BILLS (7-8) VS. JETS (4-11)
SUNDAY, 1 P.M. ET, METLIFE STADIUM, EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. uTV: CBS, DIRECTV 708
Announcers: Andrew Catalon, Steve Tasker, Steve Beuerlein
About the Bills: Despite establishing a franchise record with 589 yards of total offense, the Bills lost to the Miami Dolphins 34-31 in overtime and were eliminated from the playoffs for the 17th consecutive year. The defeat dropped coach record to 15-16 and fueled speculation that he will not be back for a third season. “Whatever happens, happens,” Ryan said after ensuring his sixth consecutive non-winning season as a head coach, dating to his days with the New York Jets. QB played his best game in two years as a starter, throwing for 329 yards and three touchdowns and rushing for 60 yards. He put the Bills in position to win the game with a 7-yard scoring toss to TE
with 1:20 remaining in regulation. Clay finished with eight catches for 85 yards, while WR had seven catches for 154 yards.
Before Saturday’s game, DE addressed the team, imploring his teammates to play for coach who had been hospitalized two days earlier because of kidney and gall stones. But Wilkerson’s words didn’t seem to resonate, and the Jets were clobbered by the New England Patriots 41-3. After the loss, the Jets’ sixth in seven games, several players pointed fingers. “Guys weren’t ready to play,” DT said. “We didn’t really play with a lot of passion, a lot of enthusiasm. It seemed like we were out there going through the motions.” Starting QB
was knocked out of the game with a shoulder injury after going 0-for-3 with an Rex Ryan, 15-16 in two seasons as Bills coach, could be out of a job after Week 17.
interception and two sacks. QB
didn’t fare much better (8-for-21, 136 yards, two interceptions).
Watkins, who has been battling a foot injury all season, had a breakout game vs. Miami, accumulating more yards vs. the Dolphins than he had in his previous three games combined. He has had success in the past against Revis, who has suffered through
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
his worst season and probably will be playing his last game as a Jet.
With another solid performance, he can strengthen his case that he deserves the $30 million guaranteed contract extension he’ll be due if he’s still on the roster in March. His hookups with Watkins and Clay, plus the fourth-quarter comeback drive he engineered vs. Miami, are big pluses, but he still needs to finish on a high note.
The combined passer rating by Petty and Fitzpatrick in the loss to the Patriots.
KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Hands of Clay: It took awhile, but Clay finally is becoming a factor. He has caught 18 passes for 209 yards and four touchdowns in his last three games. Two of those scores came in the second half Saturday.
Sixth-year RB has filled in admirably for injured RB In his last three games, Powell has averaged 138.3 yards from scrimmage and scored two touchdowns. Given the Jets’ quarterback problems and the Bills’ vulnerability against the run, relying on Powell might be a wise strategy.
Bills’ Pro Bowl running back, has scored 14 touchdowns (13 rushing, one receiving) and racked up 1,607 yards from scrimmage, the most by a Buffalo runner since C.J. Spiller’s 1,703 in 2012. McCoy also has seven 100-yard rushing games this season.
Scott Pitoniak the