The game: Buffalo at New York Jets (-2.5)
There are two AFC wild card games at stake and the Bills (4-4) or the Jets (5-3) can go ahead and stake their claim to one of them tonight in a game that sees former Jets head coach Rex Ryan return to the Meadowlands along with professional face-puncher and game captain Ik Enemkpali.
The History
The rivalry goes back to the first year of each team’s existence in the inaugural season of the old American Football League in 1960. The Bills lead the series 58-51.
The two teams have played each other at least twice every season with the exception of two years; 1967 and 1968, where they just met up once a season.
The Jets won the first two games between the teams and had a 4-1 advantage before the Bills reeled off six straight victories from Dec. 1962 to Sept. 1965.
It won’t surprise you to learn that those six games aren’t the longest Bills win streak in the series. Buffalo won 10 straight in the Jim Kelly/Thurman Thomas era from Nov. 1987 to Oct. 1992. The longest Jets streak immediately predated that one, with seven straight New York wins from Sept. 1983 to Sept. 1987, probably making everybody feel really good about picking Tony Eason over Kelly in the 1983 NFL draft. Of course, it helped that Kelly played in the USFL from 1984-85.
The Bills have won the last three games and none of them have been close, with last November’s 38-3 victory the worst of the lot. It’s important to note that the current Bills coach, Rex Ryan, was on the losing end of all three of those games as head coach of the Jets. From Dec. 2009 to Sept. 2012 Ryan went 6-0 in this match-up.
The last Jets win was a 27-20 victory on Sept. 22, 2013 at the Meadowlands.
The Bills on Offense
Quarterback Tyrod Taylor is healthy and so is running back LeSean McCoy and they’ll be the primary weapons for the Bills tonight. Charles Clay has been a solid fantasy player at tight end, while Sammy Watkins has been all but a wasted fantasy pick with an injury-riddled 2015, setting him up for another sub-1,000-yard season. When Watkins does play, he’s effective, averaging over 16 yards per catch. The secret weapon for the Bills may be rookie running back Karlos Williams who averages 6.6 yards per carry and has scored six touchdowns this season.
The Jets on Offense
Thankfully for the Jets, Ryan Fitzpatrick and his Santa beard return to the line up tonight. The Jets offensive line has been one of the best in the league this season, both in run blocking and especially pass blocking as Fitzpatrick has been sacked less than any other QB in the NFL. They’ll be missing willi Colon at guard, though, so that may make a difference against the Bills pass rush. New York has tremendous weapons at wideout with Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker and are four deep at running back with Chris Ivory getting most of the carries.
The Bills on Defense
The strength of the team actually got a little abused in losses this season, giving up 34 or more points three times and one of those was against the Jaguars. Defensive tackle Kyle Williams is out and Mario Williams is still banged up, but will play. Stephon Gilmore is having a terrific season at corner and rookie Ronald Darby is not only a solid starter, but a defensive rookie of the year candidate.
The Jets on Defense
Todd Bowles came in this offseason and not only improved the Jets’ defense with new players like Leonard Williams, Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie, but has rejuvinated the careers of the players New York kept from Ryan’s disastrous final season. The Jets will miss Calvin Pryor at safety and there’s a chance Cromartie won’t play either, but the Jets can plug Buster Skrine into that slot and not lose any production. Pryor, along with his back-up Dion Bailey, present a problem with both being out so look for rookie Rontez Miles out of Division II California (Pa.) to get some significant playing time, and maybe be the guy the Bills target with Clay and on deep balls all night.
The pick: Ryan and the Bills have made all the noise heading into this game, but that’s all they’ve been able to do. The Jets corners are like nothing Taylor has faced and a healthy Fitzpatrick makes all the difference for New York, regardless of how ugly Ryan thinks he is. Jets 24, Bills 20
