AFC East Leading Jets Aim to Rebound Against Bills

Brett Favre NY Jets Quarterback NFL 2008 Week 15 Buffalo Bills (6-7) at New York Jets (8-5) | NFL 2008 Week 15 Analysis, Preview & Prediction

After defining moment victories on the road against the Patriots & Titans, the Jets have fallen to lesser opponents over the past two weeks.

First losing to the Broncos at home (34-17) and then losing to the 49ers (24-14) in San Francisco, the Jets now find themselves in a dogfight for the AFC East title.

As such, the Jets currently share the same record with the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots atop the AFC East heading into the final 3 weeks of the NFL 2008 season.

This week, the Jets host AFC East rival Buffalo Bills (6-7).

After a promising 5-1 start to the NFL 2008 season, the Bills have imploded losing 6 of their 7 last games. Last week, the Bills lost to the Dolphins in the first regular season game of the Bills Toronto Series, 16-3.

Buffalo Bills (6-7) at New York Jets (8-5)

Given the Jets circumstances over the past two weeks and the tight race in the AFC East, the Jets find themselves in a must-win situation with only three games left in the regular season.

For the Jets, the goal is easy. Win their three remaining games (Bills, at Seahawks, Dolphins) in the regular season and the Jets win the AFC East. A loss to the Buffalo Bills would all but eliminate the Jets playoff hopes this season. A loss to the Bills would deal such a psychological blow from which the Jets may not be able to recover from.

Bill - Jets Series

The Buffalo Bills and New York Jets meet for the 96th time in regular season play. The Bills lead the series with an overall record of 52-43. The Bills have won three of the last four games of the series, including the last two meetings between Buffalo and New York at the Meadowlands.

Last year in New York, the Bills grabbed a 13-3 victory, led by WR Lee Evans 138 yards receiving. Evans also recorded the game's only touchdown on an 85-yard pass from QB J.P. Losman with 3:38 to go in the game.

The Buffalo Bills drew to within a touchdown of the New York Jets early in the fourth quarter, but could not get over the hump, as they lost 26-17 at home.

Buffalo QB Trent Edwards threw for a career-high 289 yards in the loss, with one touchdown and two interceptions. After the Jets scored a field goal just 1:47 into the game, Edwards led the Bills on a 57-yard touchdown drive that ended with a nine-yard pass to rookie TE Derek Fine, who was wide open in the end zone. The reception was the first of Fine's career, and he ended the day with four catches for 43 yards.

After allowing the Buffalo touchdown, the Jets scored the contest's next 13 points to go ahead 16-7. Buffalo K Rian Lindell drew the Bills back within six when he hit a 53-yard field goal near the end of the third quarter, which was his longest of the year and just one yard shy of his career-long.

After the Jets scored to take a 23-10 lead, cornerback Jabari Greer intercepted Brett Favre for 42-yard interception return touchdown. On the play, Favre threw short left, intended for WR Jericho Cotchery, and Greer cut in front, snagged the ball, and sprinted down the Jets sideline for the score.

New York responded with a methodical 14-play, 65-yard drive that took 8:41 off of the clock. Jets K Jay Feely converted a 31-yard field goal to put the Jets up by two scores with 2:12 to go in the game. A last gasp drive by the Bills ended in an Edwards interception in the end zone.

NFL 2008 Week 14: San Francisco 49ers 24, New York Jets 14

49ers QB Shaun Hill passed for 285 yards and threw two touchdown passes to lead San Francisco to a 24-14 victory over the New York Jets.

The 49ers defense held the Jets to 10 first downs and 182 total yards, while the 49ers offense controlled the ball for 39:49 compared to the Jets 20:11.

QB Brett Favre had only 137 yards passing with no touchdowns and one interception.

The 49ers set the tone early for how they planned on playing the game when they won the coin toss and attempted an onsides kick to open the game. Even though the bold move failed, the 49ers defense held the Jets on three plays.

Also, two times the 49ers elected to go for the first down on a fourth-down play.

San Francisco converted one in the second quarter on a run by RB Frank Gore, and then in the third quarter when they forced the Jets to jump on a hard count by Hill. PK Joe Nedney nailed a 32-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter to break a 14-14 tie and then with 6:05 left in regulation WR Bryant Johnson made a diving reception in the end zone on a three-yard pass from Hill to put the 49ers in front, 24-14.

The 49ers first scoring drive came about when T Joe Staley recovered a fumble following a WR Jason Hill reception in the end zone.

Favre scored on a two-yard run in the second quarter to tie the game at 7-7.

The 49ers responded on the next drive when Hill converted three third-downs and a fourth-down before connecting with Gore on a two-yard touchdown pass on third-and-seven to give the 49ers a 14-7 lead with 39 seconds to play in the fi rst half. The Jets tied the game at 14-14 in the third quarter after taking advantage of a Hill interception that allowed the Jets to begin a drive at the San Francisco 45-yard line.

It took the Jets just three plays to reach the end zone when RB Thomas Jones scored on a 17-yard run. The 49ers responded on the next series with a 12-play drive that ended with a Nedney field goal to give the 49ers a 17-14 lead early in the 4th quarter.

NFL 2008 Week 14: Miami Dolphins 16, Buffalo Bills 3

The Buffalo Bills came away from the first-ever NFL game played in Canada with only three points and yet another loss.

For the second consecutive week, the Bills offense could only muster a single field goal as the Bills lost to the Miami Dolphins 16-3. For the Bills, it was their second straight loss to the Dolphins, and their fourth loss this year to an AFC East rival.

The Dolphins scored first with a 20-yard touchdown pass from QB Chad Pennington to TE Anthony Fasano midway through the first quarter. However, the Bills responded on their very next possession with a nine-play, 40-yard drive that ended with a 40-yard Rian Lindell field goal.

In the first half, the Dolphins held a near 2-to-1 edge in time of possession and a 13-3 edge on the scoreboard.

The Bills had their best shot at a TD near the end of the third quarter, when QB J.P. Losman drove the Bills to the Miami three yard line.

Losman lofted a fade pass into the end zone intended for WR Lee Evans. The ball was intercepted by Dolphins CB Will Allen. The Dolphins would add another field goal for the eventual 16-3 victory.

That would be all for the Buffalo offense, as their three fourth quarter possessions ended with a punt, a turnover on downs, and a fumble.

Jet's Jones Tabbed as AFC's Offensive Player of the Month for November

Jets running back Thomas Jones was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Month for November.

Jones finished the month leading the AFC in rushing yards (556) and rushing touchdowns (7) as the Jets posted a 4-1 record in November, including three road wins at Buffalo, New England and Tennessee.

Thomas Jones averaged 111.2 rush yards per game in November and posted three 100-yard games (149, 104, 138) during the month. Against the Cardinals (11/9/2008), Jones scored a career high three rushing touchdowns and totaled his best rushing total of the month with 149 yards. Jones closed out the month against the Broncos (11/30/2008) gaining 138 rushing yards and reached the 1,000-yard mark for the fourth consecutive season (second with Jets).

Jones also added 13 receptions for 95 receiving yards (7.3 average) with one touchdown in November.

This is Thomas Jones' first career Player of the Month Award. He is the first Jets player to win Offensive Player of the Month since Laveranues Coles (September, 2006) and the first Jets running back to win the award since Curtis Martin (September 2000).

Thomas Jones leads the AFC in rushing with 1,144 yards so far this NFL 2008 season with a career-high 14 touchdowns (12 on the ground), both tying Jets season records. The Jets are 7-2 this season when Jones scores a touchdown and he has scored in seven consecutive games, tying a Jets franchise record.

Jones is the 49th running back to surpass 7,000 career rushing yards (7,647).

BUFFALO BILLS (6-7)

  • - Bills QB TRENT EDWARDS leads the AFC with 108.6 passer rating in 4th quarter. THe Bills are 9-1 (.900) when Edwards has 80 or more passer rating. For his career vs. New York Jets., QB J.P. LOSMAN has completed 35 of 58 passes (60.3 pct.) for 598 yards with 4 TDs vs. 1 INT & 111.1 passer rating
  • - RB MARSHAWN LYNCH is averaging 90.8 rush yards per game in past 4. Lynch (875) needs 125 yards to reach 1,000 for 2nd consecutive season (1,115 in 2007)
  • - WR LEE EVANS (913) needs 87 receiving yards to reach 1,000 for 2nd time in career (1,292 in 2006). Evans has receiving in 75 of 77 career games. Evans averages 114.5 receiving yards per game in past 2 at Jets & aims for 3rd consecutive game with TD receiving at New York Jets
  • - TE ROBERT ROYAL has career-high in receiving (29) & receiving yards (308) in 2008
  • - Rookie CB-KR LEODIS MC KELVIN (1st round, No.11) ranks 1st in NFL with 29.4 KR avg
  • - CB TERRENCE MC GEE has 2 INTs in past 3 against New York Jets

NEW YORK JETS (8-5)

  • - The Jets have won 3 of their past 4 at home
  • - In 2008 against AFC East division rivals, QB BRETT FAVRE is 3-1 (.750) & has completed 78 of 109 passes (71.6 pct.) for 834 yards with 5 TDs vs. 2 INTs & 101.2 passer rating. Including postseason, Favre's teams are 97-8 (.924) when he posts 100 or better rating
  • - RB THOMAS JONES leads the AFC in rushing (1,144 rush yards) & is averaging 108.6 rush yards per game over past 4 games (543 total). Jones aims for his 8th consecutive game with a TD. Jones (12) needs 1 rush TD to surpass CURTIS MARTIN (12 in 2004) for most single-season rushing TDs in Jets franchise history. Jones has 14 TDs (12 rush, 2 receiving) & needs 1 TD to set Jets record for most TDs in season (3 other Jets are tied at 14). RB LEON WASHINGTON has 4 TDs in past 4 games (2 rush, 1 receiving, 1 kick return)
  • - WR LAVERANUES COLES (7,865) needs 135 receiving yards to reach 8,000
  • - Rookie TE DUSTIN KELLER (1st round, No. 30) has 21 1st-down receptions over past 5 games
  • - LB CALVIN PACE (5) needs 2 sacks to surpass career-high (6.5 in 2007 with Cardinals)
  • - CB DARRELLE REVIS aims for 3rd consecutive game with INT vs. Bills.

PREDICTION: New York Jets 27 Buffalo Bills 10

The key question for this game and the remainder of the season is who are the real Jets. Were the victories over the Patriots and Titans merely an aberration? Are the real Jets the team that lost to the Broncos and 49ers?

After the Jets victory over the Titans, the New York media and fan base were talking a potential Jets-Giants Super Bowl. Conversations over the air waves and in print even delved into having the Super Bowl moved to the Meadowlands.

Now, Jets fans are wondering if their team will even make the playoffs.

Maybe, a Jets-Giants Super Bowl danced around in the minds of the players. Maybe, the team lost its focus. However, one thing is for sure, the Jets streak in October and especially November was for real. The Jets are a real team that's been in a funk the past two weeks.

If the Jets play to win -- win being the operative word -- the leave the Meadowlands on Sunday with an easy 27-10 victory. Conversely, if the Jets play not to lose, then their season is over.

Expect the Jets to come out of their funk and get back on track for the playoffs.

AFC East Leading Jets Aim to Rebound Against Bills - NFL 2008 Week 15