On Thursday Night Football, the Buffalo Bills will travel to MetLife Stadium for an AFC East showdown with the New York Jets. New York comes into the contest 5-3 while Buffalo is at 4-4, hoping to make the postseason for the first time since 1999.
The storyline of the game – other than Buffalo wearing the worst uniforms in the history of the sport – is the return of Rex Ryan. Ryan is in his first year as head coach in Buffalo after spending the previous six with the Jets. Ryan took New York to the AFC Championship game in each of his first two campaigns before failing to make the playoffs in each of the next four seasons.
Ryan has stirred the pot coming into the contest, naming IK Emenkpali a captain for the game. This being the man who punched Jets quarterback Geno Smith in the face this summer when he was a member of Gang Green, breaking Smith’s jaw.
On the field, the matchups will be interesting. New York is dealing with some injuries on the offensive line and faces one of the best defensive fronts of the game with Jerry Hughes, Mario Williams, Marcell Dareus and Kyle Williams on the prowl. However, Buffalo has only been able to amass 13 sacks this season, tied for 27th in the NFL.
New York will have a distinct advantage on defense, with cornerbacks Antonio Cromartie and Darrelle Revis going against Tyrod Taylor. Taylor has never faced either corner and does not have elite receivers, putting him in tough position.
Pick: New York 20, Buffalo 10