Serving Bills Fans Since 1998 Home BILLS DAILY GAMEDAY PREVIEW 2000 GAMEDAY MAIN PAGE Week 3: Bills vs. Jets Preview The Bills first division matchup of the season is an early battle for sole possession of first place in the AFC East. The Bills and Jets are both 2-0 and will renew their rivalry Sunday at 1pm at the Meadowlands in New Jersey. The Bills avoided a letdown in beating the Packers and the Jets are coming off an emotionally charged come from behind victory against their arch rival, the New England Patriots. So the Jets will need to avoid the letdown this week and the Bills will need to figure out if their act will play on the road in an important early season contest. Facts and Figures Matchup: Buffalo (2-0) at N.Y. Jets (2-0) Date: Sunday September 17th Time: 1:00pm Television: CBS Announcers: Dick Enberg, Dan Diedorf, & Bonnie Bernstein Spread: Jets by 1 Series: Bills Lead 45-34 Last Meeting: N.Y. Jets 17-7 in N.Y. last year Jets Offense: Rush (T-18th); Pass(6th); overall (9th) Jets Defense: Rush (6th); Pass (6th) ; overall (6th) Bills Offense: Rush (13th); Pass (21st); overall (T-19th) Bills Defense: Rush (2nd); Pass (8th); overall (3rd) Injury Update The Bills are getting healthier as the season progresses with the bye week around the corner. Joe Panos and Jonathan Linton should see more extensive action this week. Doug Flutie will most likely still be the emergency QB since the bye week is next. A decision should be made for sure later this week. Defensive end Shawn Price has a hyperextended knee and probably won't play. Sam Rogers has a sore shoulder that is giving him a problems, he will either see limited duty or miss the game entirely with the bye week coming up. These injuries will give more playing time to rookies Erik Flowers and Corey Moore. We will be updating the preview page as the situation changes. On the Jets side, their injury report shows no new injuries. Wayne Chrebet played hurt on Monday night and looked really good. Curtis Martin is also banged up and only carried 11 times last week. For complete injury news throughout the week and the Official NFL Injury Report go to our Injury Page. Key Matchups DB Antoine Winfield vs. WR Dedric Ward: The Jets will try to stretch the defense by going long to Ward. Winfield has been a stud over the first two games and needs to keep playing with that intensity against the red hot Ward. DB Ken Irvin vs. WR Wayne Chrebet: Chrebet is the go-to guy for the Jets and Irvin has been inconsistent so far this season. If Irvin isn't on top of his game, the Bills may be in for a long game. DT Ted Washington and Pat Williams vs. C Kevin Mawae: The Jets got Mawae a few years back just to stop Washington twice a year. He has had various degrees of success against him, now he has to watch out for his partner in crime also. ILB John Holecek and Sam Cowart vs. RB Curtis Martin: The Bills have had success against Martin in the past, but he is a very dangerous back who must be contained if the team plans on winning this very tough road game. WR Eric Moulds vs. DB Aaron Glenn: The Jets will shadow Moulds with their best defensive back in Glenn. If Glenn gives Moulds as much fits as Samari Rolle did for Tennessee then that spells trouble for the Bills. Game Plan When The Bills Have The Ball: The Bills will have to be able to run to win this game, look for them to try to use a power running game with Antowain Smith and a healthy mixture of Jonathan Linton. If they successfully establish the run that should open up the passing game. Look for three step drops and slant patterns to beat the blitzing that the Jets are sure to do. When The Jets Have The Ball: Expect Vinny Testerverde to try to challenge the secondary with long passes to Dedric Ward. They may think it is easier to beat the Bills defense through the air, then on the ground. Expects some screen passes to try and beat the aggressive linebackers of Buffalo. Bills Daily Prediction This will be a dogfight in a place that the Bills have lost two in a row and is always a tough place to play. If the Jets letdown the Bills could pull it out but the first road game with a struggling offensive scheme leads to the first loss of the season. N.Y. Jets 17, Buffalo 13 Season Prediction Record: (2-0) Season Record Against The Spread: (1-1) Game Analysis and Review Positional Breakdown and Grades 2000 Gameday Section 2001 Gameday Section Back to Bills Daily main page 2000 Articles Index