The 2015-16 Buffalo Bills are trying to accomplish a milestone for this season when they take on the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium this evening.
Win back-to-back games for the first time.
The Bills have flip-flopped wins and loses so far, and will look to get rid of that trend with Rex Ryan’s return to New York, the first match up between the two squads since Ryan switched allegiances this off-season.
While the head coach has done all he could this week to distract the media from his team with his press conference antics, the game is very important, as both teams are right in the thick of the tightly-contested AFC playoff race.
The Jets (5-3) currently hold the conference’s fifth seed, while the Bills (4-4) sit just a game behind, and would love nothing more than to leapfrog New York on a national stage.
New York too is looking for two-wins-in-a-row as first-year coach Todd Bowles leads his team to the mid-way point of the season with a winning record for the first time since 2011.
The Bills offense got a huge shot in the arm with the return of quarterback Tyrod Taylor from injury last week in their 33-17 win over the Miami Dolphins.
Taylor (11 of 12 for 181 yards and a touchdown) and the Bills showed just how explosive the offense can be when healthy.
The return of Sammy Watkins (8 receptions, 168 yards and a score), and Karlos Williams (nine rushes for 110 yards and two touchdowns) to go with an almost healthy LeSean McCoy (112 yards and a touchdown) put the rest of the league on notice, that when the Bills’ are at full-strength and clicking, they can be one of the more dangerous offenses in the league.
They will need to put it all together again tonight against one of the best defenses the league has to offer.
New York and their No. 1 rated rushing defense (80.6 yards per game) will look to turn the Bills one-dimensional, stacking the box and forcing Taylor to beat them with his arm.
The Bills do have the second-best rushing attack in the league (141.6 yards per game) but have yet to face a front seven like the one the Jets possess.
While the Bills’ offensive line took a big step forward last week, it would be tough to expect a repeat performance against such a stout opponent.
Even with their success against the ground game, teams are able to generate just 242.6 yards of passing offense per game (14th) when they take to the air against New York’s talented secondary.
A lot of this one will fall on Taylor and his ability to get the ball out of his hands quickly and accurately.
Expect a lot of blitzes coming from the Jets too, which will open up some room for Taylor to take off if he can escape the first level of defenders along with giving him some looks to take some shots down the field.
On the flip-side, the Jets will also face one of the best defenses they will come across this season.
Ryan Fitzpatrick will look to continue his early season success through the air (1,790 yards, 13 touchdowns, 7 interceptions) against a defense that has under-performed in the stat column so far this year.
Despite the rankings, don’t be fooled.
Buffalo still has one of the most talented defensive lines in football, and the young secondary has started to make strides in recent weeks, along with developing a knack for forcing turnovers.
Fitzpatrick shouldn’t expect much help from the running game either, as the Bills stout front-seven allows just 93.6 yards on the ground against themselves (6th).
When looking at this one, it is tough to expect the two sides to get involved in a shootout.
Both teams will make some plays down-field, but the key to victory will be whichever defense plays a complete, 60-minute football game.
Playing against his old squad, I don’t see how Fitzpatrick can play error-free football the whole evening.
He will have the chance to make some plays, but fans in Buffalo already got a chance to see firsthand what Fitzpatrick brings to the field.
Keep you in it late before committing a nail-in-the-coffin turnover.
In sticking to that storyline, I like the underdog Bills in a low scoring affair tonight, 20-13.
The game will be broadcast tonight on NFL Network, with kick off slated for 8:25 PM (eastern).
