The Jets and Bills had a back-and-forth battle during their season-opening clash on Monday night, which ended in theatrics after New York’s rookie return specialist Xavier Gipson returned a punt for a touchdown in overtime.
After the Jets defense came up huge on the first possession of overtime, the special teams unit ended things before the offense even stepped onto the field.
Gipson’s NFL debut couldn’t have ended on a higher note, as his 65-yard punt return walked off a division rival and handed his team its first win of the campaign. It was just the third punt return TD in overtime in NFL history.
The late-game heroics left the football world in utter disbelief, as the Aaron Rodgers-less Jets were able to pick up a wild win in Week 1. Awestruck fans on social media had plenty to say about the rookie’s punt return touchdown, which perfectly capped off an entertaining first week of the NFL season.
Xavier Gibson for the win: pic.twitter.com/TOx2idcSWC
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 12, 2023
us mentally recovering from watching that finish pic.twitter.com/WxPBtOx40k
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 12, 2023
The Hard Knocks moment is so much sweeter now… https://t.co/49Dg6f15Sl
— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) September 12, 2023
Xavier Gipson went undrafted out of Stephen F. Austin. Played all four years there. Made the Jets as an undrafted rookie. What a smile. What a moment.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) September 12, 2023
Am I to understand that the Jets started the game with Aaron Rodgers under center, lost him to injury then kept pace with the Buffalo Bills and won in walkoff fashion on a PUNT RETURN by a UDFA??
— Carmen Vitali (@CarmieV) September 12, 2023
That’s a horrible loss for the Bills.
— Pete Prisco (@PriscoCBS) September 12, 2023
Live look at Jets fans pic.twitter.com/y4EqyKoCQa
— PFF (@PFF) September 12, 2023
This is the NFL script writer's best work 👏🏾
— Brenden Clinton (@MrGo30) September 12, 2023