4 bold predictions for Bills vs. Jets in Week 17 AFC East battle

Look for this game to be a run fest.

Buffalo Bills v New York Jets
Buffalo Bills v New York Jets | Elsa/GettyImages

It’s hard to believe that we are just two weeks away from the end of the regular season. It seems like the season just started yesterday and there were all kinds of chatter about how the Buffalo Bills were going to be dethroned in the AFC East. We don’t hear those chatters anymore.

The New York Jets were one of the favorites to take the division away from the Bills. Instead, all they ended up doing was firing their head coach five weeks into the season (while they were at 2-3 and one game out of first in the division), fired their general manager after Week 11, and have only won two games under interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich.

They have nothing to play for other than pulling an upset against the Bills, who are set to host atleast one playoff game in January. Whether the Bills win or lose, they just need to stay as healthy as possible. They’ve had too many injuries pop up in the last couple of weeks.

With that being said, what bold predictions could come true live from Orchard Park this Sunday? Let’s take a look.

Breece Hall punishes Bills’ run-defense

Buffalo’s run-defense has been atrocious this year. There’s no other way of saying it. There’s only been six games this year where they didn’t give up 100+ yards on the ground. Since returning from their bye week, the Bills are allowing 116 rushing yards per game. That is going to hurt them badly in the playoffs if they don’t clean it up.

Jets running back Breece Hall has always had solid games against the Bills. Infact, Hall has only rushed for over 100 yards in one game this year and it was against the Bills (18 carries for 113 yards). If the Jets wanted to keep Josh Allen off the field, they would run the ball a majority of the game and punish the Bills’ defense.

Bills rush for 200+ yards

On the other sideline, the Jets’ defense will have their hands full going up against a three-headed monster in James Cook, Ty Johnson and Ray Davis. Cook didn’t have the chance to play against the Jets back in Week 6 and Ray Davis took advantage of that opportunity. Davis rushed for 97 yards and also finished with 55 receiving yards off of three receptions.

In their last four games, the Bills have rushed for 173 yards per game which includes 220 yards against the San Francisco 49ers.

Buffalo ran 149 yards against the Jets earlier in the season. With Josh Allen still going through a bit of an injury with his hand and also hurting his elbow last week, it would be smart for Joe Brady to pound the rock for all four quarters.

Buffalo keeps NY Jets under 10+ points

The Jets’ offense has come alive in four of the last five games, scoring 21+ points. They managed to put up 20 points against the Bills in Week 6 but had Aaron Rodgers not have completed a hail mary touchdown pass to Allen Lazard going into halftime, the Jets may not have reached more than ten points.

Buffalo’s defense has been horrific the last three weeks, giving up 107 points. This is the week for them contain an offense that is inconsistent.

Bills win by double digit points

In their 12 wins this year, the Bills have defeated opponents by 10+ points in six games. Most recently, they defeated the 49ers 35-10 to capture the AFC East on Sunday Night Football. The Jets have only won a game by double digit points once this year, while losing just three games by 10+ points.

The Bills managed to beat the Jets last season in Week 11, 32-6 so this prediction isn’t impossible to achieve.

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