It’s quite simple for the Buffalo Bills this week; they win and they lock up the No. 2 seed in the AFC. With the Kansas City Chiefs taking the top spot, Buffalo can get the second best spot, but there is still a slim chance that they could drop to the third-seed.
This will be the Bills’ final home game of the regular season and they will host Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets. The good news is that Buffalo is guaranteed a home playoff game no matter what.
While things are looking good for the Bills, the same can’t be said about the Jets. After all of the chatter coming into this season about how they would win the AFC East, and potentially even make a run at the Super Bowl, they have become an absolute disaster.
Who would have thought that firing a head coach after five games and then firing a general manager in the middle of the season would set them up for failure…we’ll stay quiet about that.
This will be the second and final matchup between the Bills and Jets this week. Buffalo won the first matchup 23-20 which sparked a seven-game winning streak up until Week 14. The Bills will be looking to sweep the Jets for the first time since 2021 and there is a simple key in doing so.
Buffalo Bills must attack New York Jets' run-defense
Since Jeff Ulbrich took over as the interim head coach, the Jets’ defense is allowing 123 rushing yards per game. Even before Ulbrich took over and was just the defensive coordinator, the Jets were still allowing 119 yards per game on the ground. Long story short, the Jets’ once ferocious defense can’t stop the run.
In addition to them giving up yards, they aren’t the greatest at stopping teams from scoring rushing touchdowns. According to PFF BUF, the Jets’ defense is ranked 25th in rushing touchdowns allowed. Cook is currently tied with Derrick Henry for the most rushing touchdowns this year (14).
James Cook has a good chance of finding the end zone against the Jets
— PFF BUF Bills (@PFF_Bills) December 27, 2024
Cook ranks first in rushing TDs, making for a promising TD matchup against a Jets defense that ranks 25th in rushing TDs allowed. pic.twitter.com/XHvWL8rmss
Cook should finish in the top-three of the league in rushing touchdowns and there is a chance he could break 1,000+ yards on the ground this week, or next week. Sitting at 928 rushing yards this year, he only needs 72 yards to reach it. He currently averages 66 rushing yards per game so this is more than reasonable to predict.
Bills fans should be hoping for a run fest from the Bills against the Jets and watch Cook keep the motor going. As long as Cook stays healthy, fan can expect to be a game-changer like always.