The New York Jets and the Buffalo Bills faced off in the highly anticipated first Monday Night Football game of the year. And it did not disappoint, with excitement down the stretch capped off by an unbelievable punt return touchdown in overtime for the Jets.
The Jets’ defense was extremely solid all night, giving star quarterback Josh Allen fits and forcing him into four turnovers in the game.
Their impressive performance carried over to overtime, as they were able to force the Bills to punt on their first possession of overtime.
The Jets needed something miraculous with their offense struggling for most of the night after the disastrous injury to Aaron Rodgers in the first quarter.
And they got just that from rookie return man Xavier Gipson, taking the punt to the house for a walk-off touchdown in overtime to win the game.
JETS WALK-OFF PUNT RETURN TD WITH JOE BUCK ON THE CALL! 🏈🎙️🔥 pic.twitter.com/b91VIXO7SS
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 12, 2023
The Jets obviously had to overcome a lot in this game with the injury to Rodgers. To come away with the win in this fashion has to be a huge boost to what could have otherwise been a dejected team.
Fans took to social media to react to the unbelievable punt return by Gipson.
Hard Knocks star Xavier Gipson returns the punt for a 65-yard game-winning touchdown. #Jets pull it off without Aaron Rodgers.
WHAT. A. GAME. pic.twitter.com/g7yts5E7R0
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 12, 2023
WALK OFF PUNT RETURN BY XAVIER GIBSON
JETS WIN
pic.twitter.com/zzrJibG3bd— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) September 12, 2023
THE JETS WALK IT OFF IN OVERTIME
Xavier Gipson came to the Jets as an undrafted free agent, was a fan favorite in Hard Knocks, made the roster, and just ended the game on a punt return TD pic.twitter.com/BK9kHh15cw
— Barstool Gambling (@stoolgambling) September 12, 2023
WALKOFF PUNT RETURN #JETS TD BY UNDRAFTED ROOKIE XAVIER GIPSON!
JETS WIN WITHOUT RODGERS!
FOOTBALL IS SO AWESOME! 🏈pic.twitter.com/Df731aWsDJhttps://t.co/K82Gcpm3Kx
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 12, 2023
WALKOFF punt return TD for the Jets in OT. What an ending to week 1. Football. Is. Back.pic.twitter.com/QkZXuwIwZG
— Lawrence Smelser (@LawrenceSmelser) September 12, 2023
GAME-WINNING PUNT RETURN TOUCHDOWN BY XAVIER GIPSON 😱
WHAT JUST HAPPENED 🤯pic.twitter.com/BjoN1RPu9c
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) September 12, 2023
Fans who watched the Jets on HBO’s Hard Knocks throughout training camp may actually remember Gipson, as he was one of the underdog stories that did end up making the final 53-man roster as an undrafted rookie.
Here's a clip from 'Hard Knocks' of overtime hero Xavier Gipson learning he made the New York Jets as an undrafted rookie. pic.twitter.com/XNeCuG6Axf
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 12, 2023
To make this kind of impact in his first NFL game is truly ridiculous, and his teammates will be thanking him for helping them come away with their first win of the season against all odds.
[Awful Announcing, Photo Credit: ESPN]
