Preview and Prediction: Bills Meet Jets in AFC East Matchup

The Buffalo Bills head to MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 14, to face another AFC East team in the New York Jets.

The Bills (5-3) are off to a hot start this season, looking to repeat as division champions. Still, a lackluster performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 9, a game in which Buffalo did not see the endzone, proved the team is not invincible and has its weaknesses. 

It will be a revenge game for the third-year quarterback Josh Allen, who was in MVP conversations last season. Allen was unable to lift his team over the Jaguars in its 9-6 loss on Nov. 7, finishing the game with 264 passing yards and two interceptions. He led the team in rushing yards with 50, while running backs Devin Singletary and Zack Moss combined for a lowly 22 yards. Moss, who suffered a concussion, cleared protocol and will be good to go Meanwhile, the Jets (2-6) are off to an abysmal start after losing starting rookie quarterback and captain Zach Wilson to a sprained right PCL in the Jets’ 54-13 loss to the New England Patriots in week six. The second overall pick in the 2021 draft, Wilson, who was expected to miss two-to-four weeks, will not play, according to head coach Robert Saleh. 

Instead, backup Mike White will take the turf. White made some noise in his first career start in the league in Week 8. He completed 82.2% of his passes to compile 405 yards and three touchdowns. The completions are the most by a player in that position in his first start. Only White and Cam Newton (422 yards in 2011) have thrown for at least 400 yards in their first starts since 1950. White’s performance led the Jets to a 35-31 comeback win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Oct. 31.

Although Saleh will not discuss whether there is a quarterback situation on the Jets, Wilson lost five of six starts and completed just 57.5% of his passes. He has four touchdowns, nine interceptions, and has a Total QBR of 28.0一32nd out of 33 qualifying passers.

The Jets offense finally sparked when White entered the equation, scoring 64 points in the past two games. New York only scored 80 total points in its first six games.

“If Mike is playing phenomenal football, it is what it is,” Saleh said. “You might call it a controversy or not.”

Either way, White and the Jets have their work set out for them against the top-ranked defense in the NFL.

Samara’s prediction: 34-10 Bills

(Photo: MetlifeStadium.com)