Josh Allen's four-turnover meltdown proves costly in Bills' overtime loss to Jets

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Josh Allen completed more than 70% of his passes against the New York Jets during the Buffalo Bills' 2023 season opener on "Monday Night Football."

The problem for the Bills quarterback is that he also connected with Jets safety Jordan Whitehead on three occasions, tying his career high for interceptions in one game. Those plays – along with his fumble late in the fourth quarter with the game tied – proved to be critical and costly stumbles in the Bills' 22-16 season-opening loss.

“Same (expletive), same place, different day," Allen said after the game of his turnovers.

Added Allen: "I hurt our team tonight. I cost our team tonight. And it feels eerily similar to last year, and I hate that it’s the same.”

The first time Allen tossed three picks came against the New England Patriots in a 16-10 defeat on Sept. 29, 2019, his second season in the league. He also threw three during a Week 17 contest of the 2021 season at home against the Atlanta Falcons (a 29-15 Buffalo victory).

Allen's three interceptions kept the Jets in the game, with the final one paving the way for New York to tie the game at 13 with 4:55 remaining. The Jets managed to rally even without starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who left after four snaps with what the team called an ankle injury. He did not return.

Both of Allen's first two interceptions were on deep pass attempts into double coverage. And both times, Whitehead tracked the ball all the way and into his arms. The third pick came with Allen looking for Gabe Davis on an out route, which Whitehead undercut and made a play on the ball once again.

Whitehead became the first Jets player since Ty Law in 2006 to record three interceptions in one game.

Allen wasn't done turning it over either. On the first snap of the Bills' ensuing drive, the shotgun snap went through his hands and hit him in the helmet. Allen picked the ball up and made it back to the line of scrimmage before Michael Clemons knocked the ball out with Quinnen Williams falling on the ball to give the Jets the ball on the Buffalo 27-yard line.

Greg Zuerlein's 30-yard field goal gave the Jets their only lead of the game before Tyler Bass tied things back up with two seconds remaining. In overtime, however, Allen and the Bills went three-and-out, and Jets undrafted rookie Xavier Gipson returned the ensuing punt 65 yards for the game-winning touchdown.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Josh Allen's four-turnover meltdown dooms Bills in OT loss to Jets