EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- A few thoughts on the Buffalo Bills' 43-23 win Sunday over the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium:
What it means: What to make of this one? On one hand, the Bills (5-3) forced a slew of turnovers and scored 43 points. On the other hand, they looked just as inept as the Jets (1-7) at points during the game, failing to gain a first down on nine of their 15 possessions. The Jets turned the ball over six times -- each of which resulted in the Bills receiving the ball at midfield or better -- but Buffalo managed only 20 points off turnovers. While it won't be the best game you'll see out of the Bills this season, credit them for protecting the football and exposing some of the Jets' weaknesses.
Stock watch: Kyle Orton, up. The veteran quarterback turned the ball over at least once in each of his first three starts but played nearly flawless football Sunday. He completed 10 of 17 passes for four touchdowns and no interceptions. His 142.8 quarterback rating is a career high. In his 78 games before Sunday, Orton's best QB rating in a full game was a 134.7 mark for the Denver Broncos in Week 10 of the 2009 season.
Game ball: WR Sammy Watkins. The rookie wide receiver is heating up and only getting better. He and Orton took advantage of a shaky Jets secondary, connecting on an 84-yard pass in the second quarter and a 61-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. Watkins was stopped short of the end zone on the first deep ball when his premature celebration led to New York's Saalim Hakim catching him at the 5-yard line. The rookie didn't make the same mistake twice. He finished with 157 yards on three catches.
Bills' replacements bottled up: As expected, Anthony Dixon received the majority of the workload (22 carries) while Bryce Brown (seven carries) played more of a complementary role. Neither runner was productive. Dixon averaged 2.0 yards per carry, and Brown gained 2.1 yards per run. The Bills' running game was a problem area even before injuries to Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller; it's now among their chief concerns.
What's next: The Bills head into the bye week with a winning record and sole possession of second place in the AFC East. They will return after Halloween for a favorable November schedule that begins when they host the Kansas City Chiefs on Nov. 9.
