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Jets at Bills: Preview, Predictions, and More

By Alan Schechter

Nov 12, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan shakes hands with New York Jets head coach Todd Bowles at MetLife Stadium after Bills defeated Jets 22-17. Mandatory Credit: William Hauser-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 12, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan shakes hands with New York Jets head coach Todd Bowles at MetLife Stadium after Bills defeated Jets 22-17. Mandatory Credit: William Hauser-USA TODAY Sports /
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New York Jets vs Buffalo Bills

Week 2 of the 2016 NFL season begins with a Thursday Night Football matchup between the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets. New York will travel north for a road matchup at New Era Field. Both teams will be searching for their first victory of the young season.

Related Story: Jets' Week 1 Report Card

The Jets are coming off of a one point loss to the Bengals last week at home, and the Bills lost their opener in Baltimore by a 13-7 score. Both teams are looking to start of their division schedule on the right foot.

Keys To Victory

For the Jets, they must keep LeSean McCoy contained and it has not been easy for them. McCoy faced them for the first two times of his career and averaged 107 yards on the ground per game.  The Jets have had a notoriously tough time with speed backs, and if he gets to the edge with regularity it will be a long night. They must also get their big wide receivers, Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker, involved early and often. They were only targeted five times in Week 1, which will not do them any favors.

For the Bills, they are going to have to have a big night on the ground, which they have done in the past against New York, but is still a tall order against that defensive front. They were stout against the Bengals and Sheldon Richardson returns from suspension. The Bills only averaged 2.7 yards per carry against Baltimore and that won’t be enough on Thursday nigh. They also must improve on their third-down conversion rate, which was 3-13, or 23% in week one.

The Jets have to be ready with a counter to the Bills’ initial defensive attack. Ryan Fitzpatrick was not particularly good in either matchup last season, and Rex is notorious for figuring out how to beat your guy. He breaks down film and devices a game plan for his defense with the best in the business.  The Jets must be ready to fight back with a counter punch that can put them over the top.

Odds

Point Spread: New York -1
Moneyline: New York -120, Buffalo Even
Over/Under: 40.5

Prediction

This one is big for both teams, as an 0-2 start would be a disaster for either one of them. The Jets, however, did show more life than the Bills did last week. If not for Nick Folk, they would be entering this game 1-0. This week, the Jets feel that sense of urgency and get off the deck against the Bills.  It will be a close one, but Folk redeems himself late.

Pick: New York Jets: 20, Buffalo Bills:18

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