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Week 13: Bills vs. Jets
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Thursday, Dec. 3rd
8:20pm ET
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The Bills and Jets meet for the 2nd regular season game in Toronto. The Bills were lifeless in losing to Miami there last year. Both teams are coming off nice wins on Sunday and will have a short week to prepare for a division rivalry game.
FACTS AND FIGURES
| Matchup: |
Buffalo (4-7) vs. N.Y. Jets (5-6) |
| Place: |
Rogers Centre |
| Television: |
NFL Network |
| Announcers: |
Bob Papa and Matt Millen |
| Spread: |
Jets by 3 |
| Series: |
Bills lead 54-44 (Bills 1-0 in playoffs) |
| Streak: |
Bills Won 1 |
| Last Meeting: |
Bills 16-13 in Meadowlands (2009) |
| Jets Offense: |
Rush (2nd); Pass (29th); overall (19th) |
| Jets Defense: |
Rush (13th); Pass (2nd); overall (2nd) |
| Bills Offense: |
Rush (19th); Pass (26th); overall (27th) |
| Bills Defense: |
Rush (32nd); Pass (7th); overall (23rd) |
INJURY UPDATE
Nic Harris suffered an eye contusion during Sunday's win over Miami but is fine for this game. John McCargo (calf), Demetrius Bell (knee), and Ashton Youboty (ankle) remain sidelined and the short week likely won't be enough to allow any of them to get back on the field. Terrence McGee is still struggling to come back from what was minor knee surgery over the bye. He thinks he'll play but will be a gametime decision. Jairus Byrd remains limited during the week but likely will play. Eric Wood, Seth McKinney, Keith Ellison, Derek Fine, Kawika Mitchell, Marcus Buggs, Leodis McKelvin, Derek Schouman, and Brad Butler are among the 14 players who are out for the season.
The Jets got a scare during Sunday's win over Carolina when QB Mark Sanchez went down with a twisted knee. He did return to the game. He is practicing fully and will play. The Jets have lost Kris Jenkins and Leon Washington for the season. They will likely be without their two top backup corners as Donald Strickland and Dwight Lowery remain sidelined. Backup OL Robert Turner is also sidelined.
Check out our  Bills Daily Injury Page throughout the week for the latest updates on the injured players.
KEY MATCHUPS
WR Terrell Owens vs. CB Darrelle Revis:
This is the marquee matchup of the game. Revis got the better of T.O. in the first matchup holding him to 13 yards receiving. Jets coach Rex Ryan likes his odds in this matchup once again. Owens has played very well with Ryan Fitzpatrick at QB while Revis is perhaps the best corner in the league at this time.
LB Paul Posluszny vs. RB Thomas Jones:
Jones is set to go over 1,000 yards as he continues to dip into the fountain of youth. He ran for a career high 210 yards in the first meeting. The Bills have been slightly better against the run lately and with Washington sidelined it should help matters. The bottom line is if they don't slow down Jones they will likely lose. They can't expect to win with giving up that many yards again.
S Jairus Byrd vs. QB Mark Sanchez:
It's very unlikely that Sanchez will throw five picks again but Byrd will look to get into his ball hawking ways after not picking off a pass the past two weeks. If the secondary can force a few interceptions things could get ugly for Sanchez real quickly.
RB Fred Jackson vs. LB David Harris:
Jackson is now the top running back and it's about time. He is likely the most valuable player on the offensive side of the ball. The more carries he gets the better he does. Harris is by far the leading tackler for the Jets and he is the player Jackson needs to avoid most.
DE Aaron Schobel vs. LT D'Brickashaw Ferguson:
Schobel called Ferguson one of the top three tackles in the league as the former high draft pick has come on of late. Schobel for the most part has handled him well. If he can make things uncomfortable for Sanchez he can force him into making mistakes.
LT Jonathan Scott vs. LB Calvin Pace:
Scott gets another start protecting Fitzpatrick's blind side. Pace leads the Jets with five sacks. This is a big advantage of the Jets. If they get consistent pressure on Fitzpatrick he will need to use his feet to get yards.
GAME PLAN
When The Bills Have The Ball: Expect them to run a heavy dose of Jackson to make the Jets come with eight in the box at times and allow plays to open up downfield in the passing game. It may also keep the pass rush at bay a bit. Fitzpatrick will take his chances when he has them but he will be patient and wait for those chances instead of forcing something that can result in a turnover.
When The Jets Have The Ball: The Jets will likely try to pound the ball on the ground against the league's worst run defense. When Sanchez goes to the air look for him to turn into the new captain checkdown. The Jets have simplified the playbook for him so he doesn't throw as many interceptions.
BILLS DAILY PREDICTION
I would feel a lot better about this game if the Southern California golden boy at QB for the Jets had to throw in December weather outside in Orchard Park. Instead he gets a nice cozy dome. Whoever prepares better in just three days for this game will win it. I like the way Perry Fewell prepares and I think the Bills will pull out a squeaker:
Bills 17, Jets 16
Season Prediction Record: (6-5)
Season Record Against The Spread: (6-5)
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