Week 9: New York Jets at Buffalo Bills

NEW YORK JETS @ BUFFALO BILLS
Vegas Line: Jets + 2

Rob’s Line: Jets + 4.5

This is a great matchup in the east with a semi-resurgent New York Jets looking to peg back a mightily impressive Buffalo Bills. And not only are the Bills looking impressive on offense (defense needs some work), but can those new ‘old’ uniforms they’ve (thankfully) reverted to this season be a contributory factor in this franchise looking like it’s reborn? Surely not, but I’m a believer.

Before their bye week, the Jets pulled out something of a stunning victory at home to San Diego after trailing 14-3 and then 21-10 at the half. Not only did they win, but they held the supremely talented Charger offense scoreless in the second half, which is something to brag about. This followed a 24-6 win over Miami on Monday Night Football, a scoreline that flattered the Jets a little, but they badly needed a win in that one and it doesn’t matter how the Ws come. Despite this mini upturn in their fortunes though, allied to a 4-3 record, one startling fact looms over them: 4-3 equates to four home wins and three road losses.
That needs to change, and fast, because it’s incredibly unlikely that 8-8 does a playoff team make in the AFC this year and particularly because they play in a strong division. However, they do still have home games against Buffalo and New England to come so they hold their playoff destiny in their own hands. The feeling pervades though that those two aforementioned AFC East foes possess more consistency, not to mention more potent offenses.
Which brings me on to the Bills and running back Fred Jackson. It bothered me somewhat that he went undrafted as it’s difficult to believe that no pro scout spotted his potential, but when you see that he attended Coe College, a Division III school, it’s easier to forgive those scouts their oversight. His path to the NFL is a nice little story and forgive me my small indulgence, but I hope what comes next interests you.
Having played for the wonderfully named Sioux City Bandits for two years in indoor football, Buffalo invited him to training camp in 2006 and only because Marv Levy, the Bills’ General Manager at the time, was an alumnus of Coe College. Levy is a wonderful man who left a gargantuan legacy in Buffalo and the city has too much to thank him for and his leaving gift was Jackson; what a way to go. My last thought on this and Levy is, “Where else would you rather be than right here, right now?” Please do look it up.
Jackson lies fourth in the league in rushing with 721 yards at 5.5 yards per carry and it’s form that shows no sign of letting up this week against the Jets’ 25th ranked run defense. You just know that that’s been the focus in the green half of NY all week and coach Rex Ryan and defensive coordinator Mike Pettine will have to have come up with something otherwise Jackson could rack up 150 yards and that’ll probably be enough to send them home two games behind the Bills.
Jackson’s versatility has also seen him catch 27 passes and while none of these have gone for touchdowns, he’s a potent release valve for quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and his 312 yards gained after the catch makes him a nightmare to coach against.
Buffalo’s defense stepped up big last week, albeit against a depleted Washington Redskins offensive line, registering ten sacks. Rookie Marcell Dareus was moved from defensive end to nose tackle and wreaked havoc inside, but the good news for the Jets is that center Nick Mangold is an altogether different proposition than anything the ‘Skins could line up last week. However, Dareus is young, hungry and talented and Ralph Wilson Stadium will be a cauldron of noise when Jets’ QB Mark Sanchez lines up behind Mangold.
Sanchez is something of a scrapper, not a term that does him much justice perhaps, but he fits the mould exactly as a Jet and has at his disposal a talented, savvy, veteran receiving corps containing tight end Dustin Keller, receivers Santonio Holmes, Plaxico Burress and Derrick Mason and back LaDainian Tomlinson, who ranks third on the team in catches with 22.
The Jets’ sole strength is its secondary, built around cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie and they need to be respected, but Buffalo will know that and will be happy in the knowledge that Jackson won’t have to see much of either player unless he’s tackled by them and, unless they’re acting on a corner blitz, that should mean that he’s made a play further up the field than the Jets would like.
I don’t quite get the Vegas take on this game and really love Buffalo being asked to win by only a field goal. They finally got over their Toronto hoodoo last week and will relish being back at their real home. The Bills to cover and to keep their slender advantage over the Patriots in the division.