Week 1: Bills vs. Jets
at
Sunday, Sept. 10th
1:00pm ET
After a wild preseason that saw the Bills get rid of many players from the old regime a season of rebuilding gets started at home against another rebuilding team the New York Jets. Some will say this is a battle of two tanking teams but the only thing for sure is that the Jets are deeper in the rebuilding mode than the Bills and that is why the Bills are a heavy favorite for probably the only time this year. Thanks to the Patriots loss on Thursday night and Miami's unscheduled bye this is a battle for sole possession of first place.

FACTS AND FIGURES

Matchup: Buffalo (0-0) vs. N.Y. Jets (0-0)
Place: New Era Field
TV/Radio: Network: CBS; DirecTV: 705; Sirius: 93; SiriusXM: 226
Announcers: Kevin Harlan and Rich Gannon
Spread: Bills by 9
Series: Bills lead 59-53 (Bills 1-0 in playoffs)
Streak: Jets Won 2
Last Meeting: Jets 30-10 in New Jersey (2016)
Jets Offense: 2016 Final Rush (12th); Pass (27th); overall (26th)
Jets Defense: 2016 Final Rush (11th); Pass (17th); overall (11th)
Bills Offense: 2016 Final Rush (1st); Pass (30th); overall (16th)
Bills Defense: 2016 Final Rush (29th); Pass (6th); overall (19th)


INJURY UPDATE

The Bills are pretty healthy after dealing with concussion problems as Tyrod Taylor, T.J. Yates, and Jerel Worthy are all suffering from the head injury. Yates has been placed on IR and Worthy will likely miss this game but Taylor has been cleared and will start at quarterback. Tanner Vallejo is currently sidelined with a knee injury. Cordy Glenn and Jordan Matthews have been battling injuries all summer but both are ready to go. Colt Anderson and Marcell Dareus have both been limited in practice this week but should go.

The Jets are pretty healthy as well with just two players sitting out practice early in the week. TE Jordan Leggett and S Rontez Miles have missed time with knee and eye injuries respectively.

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

KEY MATCHUPS

RB LeSean McCoy vs. LB Darron Lee:
The Bills will run Shady early and often and the 2nd year player from Ohio State will be one of the men in the middle looking to stop him.

LT Cordy Glenn vs. OLB Josh Martin:
Glenn should be able to handle the fifth year veteran but this is worth watching to see how Glenn's foot holds up.

LB Preston Brown vs. RB Matt Forte:
Brown is the man in the middle of the new look Bills defense and the Jets will try to get things going with the veteran Forte on the ground mixed in with Bilal Powell.

CB Tre'Davious White vs. WR Jermaine Kearse:
The Bills rookie is their top corner and will go against recently traded for Kearse who has a lot of talent.

KEYS TO THE GAME

1. Move Taylor Around: The Bills kept Taylor in the pocket in the preseason with horrifying results. Hopefully they were just keeping the real offense under wraps and will move him around the pocket where he is more comfortable.

2. Get Early Lead: If they do move Taylor around then they should be able to have success offensively. They need to score early to keep the fans involved and remind the Jets that they are in for a long season.

3. Play Disciplined Football: The Bills had tremendous penalty issues in the preseason but did better in the finale against Detroit. They can't beat themselves with stupid penalties.

BILLS DAILY PREDICTION

It may be a long season on the horizon but it should start off on a high note. If they don't defeat what most feel is the worst team in the league then things will get ugly fast in Western New York. I don't think that will be a problem as the Bills defense should ground the Jets and allow the Bills to get the victory:
Bills 17, Jets 6

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

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