The New York Jets have found a way to keep Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills at bay each of the past two meetings at MetLife Stadium.
With the Bills' offense sputtering, the Jets will try to send the reigning four-time AFC East champions to another loss in the Meadowlands on Monday Night Football. Each of Gang Green's last two home wins over Buffalo have happened in dramatic fashion by a combined nine points.
New York may benefit from the wave of emotion that moved through the organization this past week. The Jets fired head coach Robert Saleh, replacing him by elevation defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich. Then, Ulbrich reassigned offensive coaching duties, tabbing Todd Downing as the new play caller while stripping Nathaniel Hackett of that role.
With Downing taking the reins, the Jets may lean towards a run-heavy scheme moving forward. Establishing the ground game should be a goal against the Bills on Monday night. Buffalo's defense, which will be without starting defensive tackle Ed Oliver, has struggled to stop opposing rushing attacks this season.
On the other side, the Bills could be without primary ball carrier James Cook, who is questionable for the October 14 primetime affair due to a toe injury. In the passing game, the Jets' cornerbacks match up favorably against a Buffalo receiving corps that has been unable to create consistent separation from defenders. Quarterback Josh Allen connected on only 4 of 18 targets to wide receivers in the Week 5 road loss.
As for how it all shakes out on Monday in the Meadowlands, Sporting News senior analyst Vinnie Iyer is leaning toward the home team. In his weekly game predictions, Iyer has selected the underdog Jets (2-3) to win outright against the Bills (3-2).
From NFL picks, predictions against the spread Week 6:
Bills (-2.5, 41.5 o/u) at Jets
Monday 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN
The Jets need this kind of get-well home offensive matchup against a bad running back defense. The Bills are giving up 4.6 yards per carry as part of allowing 144 rushing yards per game. They also allow a league-worst 62.5 receiving yards per game to the position. That should get Breece Hall and Braelon Allen back on track to ease the pressure on Aaron Rodgers. The Jets fire first in this tough battle for first place in what's looking like a lesser-than-expected AFC East.
Pick: Jets win 23-20
— Vinnie Iyer
More New York Jets News:
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• Bills' starting CB knows what to expect from Jets' Aaron Rodgers in Week 6
• Jets' All-Pro cornerback rejects Elon Musk's social media app
• Jeff Ulbrich accepts challenging double duty for head coaching debut vs. Bills
• More evidence Haason Reddick will never play for New York Jets in 2024
