Week 14 Preview: Buffalo Bills vs. NY Jets

Week 14 Preview: Buffalo Bills vs. New York Jets
By Tom Kiss
 
As the last quarter of this football season begins on Sunday, the 7-5 New York Jets are making a playoff push.  The Jets are tied with Denver, Kansas City, Cincinnati and Jacksonville at 7-5, and only two of these five teams will get the chance to contend for the Super Bowl.  Before Jets fans can get all excited about this scenario, the Jets must defeat the 5-7 Buffalo Bills at home.  It’s easy to look at this game as a win for the Jets, however, it will be no cake walk.  These Bills have really improved, and played extremely better late in games as they’ve lost 2 of the last four, and those losses by a total of 4 points.  On the other side of the coin, the Jets have gotten better each week this season, and the Jets defense, only on the field in body not performance early on, has given up a total of 45 points since the bye week. 
 
When the Jets have the ball:
Going up against the Bills this week, expect to see Cedric Houston and Leon Washington receiving most of the carries.  Washington had a great performance, much like the rest of the Jet offense, last week on Green Bay.  The offensive line is really started to assert itself with the attitude a good line should have.  You can even see it in how the Jets offense carried itself last week that they feel they can compete with just about anybody. 
 
Chad Pennington was his efficient self last week, going 25-35 for 263 yards and 2 touchdowns.  He had two interceptions, but Chad never looked like he was having trouble out there.  Chad has had good protection the last two weeks, and you can expect that to continue this week.  Jericho Cotchery has really developed into a starting receiver this season.  At the current rate, he will finish with about 80 catches for over 1,000 yards.  Look for Cotchery to finally get some attention this week.  The Bills will certainly have their hands full with Cotchery and Laveraneus Coles. 
 
When the Bills have the Ball:
J.P. Losman just might have some game in him.  Though his performances have not been complete, Losman has looked absolutely great in moments when the Bills need him most.  His ability to make plays under pressure, both literally and figuratively, has shown that maybe Losman has a spot in this league.  Lee Evans has become his favorite target (maybe because he is the only real target) and Losman will attempt to get him the ball as well. 
 
Willis McGahee.  That will be the story after the game.  McGahee has killed the jets during his career, but that trend is going to stop, at least for this game.  McGahee is listed as questionable, and hasn’t practiced the last two days.  Despite this, you can expect McGahee to start and play this week, even if not 100 %.  The now stout jet defense will do a much better job against this Bills offense than earlier in the season, when the Bills piled up 475 yards of offense.  Kerry Rhodes will continue his bid for Honolulu with more outstanding play from the safety position.
 
Match up of the game:  Cedric Houston/Leon Washington vs. London Fletcher
The top two Jet running backs would like to help the Jets control the game on way to another victory.  London Fletcher, though at the end of his career, will be up to try and stop the division rivals on last time.  Houston will try and run over the aging linebacker, while Washington will look to make the old man look slow.  Either way, the Jets have a good shot this week.
 
Prediction:  Jets 28 – Bills 10   

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