Bills’ Dareus broke left foot in season-ending win over Jets

But with the Jets needing a win to make the playoffs, Fitzpatrick was intercepted in each of New York’s final three possessions against Buffalo in a 22-17 loss Sunday.

It is now five years without the playoffs for these New York Jets, a team that went from media darlings and the toast of the town on Sunday morning to being labeled as the “Same Old Jets” just several hours later. A year after leading the National Football League with 54 sacks, the Bills managed just 21, the fewest in a 16-game season in team history.

As for walking off the field knowing the Jets hadn’t made the playoffs at his expense, Ryan said, “It feels all right”.

Instead, with Sunday’s victory, two of the blemishes on the Jets’ 10-6 season were losses to Ryan’s Bills and, it could be argued that pair of 5-point defeats were what kept NY out of the playoffs.

Led by their elusive quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who seemed to convert on plays with his legs when his team needed them most, the Bills were able to convert on nine third downs along with two pivotal fourth downs, which included an 18 yard touchdown run from Taylor on a third down in the first quarter.

“I try to let my agent handle a lot of that stuff, but this is obviously a place that I want to be”, Fitzpatrick said. “There’s not a whole lot of talking in there right now”.

Fitzpatrick’s collapse came in his first return to Buffalo, and some three years after he was cut by the Bills.

“I feel great knowing he feels just like I feel, going to be watching at home”, McKelvin said. “But I know it was real emotional for me then”.

Said linebacker Calvin Pace: “We just picked a bad time to have a bad game”. “But at the same time, we’ve got to play smarter than that.”Fitzpatrick has failed to make the playoffs in 11 seasons, and Marshall has not advanced in his 10 seasons”.

It was a stunning outcome for the Jets, who had won five straight and faced an injury-depleted Bills (8-8) team that had already been eliminated from contention for a 16th consecutive season – the NFL’s longest active drought.

-WR Brandon Marshall caught eight passes for 126 yards and a touchdown, bringing his season totals to 109 receptions, 1,502 yards and 14 touchdowns. “There is going to be some tough decisions, and that’s what we’re here for”. The Bills swept the season series against their AFC East rivals with both wins decided by the exact same score.

Ryan couldn’t help but crow. And there is the case of nose tackle Damon Harrison who had a fantastic season for the Jets. More problematic, though, was how the defense performed under Ryan, despite that being his specialty. “I don’t think it was too big for them”, said coach Todd Bowles, disagreeing.

NY got one final chance in the last minute when it forced a Buffalo punt. Dan Carpenter missed the extra point attempt for the sixth time this season.

“A lot of thanks to coach Ryan and the rest of the Bills and everybody in Buffalo”, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said.