To read Part 1 of the AFC East Previews and NFL Predictions, click here.
BUFFALO BILLS
O/U wins: 6.0
My Prediction: 4-12
The good news for the Buffalo Bills coming into the regular season is that quarterback Tyrod Taylor is off the NFL’s concussion protocol. The bad news is, Taylor is still their best option at quarterback. It’s going to get ugly, fast, in Buffalo.
The Bills looked at the tank job the New York Jets were unleashing and decided they wanted in on the fun. Try as they might, through trades and cuts, they still haven’t managed to match New York in pure roster shittiness. The Bills’ mistake is they still have actual, legitimate NFL players at more positions. They have one of the better offensive lines in the sport and LeSean McCoy is the kind of running back that doesn’t need that much blocking to begin with.
The problem with the offense is Taylor’s strength as a passer, and his only strength as a passer, was the long ball. When Sammy Watkins was healthy and Marquis Goodwin on the opposite side, Taylor could capitalize on one-on-one matchups. All that’s gone now. Even if Jordan Matthews gets healthy, he’s a route runner receiver. So is rookie Zay Jones. You’re asking a guy that’s never shown he can consistently read defenses to read defenses simply because those are the weapons you’ve given him.
The Bills did keep their defense in place, but are converting a 3-4 unit into a 4-3 under new heads coach Sean McDermott. That means a pure pass rusher like Lorenzo Alexander will have to play legit outside linebacker, something which he’s never shown the skillset. Buffalo should be solid on the back end and the defense should be good enough to win a couple of games in the right situation, especially up front with Shaq Lawson, Marcell Dareus, Kyle Williams and Terry Hughes.
NEW YORK JETS
O/U Wins: 4.5
My Prediction: 1-15
I’m not sure what the oddsmakers were looking at when they put a 4.5 game over-under on the Jets. I’m not a big believer that the best college football team could compete with, let alone beat, any NFL team, no matter how bad. New York, with their new tanking roster, could prove me wrong. Good thing we’ll never have to find out.
The Jets actually drafted pretty well, landing Jordan Leggett and Chad Hansen for their offense, both picks that will pay off down the line. On defense, they landed three starters in Jamal Adams, Marcus Maye and Dylan Donahue. Add that to the haul last season and this is a talented young unit that will have to single-handedly keep the team in any game in which they’re competitive. It won’t be many.
The best quarterback on this roster was probably Bryce Petty, but he’s injured to start the season and my bet is head coach Todd Bowles would have gone with journeyman Josh McCown regardless. Trading for Jermaine Kearse actually gives the team one, honest to God, NFL wide receiver. Robby Anderson isn’t terrible, but the jobs opposite Kearse will eventually belong to new free agent acquisition Jeremy Kerley, Charone Peake or Hansen.
Losing Sheldon Richardson in the Kearse trade isn’t a blow. New York had too many guys at that interior line spot anyway and Richardson was outperformed by both Muhammad Wilkerson and Leonard Williams. The Jets signed Morris Claiborne as a free agent before they decided to tank their season for the top draft pick. He and Buster Skrine should be a solid duo in the defensive backfield.
Ultimately, I don’t see any way this isn’t Todd Bowles’ last season at the helm of the Jets. He led the team to a freaky winning record in his first season, but they missed the playoffs. A fall back to Earth last season followed and the team management has all but shown him the door with their personnel moves this off-season. On the plus side, Bilal Powell looks like a solid NFL running back and don’t be surprised to see the Jets cut Matt Forte. Hell, he could be on the street before I finish writing this.
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