Buffalo Bills Game Day
Things to consider as the Buffalo Bills prepare for the New York Jets today:
SIX POINTS
1. Will the Bills have one last hurrah at Giants Stadium? This is the final game they will play here as the Giants and Jets move into their new digs across the Meadowlands parking lot next year. Bills teams have enjoyed some great moments here in the past.
2. Will Trent Edwards play the entire game? The Jets pass rush has not been very good, but they haven’t gone up against a weak offensive line like Buffalo’s, which could be starting four first-year players if Jamon Meredith starts in place of injured Jonathan Scott at RT. Even if Edwards survives, if he plays terribly, perhaps Dick Jauron benches him in favor of Ryan Fitzpatrick.
3. Is the return of MLB Paul Posluszny going to matter to the defense? Poz is expected to be back in the middle and the Bills certainly missed him. They have given up 222, 250 and 171 yards rushing the past three weeks. The Jets rank seventh in the league in rushing, led by Leon Washington and Thomas Jones, a terrific 1-2 punch.
4. Can the Bills handle Braylon Edwards? The ex-Brown made a nice debut in Miami for the Jets, and now he’ll get to go against Terrence McGee, who will probably guard him no matter which side he lines up on. Edwards is a big-time receiver, and he’ll be motivated to outshine Terrell Owens in the Big Apple.
5. Will Owens and Lee Evans finally wake up? Each has player has 12 receptions this season, a woeful total. Clearly there are issues with the porous line and Edwards’ erratic throwing and decision-making, but we need to start looking at Owens and Evans and figure out if they’re just not getting open.
6. Will Buffalo’s once-special special teams get back on track? Two of the Bills losses were greatly assisted by special teams gaffes — fumbles by Leodis McKelvin (New England) and Roscoe Parrish (Cleveland) on returns. The kicking game has to once again become a strength for the Bills.
BILLS GAME PLAN
Having a plan on offense would be a nice first step because they sure didn’t seem to have one the past three weeks. The Bills may be scrapping the no-huddle offense, at least part of the time, against the Jets. Whether they huddle or not, what they need to do is execute and stop making the foolish mistakes that have killed them lately. It’s a big day for Trent Edwards — he could be close to getting benched if he doesn’t play well. And it will be a tough day trying to figure out the Jets 3-4 defense which clearly has the Bills befuddled.
The Jets will have smoke coming out of their helmet ear holes after giving up 21 points in the fourth quarter to Miami last week. Coach Rex Ryan was appalled, and he let his team know that wasn’t acceptable. Look for the Jets to take their anger out on the feeble Bills. Offensively, Mark Sanchez will take some shots with Braylon Edwards, but look for the Jets’ seventh-ranked running game to try to gouge the Bills and set the tone.
OTHER PLAYERS TO WATCH
Jets DT Kris Jenkins: He manhandled the Bills last year, dominating the middle of the line. New Bills C Geoff Hangartner is an upgrade over Duke Preston and Melvin Fowler, but Jenkins will be a huge test.
Jets RB Leon Washington: He’s a dual threat as a runner and a receiver and the Bills have to account for him every time he’s on the field. If not, he will burn them.
Bills RB Marshawn Lynch: In his second game back from his suspension Lynch played well against the Browns with 69 yards rushing and 56 yards receiving. He needs big numbers today.
Bills DE Aaron Schobel: He has a tough task facing LT D’Brickashaw Ferguson, but he has to get some heat on Sanchez or at least open things up for other guys in the pass rush.
REMEMBER WHEN: Bills-Jets
1991: The Bills rallied for a 23-20 Monday night victory as Jim Kelly hit Thurman Thomas with a 15-yard TD pass with 4:46 left. Thomas tied the team record for pass receptions in a single game with 13.
1995: Thomas Smith batted away a potential tying 2-point conversion pass with no time remaining that enabled the Bills to hold off the Jets 28-26. New York had pulled close when Boomer Esiason completed a 41-yard ‘Hail Mary’ touchdown pass to Adrian Murrell on the final play of regulation.
2007: J.P. Losman took over for Trent Edwards and threw an 85-yard TD pass to Evans in the fourth quarter to put away the Bills’ 13-3 win.
2008: Not such a good game this time for Losman. His fumble with 1:54 left was returned 11 yards for a winning TD by New York’s Shaun Ellis in the Jets’ 31-27 victory.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
8: Consecutive losses to AFC East teams by the Bills.
6: Consecutive games the Bills haven’t scored a rushing TD, a streak that encompasses 166 straight running plays.
63.5: Percentage of times the Jets have run on first down this year, second-highest in the NFL.
4: Sacks by the Jets this season, 31st in NFL.
8: Penalties on Bills LT Demetrius Bell, which is the most in NFL.
13: Times out of 18 total sacks that Edwards has been dropped while in the shotgun formation.
26: Number of 20-plus yard punt returns by Roscoe Parrish since 2004, tied for most in that span.
11: Straight games the Bills have lost to teams that play a 3-4 defense.
1969: Last time a rookie QB (Greg Cook, Bengals) started and won his first three pro games, as Sanchez did.
