut as head coach Monday night.

Ulbrich's first decision as interim coach was to do exactly what Saleh supposedly intended: demote Hackett and promote Downing.

The playful change seemed to pay off immediately. The Jets' first drive with down calling plays failed in Bills territory but resulted in a Greg Zuerlein field goal. After a Bills touchdown drive led by quarterback Josh Allen, Rodgers led the touchdown drive that ended with the pass to Wilson.