by Ian S. Palmer
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The New York Jets can clinch an AFC wildcard playoff spot this Sunday, January 3 if they can manage to beat the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo. The Jets enter the game with a record of 10-5 while they sit in second place in the AFC East Division. They helped their cause greatly with a 26-20 overtime home win against reigning super Bowl champions New England last weekend. The Bills are out of the postseason hunt and go into the last weekend of the season with a 7-8 mark in the AFC East after beating Dallas 16-6 in week 16. The Bills are hoping to ruin the Jets’ playoff hopes and make sure they end the season at .500 at the same time.
Jets vs Bills – BOVADA NFL BETTING LINE:
- Bovada currently lists the Jets at -3 at -115 with the Bills +3 at -105. Over Under set at 42.5.
The Jets control their own destiny now since they downed the Patriots last time out and the Pittsburgh Steelers were busy losing a 20-17 decision in Baltimore to the Ravens. However, should the Steelers beat the Browns in their season finale and the Jets fall to the Bills then Pittsburgh will take the wildcard spot due to the tiebreaking process. New York has the momentum behind them since they’ve now won five consecutive games. However, they’ll be up against a Bills side which has won three in a row at home.
Wideout Eric Decker caught a six-yard pass from quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick against New England in overtime to earn the win last week. Fitzpatrick threw three touchdown passes and 296 yards during the game and also equaled a Jets’ record with 29 touchdown passes in a season. Fitzpatrick needs another big game in Buffalo on Sunday especially since he had a hard time against them earlier this season in week 10 when the Bills beat the Jets 22-17 in New York. He tossed only 193 yards that game and was picked off twice, but did manage a pair of touchdown passes. He’ll be looking for some help from wide receiver Brandon Marshall this time around.
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Marshall has scored six touchdowns in the last five games while averaging 115.2 yards per outing. In addition, Decker has chipped in with four touchdowns during the same stretch and had a touchdown and 85 yards against the Bills in week 10. However, the Jets haven’t been doing so well on the ground lately. Chris Ivory hasn’t reached the 40-yard mark in his past two games, but carried the ball 18 times for 99 yards in week 10. Bilal Powell has played well in the backfield though with at least 79 total yards in his past four appearances.
The Jets’ defense has played well in their five-game winning streak by allowing just 16.8 points against per game during it. They’ve also held their opponents to a 57-per cent pass-completion rate since week 12 and have recorded seven pick offs since then. New York has gone 5-2-2 against the spread in their past nine road trips.
The Bills were solid defensively against the Cowboys with rookie running Mike Gillislee and Karlos Williams having big games. Gillisleee had a touchdown and rushed for 93 yards while Williams added a touchdown and 76 yards. Buffalo ran for a total of 236 yards and held Dallas to just six points. Rookie linebacker A.J. Tarpley forced a fumble and had an interception against Cowboys’ quarterback Kellen Moore. They’ll be up against a tough New York rushing offense which ranks second-best in the league at just 81.5 yards against per contest. In addition, the Jets have allowed a league-low two rushing touchdowns against all season.
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Buffalo quarterback Tyrod Taylor will need to work with wide receiver Sammy Watkins to upset the Jets. They’ve played well together since week 12 by combining for six touchdowns on 24 passes along with a total of 543 yards. Watkins struggled in week 10 though with just 14 yards on three receptions. The Jets have allowed 238.7 yards against per game in the air this season along with 25 touchdowns, so that bodes well for the Bills. Buffalo is 4-0 both straight up and against the spread in their past four meetings with the Jets.
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