Jets vs Bills: Strengths, Weaknesses, and Prediction

For the Jets vs Bills Week 2 matchup, Gang Green are headed back to Buffalo for the first time since Week 17 of last season.

Sep 1, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Sammy Watkins (14) catches a ball before the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Lions win 31-0. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

The NFL is unlike any other sport, there are only 16 games in the season. So for the New York Jets, although it’s tough to swallow their Week 1 loss, must move on to the next opponent.

The Jets can’t afford to dwell on the mistakes of Week 1, they have to get ready for a very tough opponent in the Buffalo Bills. Speaking of the Bills, this is going to be the Jets’ first divisional game of the season.

While the Jets couldn’t get it done at home vs the Cincinnati Bengals, they’ll look to get their first win of the season on the road. Something they were average at last season finishing 4-4 on the road.

The Bills have swept the Jets in back-to-back seasons and they’ll be looking to continue that streak. The Jets are desperate and desperate times call for desperate measures.

Next: The Strengths of the Bills

Sep 11, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Buffalo Bills running LeSean McCoy (25) carries the ball as Baltimore Ravens safety Eric Weddle (32) tackles at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports

The Strengths of the Bills

The Bills have a lot of strengths, even though much of them weren’t on display in Week 1. Running back LeSean McCoy is shifty and can really move in space.

Head coach Todd Bowles spoke to the media about some of the keys to the game. Of course, much of the conversation was about McCoy, here’s what he said courtesy of the Media Relations Department of the Jets:

On the key to containing LeSean McCoy…

Stay in your lane and be real disciplined. He’s so quick, he can run anywhere – he can run inside, he can run outside and before you know it, if you dive and peak your head inside, he’s bouncing outside, so we have to be very disciplined.

Although the Jets set records in their opening day performance against the run, McCoy can’t be underestimated. Last season against the Jets he was hot running to the tune of 112 yards with a 5.9 average per rush.

Another strength for the Bills is wide receiver Sammy Watkins, for obvious reasons. There are contradicting reports that he isn’t operating at 100%, but the Jets have to do their due diligence.

Next: The Weaknesses of the Bills

The Weaknesses of the Bills

While you can’t tell everything from Week 1, you can tell some. Something the Baltimore Ravens got away with was getting behind the Bills’ defense.

It’s something the Jets should key on with their plethora of weapons. Although the Jets opted not to go deep in their season opener against the Bengals.

Another weakness is also a strength for the Bills, it’s their starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor. When he’s able to be that dual-threat quarterback, he’s shown he can be dynamic. In an article written by Matthew Fairburn of NewYorkUpstate.com, here’s what the Ravens said about Taylor:

“The game plan was to make him a quarterback,” Ravens defensive tackle Brandon Williams said, via NewYorkUpstate.com. “Sometimes he got out of there, but not too many times.”

But apparently, when you force him to be one-dimensional as a pocket passer, he crumbles. The Bills 160 yards of offense in the season opener was the lowest output since 1979. Beat up Tyrod and you beat up the Bills, that simple.

Next: Final Prediction

Sep 11, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets running back Matt Forte (22) runs the ball against Cincinnati Bengals safety Shawn Williams (36) during the fourth quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Final Prediction

While the Jets may not admit as much, this game means a whole lot more than just a win. The Bills have been using the Jets as a punching bag the last two seasons.

Bowles needs to get the Rex Ryan monkey off his back and finally spell the Bills. The Jets are operating on a short week and preparation will be key.

While the Bills did a good job stopping the Baltimore rushing attack, the Jets are a different animal. The Jets should be able to take advantage of the suspensions and injuries for the Bills on defense.

must read: Jets vs Bills: Top 5 burning questions with Christa Levitas

This will be another close game, but the Jets have all the tools to get their first win of the season. The way they lose this game, is if they allow chunk plays to kill them once again.

Final Prediction: Jets 24, Bills 16

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