Preview: Jets at Bills
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[September 15, 2016]
The Buffalo Bills' offense
looked anemic in a season-opening loss and is in need of a jolt as
the club hosts coach Rex Ryan's former team in the AFC East-rival
New York Jets on Thursday night. Buffalo recorded just 11 first
downs, 48 plays behind center and 160 yards of total offense in a
13-7 setback to Baltimore on Sunday.
"Tape doesn't lie,” Ryan told the New York Post on Monday. "We
really struggled and we clearly have to get better in a hurry ...
and, oh by the way, we're playing against even a better defense (in
the Jets)." While New York's aggressive front recorded seven sacks
in its 23-22 season-opening loss to Cincinnati, veteran cornerback
Darrelle Revis granted A.J. Green a cushy stay on Revis Island and
could receive the call to shadow Sammy Watkins. The third-year
wideout, who insisted to ESPN that he'll "definitely play" on
Thursday despite nursing a sore left foot, reeled in 11 receptions
for 136 yards as the Bills posted a 22-17 victory over the Jets in
January for their fifth straight win in the series. Ryan Fitzpatrick
threw three fourth-quarter interceptions versus his former team as
New York was derailed in its bid to clinch its first playoff berth
since 2010.
TV: 8:25 p.m. ET, CBS, NFL Network. LINE: Pick. O/U: 40
ABOUT THE JETS (0-1): New York's offense received mixed reviews in
the opener as versatile veteran Matt Forte (96 rushing, 59
receiving) amassed 155 yards from scrimmage in his debut, but former
Chicago Bears teammate Brandon Marshall was limited to just three
catches and committed a costly drop in the fourth quarter. The
32-year-old Marshall downplayed any residual issues with an ailing
hip and looks to get back on track versus Buffalo, against which he
has reeled in a touchdown pass in each of his last four meetings.
Leonard Williams recorded 2 1/2 sacks in the opener, fellow
defensive tackle Steve McLendon added two and defensive end Muhammad
Wilkerson had 1 1/2 for the Jets, who will see Sheldon Richardson
make his 2016 debut after serving a one-game suspension for
violating the personal-conduct policy.
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ABOUT THE BILLS (0-1): Ryan dismissed the possibility of shutting
down Watkins after the New York Daily News reported that the move
could be done as a precaution following the wideout's admission that
his surgically repaired foot was sore. Watkins had four catches for
a team-high 43 yards against the Ravens, but Tyrod Taylor only
connected on 15 of 22 tosses for 111 yards in the game. LeSean
McCoy, who recorded his 60th career touchdown in the opener, gashed
the Jets for 112 yards rushing and five catches for 47 yards
receiving in Buffalo's 22-17 win on Nov. 12.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Buffalo is vying for its first six-game winning streak versus New
York since it accomplished the feat during a stretch from 1995-97.
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2. Jets WR Eric Decker, who had a touchdown reception in the season
opener, scored in both contests versus the Bills last season.
3. Buffalo will officially retire the jersey number of Hall of Famer
Bruce Smith (78) in a halftime ceremony on Thursday. Smith will join
Jim Kelly (12) as the only members of the club to have their numbers
retired.
PREDICTION: Jets 23, Bills 14
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