Buffalo Bills at New York Jets, New Meadowlands Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
Sunday, January 2, 2011, 1:00 pm EST, TV: CBS
Opening Line: Jets -2
Current Line: Jets -1
Opening Total: 41
Current Total: 39.5
Money Line: Jets -120 / Bills +100
The New York Jets (10-5) do not have much to gain following last week’s 38-34 loss at Chicago, but they still have a lot to prove heading into Sunday’s AFC East matchup with the Buffalo Bills (4-11). The Jets (-1) clinched a playoff berth despite falling to the Bears and are likely locked into the #6 seed in the AFC, meaning they will probably visit Kansas City or Indianapolis next week.
New York will be in similar territory if that scenario unfolds after making the postseason as the #5 seed a year ago. The big difference this season is that the Jets had much higher expectations after making it to the AFC Championship game. They were supposed to contend for the AFC East title but have faded down the stretch since losing 45-3 at New England in Week 13.
Defensively, one of the NFL’s best units surrendered 322 yards to Chicago and gave up a 100-yard rusher for the first time since last season. Bears running back Matt Forte rushed for 113 yards against the league’s fifth-ranked run defense while quarterback Jay Cutler shredded the secondary for three third-quarter touchdowns to turn a 24-17 lead into a 38-31 deficit.
Buffalo does not have much to play for here either besides possible draft positioning. Carolina has already clinched the worst record and top pick in the NFL draft, meaning the Bills are battling it out with Denver and Cincinnati for second. All four of their wins have taken place in the second half of the season following an 0-8 start.
It will be interesting to see how long New York quarterback Mark Sanchez plays against a team he has struggled against during his career. Sanchez is 2-1 in three career games against Buffalo, completing 46 percent of his passes for 384 yards with three touchdowns and five interceptions. All five picks took place in a 16-13 overtime loss last year at home.
The second-year signal caller is also dealing with a shoulder injury that left him questionable heading into last week and had him initially reported to sit this game out. One thing that could help him out is a powerful running game, led by LaDainian Tomlinson and Shonn Greene. Tomlinson is 86 yards away from the 1,000-yard mark and will be facing a Bills defense that is surrendering a league-worst 162.5 rushing yards per game.
Buffalo is 5-3 against the spread in the last eight meetings with New York, going 4-4 straight-up in those games. The Bills are also 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 games overall with the UNDER going 7-2 in their past nine.
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