PRO FOOTBALL : Aggressive Jets Get Easy Victory Over Bills, 23-3 : AFC: New York scores touchdown on fourth-and-goal on first play of second quarter, setting pace for the game.

Bruce Coslet was known as a gambling coach whose moves often backfired. Pete Carroll apparently isn’t afraid to gamble, either--and he fared far better than his predecessor Sunday.

It took Carroll only one try to do what Coslet needed three years to accomplish: a victory over the Buffalo Bills. In his head coaching debut, Carroll went for a touchdown on fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line, and Richie Anderson delivered for him, boosting the Jets to a 23-3 victory over Buffalo.

“I think it’s an indication that Pete has great confidence in our offensive line and our running backs,” quarterback Boomer Esiason said. “That was a gutsy call. If we don’t make it, it’s kind of a momentum swing. If you score points there, it’s definitely a strike against Buffalo.”

In their four consecutive AFC championship years, Buffalo lost only twice in 16 September games.

“We’ve had games like this, even in our good seasons,” Buffalo Coach Marv Levy said. “I hope this is just the same thing cropping up earlier.”

Esiason completed 14 of 28 passes for 214 yards and Johnny Johnson gained 75 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries for the Jets. Jim Kelly threw two interceptions and completed 20 of 35 passes for 177 yards. Thurman Thomas gained only five yards in seven carries.

Kelly left the stadium with a bruised right hand. He also said he hurt his throwing shoulder when he was tackled and fell on it.

“The sorest thing right now is my pride,” he said, “knowing that we’re a lot better team than we showed today.”

The Bills’ first possession was an easy march to the Jets’ 11-yard line before Thomas was stopped on third-and-2. Levy took the easy way out, and Steve Christie’s 27-yard field goal made it 3-0.

The Jets answered with a 70-yard drive, converting three third downs before landing a first-and-goal at the 1. After three unsuccessful attempts to punch it in, the rookie coach had his first big decision, and the break between quarters to mull it over.

Carroll went for it, and Anderson scored his first NFL touchdown for a 7-3 score.

“We knew that on the road touchdowns were so important, and it’s hard to beat these guys with field goals,” Carroll said. “It was a long way for them to go if we don’t make it. It worked out right.”

Later in the second period, Johnny Mitchell caught a third-and-10 pass, bounced off one tackler and ran down the left sideline before Matt Darby pushed him out at the 9. On the next play, Johnson went through the middle to make it 14-3 with 1:36 left in the half.