Week 2: Bills vs. Jets
at
Thursday, Sept. 15th
8:25pm ET
A lot is on the line as the Bills have an eagerly anticipated prime time home opener against the division rival Jets. Rex Ryan has owned Ryan Fitzpatrick as a head coach and a defensive coordinator. Both teams will be desperate to get the sour taste out of their mouths from opening day losses. This makes this a very important early season matchup of two fairly evenly matched teams on paper.

FACTS AND FIGURES

Matchup: Buffalo (0-1) vs. N.Y. Jets (0-1)
Place: New Era Field
TV/Radio: Network: CBS/NFLN; DirecTV: 212; Sirius: 81; XM 225
Announcers: Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, and Tracy Wolfson
Spread: Bills by 2½
Series: Bills 59-51 (1-0 in playoffs)
Streak: Bills Won 5
Last Meeting: Bills 22-17 in Buffalo (2015)
Jets Offense: Rush (4th); Pass (24th); overall (18th)
Jets Defense: Rush (4th); Pass (27th); overall (23rd)
Bills Offense: Rush (24th); Pass (32nd); overall (32nd)
Bills Defense: Rush (12th); Pass (13th); overall (9th)


INJURY UPDATE

The Bills are extremely concerned about the surgically repaired foot of Sammy Watkins. He is expected to play but it is a situation to watch closely. Cordy Glenn is likely out after re-injuring his ankle against Baltimore. Jim Dray is also banged up with an ankle issue but is expected to play. Colt Anderson remains sidelined with a foot injury. The team expects to have Kevon Seymour back from a hamstring injury and Jerel Worthy expects to play after injuring his knee in the opener.

The Jets have LB Jordan Jenkins bothered by a calf injury. Third string QB Bryce Petty is currently sidelined with a shoulder injury. CB Darryl Roberts has missed practice time this week with a foot injury.

Check out our Bills Daily Injury Page throughout the week for the latest updates on the injured players.

KEY MATCHUPS

HC Rex Ryan vs. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick:
Ryan is 8-2 lifetime against Fitzpatrick. He has had tremendous success in forcing him into the big mistakes. If he can do that again the Bills have a good chance at winning this game.

WR Sammy Watkins vs. CB Darelle Revis:
Revis Island may not be what it used to be but he is still one of the best corners in the game. A less than 100 percent Watkins will have a hard time winning this battle against an aging star who will be motivated to bounce back from an awful performance in the opener and in last year's closing game against the Bills.

LT Cyrus Kouandjio vs. DE Leonard Williams:
While everyone will be watching Muhammad Wilkerson the Bills need to watch for Williams who had 2½ sacks in the opener. Kouandjio almost definitely will be starting for the injured Glenn. He was solid filling in during the preseason and needs to be even better this week.

LB Preston Brown vs. RB Matt Forte:
Brown was solid in the opener and needs to be on his toes against the double threat veteran. Forte can beat the Bills on the ground and through the air.

KEYS TO THE GAME

1. Let Tyrod Play: Coaches are supposed to let players do what they do best. They have to allow Tyrod Taylor to make plays with his legs and to throw downfield to use his big arm. They did neither last week and the results were awful.

2. Protect Taylor: For Taylor to make plays he needs to stay upright. Protection was rough on Sunday and the opponent is tougher as the Jets sacked Andy Dalton seven times in their opener.

3. Keep Emotions In Check: They have to make sure they don't get too amped up since the crowd undoubtedly will be with the prime time home opener. Against New England last year the team got too amped up and made too many mental mistakes.

BILLS DAILY PREDICTION

The Bills will have a lot of emotion with the retiring of Bruce Smith's number and the home opener being on primetime. The crowd will be fired up but the team under Rex Ryan has struggled with emotions are high. I'm very concerned with this offense and they are playing a better defense than they got shutdown by in the opener. I'm afraid Ryan's first ever 0-2 start is going to happen:
Jets 17, Bills 13

Season Prediction Record: (1-0)
Season Record Against The Spread: (1-0)

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