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Bills–Jets rivalry
AFC East Rivalry

Bills–Jets

New York's intrastate AFC East feud

Matchup:Bills–Jets
First Meeting:1960
Division:AFC East
2026 Meetings:2

An AFC East rivalry between the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets, two franchises that debuted together in the AFL's first season and have battled within New York State ever since. It is fueled by divisional stakes and the contrast between upstate Buffalo and the New York City area.

The Rivalry

The Bills and Jets — then the New York Titans — met in 1960 as both franchises launched in the new AFL, giving the series a shared origin story. Across the decades they have been steady division rivals, frequently scrapping for AFC East position. Buffalo built a meaningful all-time edge in the series, and the matchup has produced memorable upsets and individual milestones, including an O. J. Simpson rushing record set against the Jets in 1973. The teams have met just once in the playoffs, a 1981 AFC Wild Card game Buffalo won after nearly squandering a big early lead. The rivalry runs hot because it is the league's intra-New York matchup: two fan bases from the same state, often with one team's season hanging on the result. Recent meetings have stayed tense and competitive, keeping the long-running feud alive.

What's at Stake

Both teams play in the AFC East, so meetings regularly bear on the division standings and playoff seeding. The defining angle is geography: this is the all-New York NFL rivalry, pitting blue-collar Buffalo against the New York City-area Jets, and bragging rights within the state ride on every game. With Buffalo a consistent contender in recent years, results can shape the division race and influence the Jets' postseason hopes as well.

Famous Moments

  • 1968 — Buffalo upset the eventual Super Bowl champion Jets 37-35, intercepting Joe Namath five times with three returned for touchdowns.
  • 1973 — O. J. Simpson broke the NFL single-season rushing record against the Jets in a 34-6 Bills win.
  • 1981 — The Bills held off a Jets comeback to win their only playoff meeting 31-27 in the AFC Wild Card round.
  • 2019 — Buffalo rallied from a 16-0 deficit despite four turnovers to beat the Jets 17-16.
  • 2023 — The Jets beat the Bills 22-16 in overtime on Monday Night Football.

The Bills–Jets Games in 2026

The Two Teams

Plan the Trip

This is the rivalry to see if you want both ends of New York. A Buffalo trip means Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, snowy tailgates, and one of the NFL's most devoted crowds. The Jets play at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, just outside New York City, pairing the game with a major metropolitan getaway. Doing the home-and-home captures the full upstate-versus-downtown divide that defines this intrastate feud.

Frequently Asked Questions: Bills–Jets

The two teams first met in 1960. An AFC East rivalry between the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets, two franchises that debuted together in the AFL's first season and have battled within New York State ever since. It is fueled by divisional stakes and the contrast between upstate Buffalo and the New York City area.

Both teams play in the AFC East, so meetings regularly bear on the division standings and playoff seeding. The defining angle is geography: this is the all-New York NFL rivalry, pitting blue-collar Buffalo against the New York City-area Jets, and bragging rights within the state ride on every game. With Buffalo a consistent contender in recent years, results can shape the division race and influence the Jets' postseason hopes as well.

Yes — they meet 2 times in the 2026 NFL season. The game pages, each with a fan-travel guide, are linked on this page.

Buffalo Bills host at Highmark Stadium in Buffalo; New York Jets play at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.

Sources

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