Johnson and Rapp returned to Monday's game after missing due to injuries – Johnson has been sidelined since Week 1 with a forearm injury and Rapp missed a week with a concussion.

The duo each had eight tackles, the most for the Bills, and each had big plays that led to a 23-20 victory at MetLife Stadium over the New York Jets.

Bills coach Sean McDermott could feel the difference before the game when Rapp and Johnson were back in the lineup.

“We missed her last week,” McDermott said. “It’s nice to have both of them back, they made some big plays for us. And we have some young guys out there playing and these two are some of our experienced players. And you could tell in the week of practice that there was a difference just in the communication and the speed at which we played defense.”

With 2:01 minutes left in the game, the Jets were only three points behind. They faced third-and-16 from their own 40, but quarterback Aaron Rodgers can easily turn a game around.

Rodgers threw deep to the right looking for wide receiver Mike Williams, but Johnson intercepted the pass at the Buffalo 18-yard line.

“This had to happen to win the game,” Johnson said. “So I just read the quarterback and saw the ball was in the air a little bit, so I was able to make a play.”

It was Johnson's first interception since Week 6 of 2022 in Kansas City – a pick that also led to a win for the Bills.

Safety Damar Hamlin thought it made sense for Johnson to make a big appearance in his return.

“We talk about being closer and finishing a game,” Hamlin said. “And if one of us ends up with that big piece, you know, who better than Taron? Going through so much adversity, working so hard in the offseason, experiencing some adversity early on and having to miss five games or whatever, what better way to welcome him back to the party?”

Rodgers appeared to place some of the blame on Williams for the interception.

“There are two verticals: (Allen Lazard) along the seam, Mike along the redline,” Rodgers said. “So, I look at Allen, he raises his hand, three men are walking with him. So I don't look at the redline. And when I turn my gaze back, he (Williams) is there executing an in-breaker. … It has to be below the redline.”

Rodgers said he had to adjust his throw to get to Williams, which led to the interception.

Johnson's pick all but sealed the Bills' victory – they just needed one more first down to run out the clock, and they did. But there were big plays from Rapp early in the game that kept points off the field for the Jets.

In the third quarter, Jets running back Breece Hall completed a 42-yard run. It was almost good for a touchdown, but Rapp chased it down and caught Hall at the 3, preventing the score.

Three plays later, Rapp stopped another would-be touchdown.

On third-and-3, Rodgers threw to wide receiver Garrett Wilson in the end zone. Wilson got his hands on the ball, but Rapp hit Wilson so hard that he sent him flying.

“We were just in some cover and we just had a really good break on a ball, were able to get a really good break on A-Rod by throwing it over the middle and were able to throw it away so I got my head out “It too,” said Rapp. “So it wasn’t a target call and we were able to defend it within the rules of the game.”

Rapp added solid coverage to Jets tight end Jeremy Ruckert on the Jets' final offensive possession, which led to an incompletion in the second. Johnson's interception came one play later.

“Rapp is my partner in crime right now,” Hamlin said. “So it’s good to have him out there, good to play with him again. Communication is fun.”

Johnson added of Rapp: “Oh man, he played great. Played from his head. Did some big plays, some big plays, some big hits. That’s why I’m glad he’s on our team.”

It was crucial for the Bills' defense to step up after they gave up a Hail Mary at the end of the first half.

“It was one of those in-between calls where we're not sure if they're going to convert to a Hail Mary or make another play,” Rapp said. “So, you know, just one of those, one of those tough, difficult decisions, situational decisions where we're going to go back to the drawing board and we're going to come out better.”

Johnson reiterated that there were too many big plays that the Bills defense gave up in the game, but those are always easier to correct after a win.

“Just a few things we need to clean up, you know, some things we need to clean up,” Johnson said. “But I’m just glad we got the sync.”