Fansided

Jets, Bills still won’t make NFL playoffs

By Matt Verderame

Jan 14, 2015; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan speaks during a press conference at ADPRO Sports Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 14, 2015; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan speaks during a press conference at ADPRO Sports Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 28, 2014; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) throws a pass against the New York Jets during the first half at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 28, 2014; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) throws a pass against the New York Jets during the first half at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

4. New York’s pass rush

New York has a couple of great players on the defensive line. Outside of J.J. Watt, a real argument can be made that the two best 3-4 defensive ends in football are Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson. With Leonard Williams coming into the fold, things are only going to get better. However, the 3-4 calls for good outside linebackers to get pressure on the quarterback.

Quinton Coples and Calvin Pace are simply not getting the job done. Coples, who was a first-round pick in 2012, has just 16.5 sacks over his first three seasons. Coples is only 24 years old, but the maturation process has been slow to say the least. Pace is 34 years old and looks it. The veteran doesn’t have the speed to get around the edge and isn’t large enough to employ a bull-rush. In seven years with New York, Pace has only hit double-digit sacks once.

3. Dolphins are better

The road to the playoffs begin in your division. For the Bills and Jets, that means rugged terrain. The Patriots are still the best team in the division, while the Miami Dolphins are a closing second. Ryan Tannehill isn’t Drew Brees, Andrew Luck or Aaron Rodgers, but he’s a solid quarterback that can win games. Additionally, Tannehill has a solid offense and terrific defense around him.

Tannehill is the main reason that Miami is a better team than Buffalo or New York. The rosters otherwise are close and perhaps even favor the other two teams, but the NFL is quarterback-driven and Tannehill is clearly the best driver out of these three organizations.

2. Tom Brady and Bill Belichick

Since Brady became the starting quarterback for New England in 2001, the Patriots have been to six Super Bowls and won four. Even more dominating is their record within the AFC East, winning the division title every year in that stretch except for 2002 and 2008. Odds are, even with Brady’s suspension, New England will win it again.

With such a juggernaut in the division, the other three teams are left to compete with the rest of the conference for a wild card spot. Even if you make the playoffs in that capacity, you are likely facing three road games to get to the Super Bowl. Until Brady retires or begins to rapidly decline, nothing is going to change.

1. Quarterback play

You all knew this was going to be the top reason. Look, Buffalo and New York have nice rosters. The massive, glaring, can’t-get-around-it problem is under center. The quartet of Matt Cassel, EJ Manuel, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Geno Smith is not going to win anybody 10 games. Factor in coaches with defensive mentalities, and you have a recipe for a ton of 13-10 defeats.

Both teams will ask their quarterbacks to simply not lose the game, but look at these guys. They are going to lose some games. Ask Bills fans about Fitzpatrick. They will scoff and tell you how terrible he is. Well, Buffalo, your two quarterbacks are even worse.

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