New York Jets 22-16 Buffalo Bills:  Xavier Gipson wins it in overtime with walk off punt return touchdown in a sensational ending after Aaron Rodgers went off injured

The National Football League poked fun at conspiracy theorists who suggested games are scripted – but how can they be? Who could ever be so crazy and ridiculous?

There will never be a stunning 22-16 New York Jets win over the Buffalo Bills. This victory is one of a kind.

Within four plays of Gang Green’s dream wedding to Aaron Rodgers, the star-crossed lovers were separated.

There may not be another reunion for a while, and while that’s important and equally devastating for the 2023 Jets, it didn’t matter as undrafted rookie Xavier Gipson danced his way down the sideline for a game-winning kick return of 65 meters. landing.

Groundhog Day had arrived again for the Jets. Their Great White Hope for the sport’s most important position was replaced by his substitute who stopped them in 2022.

Undrafted wide receiver/returner Xavier Gipson won the game with a 65-yard punt return TD

Aaron Rodgers appeared to have hurt his Achilles tendon when he was dismissed by Leonard Floyd in Q1

On any other night, that would have meant a loss that emptied everything on Gotham Green at MetLife Stadium.

But on September 11, 2023, the New York Jets showed a remarkable unwillingness to own up to their past failures.

The ghost of Favre and Tebow and Testeverde and Pennington all lingered for 45 minutes until Robert Saleh’s All-Gas-No-Brakes Jets created a moment that will live on in Jets folklore.

Rodgers’ injury is “not good,” as Saleh told reporters after the game — and that could lead to shame. His Achilles tendon injury could mean the end of a dream, a decades-long fantasy that could have died on the Jets’ fourth offensive play.

“I’m heartbroken for Aaron and how much he’s invested in all of this,” Saleh said. “I’m still going to pray, I’m still going to have hope.”

The Jets coach said he didn’t learn anything new, but those inside JetLife gained new insight into the progress of Zach Wilson, who struggled throughout but ultimately helped put the Jets in a winning position.

The Wilson van Hard blows had not come late on Sunday evening; that is, the hard-working, humble Zach Wilson, who did no damage to the Jets’ Super Bowl chances.

The one who frustrated and defeated the Jets faithful’s hopes returned and threw the ball directly to Bills ballhawk Matt Milano in the third quarter when New York trailed 10-3 just before halftime.

Jets backup quarterback Zach Wilson helped the franchise claim victory Monday night

And yet, before the night was over, there was a new Zach, one who was able to lead his team on a huge touchdown drive under increasing pressure and adversity.

Monday Night Football vs. Buffalo wasn’t meant to be Wilson’s moment. When you find yourself in a position that requires impeccable timing, chemistry and preparation, it usually isn’t kind to backups.

It’s Rodgers’ offense, after all – and even when the keys were Wilson’s, it was by no means a Ferrari.

Wilson didn’t have to be flashy anyway. His undeniable arm strength, talent and athleticism wouldn’t cut it against the AFC East rival.

“I thought he was great,” Saleh said of Wilson’s postgame. “I thought he commanded the huddle, the line of scrimmage, I thought he was gritty… we still have a lot of confidence in him.”

Wilson threw a terrible interception but, unlike his Buffalo counterpart, bounced back to put his team in a better place afterward.

Bills quarterback Josh Allen played his part in the Jets’ miraculous win. Against a highly touted defense, Allen struggled to ever get acclimated. He was sacked five times and threw three interceptions – all to get Jordan Whitehead to safety.

Allen’s final interception allowed Wilson to find Garrett Wilson for an extraordinary tying touchdown with 4:43 left in the ballgame.

The latter Wilson palmed the ball in the opposite direction before then rocking it in while closely guarded by All-Pro Tre’Davius ​​White.

On the next play, Allen fumbled twice, with the second being picked off by Jets linebacker Quincy Williams.

Then something of a brawl broke out in midfield, almost wiping out the sidelines. With 4:51 to go, the Jets were back — and stronger than ever — and within a shot of a Cinderella ending led by the stepsister.

Saleh risked it all on 4th and 1 with 2:45 to go. It took nerves of steel with the score tied at 13-13. Wilson repaid the faith and converted to a designed quarterback sneaker.

New York opted to run the clock before Greg Zuerlin put the Jets ahead 16-13 from 30 yards out.

With 108 seconds left in the ball game, Buffalo trailed for the first time. Josh Allen needed a touchdown to win, a field goal. A moment to savor a largely forgettable and embarrassing night.

Allen found Diggs within field goal range only because the receiver had committed pass interference on Sauce Gardner. It didn’t matter, Allen went back to Diggs again, and again.

Two incompletions brought kicker Tyler Bass into the fold to ensure a crazy night could have an even crazier ending. Of course it couldn’t go in without teasing – kissing the left upright and going through.

Allen got a second chance to win the game on consecutive drives after Buffalo won the coin toss in OT. A holding penalty and great defense forced the Bills to punt from their own 23.

Enter Gipson, the unknown receiver/returner who made a name for himself on HBO’s Hard Knocks. The ex-Stephen F. Austin star had to fight for his spot on the roster.

With Sam Martin kicking at him, all Gipson had to do was show it to the world – and he did. The dark cloud hanging over the Jets had disappeared. It was there and will probably have returned by now, but for a moment there was euphoria.

This is what life under Aaron Rodgers was meant to be. And for a moment it exists under Zach Wilson.

You might rightly wonder how long this will last, but one thing is certain: the Jets can have a happy marriage. At least for tonight, Groundhog Day isn’t that bad, as Hollywood scriptwriters have shown.

The sad reality is that Rodgers’ absence could very well relegate the Jets back to the BR (Before Rodgers) situation.

In some ways, the Jets’ win is painful. If they had flinched on the defensive, if they were still suppressed on the offensive, all this could very easily be explained away.

After the lights go out at MetLife and darkness returns, there is a lingering question.

How good could this never-say-die New York Jets team be with a certain four-time MVP under center?