As the Jets follow up a tough loss in Minnesota last week, they once again hit the road up to Orchard Park for a second meeting between the Jets and the Bills. This time however, Jets QB Mike White will be under center instead of QB Zach Wilson. After the Jets beat the Bills in a thriller of a game back in mid-November, the Bills have been eyeing down this next meeting to get revenge, and to get closer to winning the AFC East.
For today's injury report, we start with the Bills. The Bills are going to be down a few key pieces defensively in this one with LB Matt Milano questionable with a knee injury, but probably playing on limited snaps only, and DT Jordan Phillips is out with a shoulder injury. Offensively, FB Reggie Gilliam is out with an ankle injury. For the Jets, DT Micheal Clemmons is questionable coming off of having a flu of sorts. RB Michael Carter returns back to the lineup today as he will be much needed to help the Jets RB depth today.
For a preview of the Bills, we start on offense, which hasn't been as consistent as I mentioned in the last Jets Bills preview article. Bills QB Josh Allen is an immediate threat always in this game, and can beat you both on the run and with his arm strength as well. In the backfield, the Bills will probably divide carries with RBs Devin Singletary and James Cook since neither RB has been able to stay consistent or healthy this season. The real threat offensively comes at the WR position, where it will be the same big matchup from last time with Jets CB Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner having to mark top NFL WR Stephon Diggs. It should be interesting to see how much Allen will target Diggs and how both Jets CBs DJ Reed and "Sauce" react. Along with Diggs, WR Gabe Davis is a long threat as well, and can stretch the field very easily against a defense if you give him too much breathing room. Bills TE Dawson Knox is also someone to look out for, especially in the red zone being that Allen uses him very frequently near the goal line.
Defensively, even though the Bills are a bit banged up and have struggled, they can find ways to break down offenses very easily. Up front, DT Ed Oliver and DE Shaq Lawson are players that can put pressure into the backfield and can force the Jets to rely on the ground game early. At LB, they have Tremaine Edmunds and Matt Milano, and even though Milano will be limited on snaps, he is still someone the Jets have to keep an eye on. With his ability to drop back in coverage in man and zone and be able to rush the QB, he really is an overall good defensive piece and can carry this Bills defense, who recently lost LB Von Miller for the season. In the secondary, the Bills have CB Tre'Davious White, who is super effective now that he is finally healthy (my fault for jumping the gun saying he'd play last time these two teams met). Safety Jordan Poyer also will be healthy this time around for this matchup and is also someone the Jets must pay attention to today as well.
In order for the Jets to win, they must keep it simple offensively, similar to how they were able to find a way to victory last time. Utilize the ground game and do not force Mike White to throw nearly 60 times like last week. If there is a good balance of the run and pass, the Jets can and are capable of breaking down this Bills' defense even in front of the Bills Mafia.
For today's prediction, although it is another meaningful December football game, it will be tough and hard for the Jets to find a way to victory. Although I could see it being close, the Bills in Orchard Park have the upper hand in my opinion. I do expect a battle today nonetheless in the elements up North. I'll take the Bills winning this one by a score of 24-14.
-Miles Chamberlain 
Today's matchup features QBs Mike White (Left) and Josh Allen (Right)
Comments
Post a Comment