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Week 10: Bills vs. Jets
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Thursday, Nov. 12th
8:25pm ET
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This division primetime battle has a circus like atmosphere with Rex Ryan going back to the Meadowlands and the Bills facing their former QB and head coach in Ryan Fitzpatrick and Chan Gailey who runs the offense for the Jets. Lost in the shuffle of team captains, twitter battles, and reunions is that this is a very big game for both teams battling for a wild card spot. With the conference bunched up with mediocre teams this game is a very big midseason matchup.
FACTS AND FIGURES
| Matchup: |
Buffalo (4-4) vs. N.Y. Jets (5-3) |
| Place: |
Met Life Stadium |
| TV/Radio: |
Network: NFLN; DirecTV: 212; Sirius: 83 |
| Announcers: |
Jim Nantz, Chris Simms, and Tracy Wolfson |
| Spread: |
Jets by 3½ |
| Series: |
Bills lead 57-51 (Bills 1-0 in Playoffs) |
| Streak: |
Bills Won 3 |
| Last Meeting: |
Bills 38-3 in Detroit (2014) |
| Jets Offense: |
Rush (14th); Pass (17th); overall (11th) |
| Jets Defense: |
Rush (1st); Pass (14th); overall (4th) |
| Bills Offense: |
Rush (2nd); Pass (29th); overall (20th) |
| Bills Defense: |
Rush (6th); Pass (24th); overall (16th) |
INJURY UPDATE
The Bills will be without Kyle Williams again who is recovering from a PCL injury. Cyrus Kouandjio may miss his second straight game with a knee injury. The status of LeSean McCoy is a bit up in the air after he injured his shoulder against Miami. He is expected to play but may be limited. Sammy Watkins is still hobbled by an ankle injury but will play. Seantrel Henderson is battling a medical condition putting his status up in the air.
The Jets are banged up starting with their kicker as Nick Folk has been lost for the year with a quad injury. OL Willie Colon (Knee), CB Antonio Cromartie (Quad), DB Dion Bailey (Ankle), and DB Calvin Pryor (Ankle) have missed practice time this week. S Buster Skrine and RB Bilal Powell have also been limited this week with injuries. Skrine has shoulder and hand injuries while Powell has an ankle issue.
Check out our  Bills Daily Injury Page throughout the week for the latest updates on the injured players.
KEY MATCHUPS
WR Sammy Watkins vs. CB Darrelle Revis:
This is the key matchup of the game. Watkins is coming off the best game of his career and now will visit Revis Island in a battle that will be watched very closely. Revis is still one of the best but may have lost a half of step so if Watkins is now going to be one of the best he should have some success.
RBs LeSean McCoy and Karlos Williams vs. LBs David Harris and Demario Davis:
It's a battle of the number two ranked rushing team against the top ranked run defense. McCoy may be limited a bit with his shoulder injury but Williams is a monster with the nose for the end zone so he will pick up the slack. The Jets are very tough to run on, especially up the middle and to the left. Harris and Davis are tackling machines in the middle of a very good defense.
DB Stephon Gilmore vs. WR Brandon Marshall:
Gilmore will likely matchup more often than not against Marshall who is the main offensive weapon for Fitzpatrick.
HC Rex Ryan and LB IK Enemkpali vs. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and OC Chan Gailey:
This isn't a matchup on the field obviously but this is the big emotional battle of the game. The Bills want to win for Ryan. The Jets may be upset over Enemkpali being named a captain. Fitz and Gailey want to have their offensive show in high gear to stick it to their former team.
KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Keep Emotions In Check: The team wants to win for their head coach and he will be very emotional in his return to the Meadowlands. The Bills have been known to play too emotional and make too many mental mistakes. If they get overcome by their emotions this week they will lose.
2. Commit To The Run: The Jets are great against the run but the Bills can't give up on the ground game early, they need to keep pounding the rock to wear down a very good front three.
3. Get Takeways: It's obvious that the team that wins the turnover battle has a better chance of winning the game. The Bills defense has had a myriad of problems this year but what is overlooked a bit is their problem taking the football away. Turnovers come in bunches in this league if they can take the ball away a few times that could tilt the scales in what promises to be a very tough battle.
BILLS DAILY PREDICTION
This game has a ton of juicy storylines but once the game kicks off it will come down to which team executes better. Normally for Thursday night games that is a struggle since NFL teams are really not ready to play four days after their previous game. It may come down to who wants it more. Do the Jets want to stick it to their former coach more than the Bills want to win for him? I think the Bills are riding high and will find a way to pull out a very closely fought battle:
Bills 17, Jets 16
Season Prediction Record: (4-4)
Season Record Against The Spread: (3-5)
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