| | | | | | | | Friday, October 18, 2002
MNF classic game: Sept. 24, 1990: Buffalo 30, NY Jets 7
By Drew Mitchell
ABC Sports Online
For the first time in 33 NFL weeks, the Bills were not on top of the AFC East division. The Buffalo Bills were embarrassed 30-7 at Miami the week before their Monday Night Football matchup with the New York Jets.
|  | | Former Bills running back Thurman Thomas rushed for 214 yards in the MNF win over the Jets. |
That didn't sit well with the boys from Buffalo and coach Marv Levy sensed something great would happen in the national spotlight.
The Bills took their frustrations out on the Jets, winning by the same margin they had lost in Miami, 30-7. It was the first of eight consecutive wins for Buffalo as they stampeded their way to the first of four straight AFC titles.
Jim Kelly threw two touchdown passes at the Meadowlands, but the star of the game was the AFC's premier back, Thurman Thomas.
Thomas rushed for a career-high 214 yards on 18 carries (11.9 yards per rush) despite sitting out the last eight minutes of the game. It still stands as the second-highest rushing total in MNF history (Bo Jackson, 221 yards).
"We came out with fire in our eyes," Thomas told reporters after the game.
In the second quarter, the third-year budding superstar burst through the center of the Jets' defense for a 60-yard gain, the second longest run from scrimmage in his pro career.
Behind Thomas the Bills dominated the game, rolling up 292 yards on the ground (8.3 yards per carry) and 451 total yards. They had seven plays that gained at least 20 yards and 13 plays that went for 10 yards or more.
"Nobody should run through us like that. Nobody," Jets coach Bruce Coslet said en route to a 6-10 season, his first leading the team. "No team should be able to manhandle us like that. They, quite frankly, dominated the line of scrimmage."
The game didn't start the way the Bills hoped it would. The Jets drove 75 yards to paydirt on their first possession. Fullback Brad Baxter put the Jets up 7-0 with a 1-yard run. But it was all Bills from there.
Using the "K-gun" no huddle offense, the Bills quickly tied the game at seven with a Kenneth Davis 1-yard touchdown run.
Tight end Butch Rolle caught a pass in the second quarter, and like his six previous receptions since 1988, it was for a touchdown. Scott Norwood added 48 and 42-yard field goals for a 20-7 halftime lead.
The Jets opened the second half featuring No. 2 overall draft pick Blair Thomas for the first time. Thomas picked up seven and 16 yards on his first two carries as the Jets drove deep into Bills territory.
Bills defensive end Bruce Smith then sacked Jets quarterback Ken O'Brien on first down at the Buffalo 15, forcing a fumble in the process. Center Jim Sweeney recovered the ball at the 38, but the Jets never got close to the end zone again.
"I consider myself the best defensive lineman in the league," Smith said. "It doesn't make a difference who I play against - except (Miami quarterback Dan) Marino - I'm going to get the sack. We had a disappointing loss last week. We wanted to show that we have unity."
The Bills tacked on a 27-yard field goal from Norwood and a six-yard Kelly to Keith McKeller touchdown to finish the scoring at 30-7.
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