Geno Smith, Michael Vick Struggle as Bills Rout Jets 43-23

Whether it was Geno Smith or Michael Vick, it really didn't matter much on a mistake-filled day for the sloppy Jets.

Kyle Orton tied a career high with four touchdown passes and the Buffalo Bills forced the Jets into six turnovers — three each by Smith and Vick — in a 43-23 rout Sunday that sent New York to its seventh straight loss.

"We're not a bad football team," Jets wide receiver Eric Decker said. "We just do stupid stuff."

That has become a disturbing theme for Rex Ryan's Jets (1-7), who have dropped seven straight for the first time since 2005 in Herm Edwards' final season as coach.

"Let me tell you," Ryan said, "I'm getting sick and tired of the losing, that's for sure."

It doesn't help when your starting quarterback gets off to the type of brutal start Smith had against the Bills. He threw interceptions on three consecutive possessions in the first quarter and got a quick hook in favor of Vick, who was picked off once and lost two fumbles.

New York announced that Smith had X-rays on his right shoulder after the game, but did not have results. The injury was not believed to have affected Smith's performance.

"We didn't execute," Smith said. "And when I say 'we,' I mean myself because it was just atrocious the way I started out."

Ryan didn't immediately announce whether Smith or Vick would start next week at Kansas City. That's a change from the past, when Ryan has often said following games that Smith would be under center.

"I have no idea," Ryan said. "We'll look at that later."

Smith was benched after the Bills (5-3) turned the last interception by Aaron Williams into a score one play later, on Lee Smith's 1-yard touchdown catch with 4:36 left in the opening quarter.

Geno Smith finished 2 of 8 for 5 yards and the three interceptions — with a 0.0 passer rating.

"He just seemed off," Ryan said. "He was zipping the ball all week."

Vick jogged onto the field to loud cheers from the MetLife Stadium crowd, which had been booing Smith just moments earlier, and led the Jets on a 13-play, 76-yard scoring drive.

Vick, 18 of 36 for 153 yards, was an early spark, leading the Jets on a scoring drive on his first possession. But he also had two fumbles that led to field goals for Buffalo and his interception resulted in a touchdown.

"You want to make something happen and that's when things happen that aren't in your favor," Vick said. "We've got to learn from that; I've got to learn from that. It's been a while."

Orton tied a career high with his four TD passes, and won for the third time in four games since replacing EJ Manuel as the starting quarterback for the Bills. Orton finished 10 of 17 for 238 yards, connecting with Robert Woods, Lee Smith, Scott Chandler and Sammy Watkins for scores.

"He went out there, made his throws and threw for four touchdowns," Bills coach Doug Marrone said. "He knew exactly what he wanted to do. When you have a veteran quarterback like that, he's going to make the right plays."

Watkins had three catches for 157 yards — but was embarrassed when he was caught from behind by Jets wide receiver Saalim Hakim — put in on defense — while celebrating early on what appeared would be a long TD.

Percy Harvin, acquired last weekend by the Jets from Seattle, caught three passes for 22 yards and had 28 yards rushing on four carries in his debut with New York.

"I felt comfortable," Harvin said. "My main focus is getting the playbook down."

The Jets tried some trickery midway through the third quarter on special teams when Harvin fielded a kickoff deep in the end zone. Teammate T.J. Graham — trying to camouflage himself in the green end zone — was flat on his stomach. Harvin took the kickoff out of the end zone and appeared ready to toss it to Graham, thinking the Bills didn't notice him.

But Buffalo swarmed Harvin, who had to keep the ball and was tackled at the 3-yard line.

"The defense sniffed it out pretty well," Harvin said. "I saw the defense closing in on him, so I decided to tuck the ball and make the best out of the play."

It was that kind of day for the Jets.

"One thing we know," Ryan said, "is that it can't get a whole hell of a lot worse."

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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