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Game 13: Bills vs. Jets
The Bills and Jets are two teams tied for last in the AFC East. Both are playing now with an eye towards next year. The Jets are re-born with star QB Chad Pennington back in the lineup. They are coming off of a huge upset win on Monday night against the Titans. The Bills broke their four game losing streak on the road against the Giants last week. The Bills will be looking to revenge a 30-3 thrashing at the hands of the Jets back in October.
FACTS AND FIGURES
| Matchup: |
Buffalo (5-7) vs. N.Y. Jets (5-7) |
| Place: |
Ralph Wilson Stadium |
| Television: |
CBS |
| Announcers: |
Don Criqui and Steve Tasker |
| Spread: |
Bills by 3 |
| Series: |
Bills lead 47-39 (Bills 1-0 in playoffs) |
| Last Meeting: |
Jets 30-3 in New York (2003) |
| Jets Offense: |
Rush (25th); Pass (11th); overall (18th) |
| Jets Defense: |
Rush (30th); Pass (11th); overall (27th) |
| Bills Offense: |
Rush (21st); Pass (25th); overall (28th) |
| Bills Defense: |
Rush (7th); Pass (3rd); overall (3rd) |
INJURY UPDATE
The Bills are very banged up as most teams are this late in the year. Drew Bledsoe is trying to battle through back to back blows to the head in the past two games. He has a mild concussion. The offensive line has three players hurting, Ruben Brown, Jonas Jennings and Mike Pucillo are injured. Pucillo missed the Giants game, Brown and Jennings left it. They both should be ok for the Jets game. Sammy Morris missed last week's game with a knee injury. Dave Moore has a concussion. Keith McKenzie has a quad strain.
The Jets are amazingly healthy for this time of year. DE John Abraham missed the Titans game with a recurring groin problem. S David Young has been out with a hamstring injury.
 Bills Daily Injury Page
KEY MATCHUPS
RB Travis Henry vs. LB Sam Cowart:
Cowart has regained the form he had in Buffalo before his achilles injury. He will be busy keeping Henry at bay. If he can shut down the Bills best offensive weapon then the Bills will have trouble scoring points.
CB Antoine Winfield vs. WR Santana Moss:
Moss is blooming into a late rising star. Winfield will have his hands full as Moss is good for a big play or two a game.
DE Aaron Schobel vs. LT Jason Fabini:
Schobel has been red hot, coming off of a three sack game against the Giants. He was going against an undrafted free agent, now he goes against Fabini who is a solid pro.
DT Pat Williams and Sam Adams vs. C Kevin Mawae:
Mawae is one of the best centers in the game and if the Bills big tackles can keep Mawae occupied then the linebackers can shoot the gaps and keep the running game in check as well as get to Pennington with zone blitzes.
RT Mike Williams vs. LE Shaun Ellis:
Ellis has 11 1/2 sacks and Williams needs to keep him away from Drew Bledsoe. Williams is coming off a decent performance against another great pass rusher in Michael Strahan.
WR Josh Reed vs. CB Ray Mickens:
Reed is having a decent second half of the season and he needs to make some big plays in the passing game to help the Bills pull this game out. Mickens is a solid corner so it won't be an easy task.
GAME PLAN
When The Bills Have The Ball: Run... Run... Run... and run some more. The Jets are one of the worst run defenses in the league and the Bills have run the ball very well as of late. December in Buffalo is a time to run the football and that is the best way to win for the Bills. Of course, offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride has never subscribed to that philosophy and may try to pass first and run second.
When The Jets Have The Ball: The Jets will try to beat the Bills with their short passing game, that may play into the hands of the Bills aggressive defense. Pennington is read hot and will try to dink and dunk his way down field.
BILLS DAILY PREDICTION
This is a tough game to call. The Jets are riding high and the Bills have some confidence back. One thing is almost certain, neither team is giving up on the season yet, so expect maximum effort in this game. The Bills are at home and have some decent matchup advantages. Expect them to pull out a close one:
Bills 20, Jets 16
Season Prediction Record: (6-6)
Season Record Against The Spread: (7-4-1)
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