ORCHARD PARK – The Jets’ 0-2 start can be erased by about 4 o’clock this afternoon if they can take care of business and defeat the beaten-up Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
A win would get the Jets to 2-2.
“Getting back to even ground would mean a lot,” WR Jerricho Cotchery said.
The Jets’ psyche could be elevated with a win, but Eric Mangini warned his players to not get too caught up in standings at this point in the season.
“When we were in New England in 2001, Bill (Belichick) showed some horse race,” Mangini said of the Patriots’ 0-2 start that year en route to the Super Bowl. “I can’t remember which one it was, but at the midway point he asked a question, ‘Who’s in front?’ Four or five guys said, ‘No. 14.’ He said, ‘It doesn’t matter. What matters is who finishes first at the end.’
“That to me summarizes the approach. Whether it’s a two-game winning streak, a two-game losing streak, whatever it is, the important thing is the next game (and) taking care of that. Then see how the race finishes at the end.”
Here’s a look at how we see today’s game unfolding and finishing:
BEST BATTLE
Jets LT D’Brickashaw Ferguson vs. Bills DE Aaron Schobel. For the second consecutive week, Ferguson is a big focus. Last week, he played one of the best games of his NFL career, helping neutralize Miami DE Jason Taylor. Since 2003, only Taylor has more sacks in the NFL than Schobel (46 1/2), who had three against the Jets in the teams’ second meeting last year.
Schobel is a different kind of challenge than Taylor. Schobel’s strength is his motor; he’s relentless for 60 minutes, and Ferguson will have to be at his best to protect QB Chad Pennington’s backside.
WHERE’S THE BEEF?
On the Buffalo offensive line, where 6-6, 335-pound LG Derrick Dockery; 6-8, 355-pound RT Langston Walker; 6-4, 328-pound LT Jason Peters; 6-7, 325-pound RG Brad Butler; and 6-3, 310-pound C Melvin Fowler reside. That’s an average of 330.6 pounds.
The Jets’ three-man defensive line of Dewayne Robertson (310 pounds), Shaun Ellis (285) and Kenyon Coleman (295) averages 296.6 pounds. That makes Buffalo certain to try to mash the Jets with its running game.
“I never saw a defense that likes to be pounded on,” Dockery said. “The Jets have a good defense. Their front seven is quick and athletic. But if we execute, there’s no reason why we can’t control the line of scrimmage, move the ball and control the clock.”
RUSH TO JUDGMENT
Jets RB Thomas Jones, with 110 yards on 25 carries last week against Miami, finally broke out. The question is, can he keep the momentum going today against an injury-riddled Bills’ defense, which will be without three of its top four linebackers? Undersized John DiGeorgio (229 pounds) and Leon Joe (235 pounds) are expected to start for the Bills, which should allow the Jets to overpower in the running game.
The Bills have allowed 532 rushing yards this season, an average of 177.3 per game, 87 more than the Jets have averaged on the ground.
HERE’S THE KICKER
The Bills have a very good kicking game. Their punter, Brian Moorman, who averages 45.9 yards gross, has pinned opponents inside their 20-yard line six times on 17 punts this season. Their kicker, Rian Lindell, is one of the best long-range field-goal kickers in the NFL, having made five of five attempts from 50 or more yards since 2005.
The Jets counter with the consistency of Mike Nugent, who’s made 21 of his past 22 field-goal attempts dating to last season. He has three touchbacks on kickoffs, as many as he had all last season.
ISN’T THAT SPECIAL
The Jets are feeling much better about their special teams after a solid performance against Miami, highlighted by Leon Washington’s 98-yard kickoff return for a TD and improved kickoff coverage. They’d better be at their best today, because the one strength the Bills have shown this season is in their return game. Terrence McGee averages 28.2 yards per kickoff return with a long of 63 yards, and Roscoe Parrish has averaged 44 yards on two punt returns, one of which went for a 74-yard TD.
NUMBER TO KNOW
32. That’s where the Bills’ defense and offense rank among the NFL’s 32 teams entering today’s game.
FOE FACT
Opposing teams have nearly a nine-minute advantage in time of possession on the Bills this season.
JETS FACT
The Jets have been penalized nine times in three games for losses of 56 yards; their opponents have been called for 24 penalties for 172 yards in losses.
CANNIZZARO’S CALL
JETS – 27
BILLS – 10
The Jets will run the ball successfully on the injury-decimated Bills’ defense, and their maligned defense will create multiple turnovers. They must beware, however, of the Bills’ superior special teams.