NO QUIT IN JETS
Adams says he and Gang are treating game against Bills as their Super Bowl
The Bills may have clinched an AFC playoff spot, but they’re not punting on Sunday’s matchup against the Jets. Instead, Buffalo will play its starters, and that includes quarterback Josh Allen, though head coach Sean McDermott did not say when he plans to pull the first unit.
“Not all of them, but most of them will play,” McDermott said in a conference call on Tuesday. “We’re gonna be on a case-by-case basis. … It’s just about making sure we’re doing right by our team.”
That means the Jets will see less Allen and more of Matt Barkley. If you think that’s a walk in the park, remember this: Barkley torched the Jets for 232 yards and two touchdowns in a 4110 rout in Week 9 last season.
This year’s Jets obviously aren’t the same as last year’s,
a nod to the talent they’ve added and a coaching change, hiring Gregg Williams as defensive coordinator. Gang Green boasts the NFL’s second-best rush defense and the 11th-best defense overall.
McDermott also said his team knows exactly what to expect from the Jets’ D on Sunday.
“They like to pressure a lot,” he said. “I know Gregg Williams does a good job with his schemes. They certainly have really good personnel, and what they do and how they shape things. A very aggressive defense overall.”
These two teams, of course, went toe-to-toe in Week 1. The Jets took a 16-0 lead with seven minutes left in the third quarter. They never scored again, both C.J. Mosley (groin) and Quinnen Williams (ankle) left the game with injuries, and the Bills rattled off 17 straight points, including two touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
“One of the things you want to be able to do is say that you can come from behind or win a close game,” McDermott said. “In that case, we were able to say that we can come from behind and win a close game. And then also, just the overall resiliency of the football team showed up in Week 1.”
The Jets, of course, did not forget the loss that sent them spiraling to start the season.
“Yeah, we’re coming after them. We huntin’ man,” Jamal Adams said on a conference call. “It’s a playoff game for us. We heard they’re going to start their starters. That’s good. We’re looking forward to the matchup. I can tell you that.”
The Jets have won five of their last seven games, a lateseason rally in part attributed to an easy schedule and the return of Sam Darnold, who missed four weeks of action due to his bout with mono.
Darnold has thrown 17 touchdowns since his return.
“I think he’s played really well and we have a lot of respect for Sam,” McDermott said. “[GM] Brandon [Beane] and I went through the process with him coming out of the draft, and he certainly brings a lot to the table. It’s evident that way he’s developed this season that he’s gonna be a good player for a long time.”
Left guard Alex Lewis hurt his ankle in the win against the Steelers, and right guard Tom Compton missed that game with a calf injury. That means the Jets may have to start reserves Brent Qvale and Conor McDermott against the Bills on Sunday.
Adams was limited in practice on Tuesday, but says he’ll be ready for game day.
“I’m out there battling, I feel good,” he told reporters. “I’ll be ready for a great matchup.”