Buffalo’s Brad Smith already had made one ridiculous touchdown catch, outworking Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie for a tip-and-catch score in the third quarter. Now with the game on the line and 8 seconds remaining, Smith had another chance. He leaped in the corner of the end zone amid a sea of Jets.
“That one was close, a jump play in the end zone,” Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said.
Close wasn’t good enough. So Smith, who left the Jets as a free agent this past summer, left MetLife Stadium still in the good graces of Fireman Ed and Friends after the Bills’ 28-24 loss.
PHOTOS: JETS BEAT BILLS, 28-24
“It was unreal,” Smith said of the support he received from Jets fans, who loved him for his play in the Wildcat offense. “I was surprised that the fans were so supportive. They were saying some nice things. I always got love for the people here, New York and the Jets fans, so hats off to them and hats off to their team for getting a win.”
If they had not gotten that win, the local fan base might have wanted to take off Smith’s head for his touchdown. Racing down the right sideline on the Bills’ first play after Cromartie muffed a punt, Smith leaped, got a hand on Fitzpatrick’s pass, then managed to haul it in and run the final 10 yards to complete a 36-yard touchdown.
That scored provided a 21-21 knot between the teams. Smith said he initially was trying to prevent an interception.
“I thought I got a piece of it and tried to knock it down,” said Smith, who had four receptions for 77 yards. “And Cro, I don’t know if he went the other way but our hands kind of met. But it got tipped up and I saw it floating.”