Buffalo Bills

New York Jets vs. Buffalo Bills: 5 Matchups To Watch

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 7:24 p.m. ET

foxsports

New York Jets vs. Buffalo Bills: 5 Matchups to Watch on Thursday Night Football

Nov 12, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) gives the play to the offense in the second half at MetLife Stadium. The Bills defeated the Jets 22-17 Mandatory Credit: William Hauser-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Jets will be looking to get their first win of the season Thursday night when they face off with the Buffalo Bills. Facing off with a division rival always brings a little extra motivation, but when a former head coach is on the other sidelines it reaches another level of competitive.

The Jets will be facing off with former head coach Rex Ryan and try to exorcise their demons. Ryan and the Bills were the Jets’ worst nightmare last season, as they swept the Jets. The last loss was especially difficult to handle, as it kept the Jets out of the postseason.

The Jets have had no success recently against the Bills, struggling mightily over the past three seasons. The Jets have lost five in a row against the Bills, and six of the last seven. Before that, they had ripped off six consecutive victories and wins in eight of nine.

The Jets will be looking to end that losing streak and get into the win column for the first time in 2016 at New Era Field. It will not be an easy task, as they will be on short rest after a grueling game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1. Also, the Bills have had their number in recent seasons.

The Jets had a chance to put the Bengals away early but were unable to capitalize. They will look to clean those things up this week, and will need to if they want to pick up a victory. There will be a number of things to watch for between the Jets and Bills. Here are five matchups to keep an eye on when the AFC East rivals kickoff Thursday night.

Nov 12, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Sammy Watkins (14) misses a pass defended by New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis (24) in the 1st quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Hauser-USA TODAY Sports

Sammy Watkins vs. Darrelle Revis

In Week 1 the Jets used Revis as you would expect; he shadowed A.J. Green throughout the game. The results were disastrous for the Jets, as Revis was continually burned by Green. When throwing at Revis, Andy Dalton went 10-for-10 for over 150 yards and a touchdown.

Now Revis will have his plate full again against Watkins. Watkins is hampered by a foot injury that is causing him pain. There is some talk that he will have to miss time, but Watkins has said that he would play this week despite not yet practicing.

Even if he is hampered, he is someone the Jets will have to pay attention to. Watkins had his way with the Jets in the final game of 2015, pulling down 11 reception on 15 targets for 136 yards. If he does that against the Jets Thursday, the Bills will be in good position to pick up a victory.

Revis is not the player that he once was, but he is still being counted on in a big way by the Jets. He will have to contain Watkins better than he did Green or else it could be a long night for the Jets secondary even if Watkins is hampered.

Nov 12, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson (96) lines up against Buffalo Bills tight end Matthew Mulligan (82) in the 1st quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Hauser-USA TODAY Sports

Bills’ Offensive Line vs. Jets’ Defensive Line

What the Jets’ defensive line did to the Bengals’ offensive line was very impressive. They manhandled them in the trenches, as the Bengals were unable to get anything going on the ground, as the Jets held them to 57 yards on 19 carries.

They generated, even more, pressure on Dalton, as the Jets racked up seven sacks, resulting in 42 yards lost. They finished the game with 10 quarterback hits, as Muhammad Wilkerson, Leonard Williams, and Steve McLendon lived in the Bengals’ backfield.

Now, the Jets will be getting back yet another difference maker on the defensive line. Sheldon Richardson served his one-game suspension and is ready to return to the field for an important game against the Bills. This will give the Bills brutes up front a lot to handle.

The Bills’ offensive line was unable to get much going against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1, and will have their hands full against the Jets. If they are unable to protect Tyrod Taylor or open holes for LeSean McCoy, it will be difficult to produce anything offensively against a strong Jets defense. In the trenches are where games are won and lost, and the matchup between the Bills’ offensive line and Jets’ defensive line will be worth keeping an eye on.

Nov 12, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall (15) runs in for a touch down in front of Buffalo Bills cornerback Stephon Gilmore (24) in the 2nd half at MetLife Stadium.The Bills defeated the Jets 22-17 Mandatory Credit: William Hauser-USA TODAY Sports

Brandon Marshall vs. Stephon Gilmore

There were a lot of things that the Jets need to clean up from Week 1 to get a win in Week 2. One of them is the play of top wide receiver Brandon Marshall. Marshall is supremely confident in himself, going as far as challenging Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown to a bet involving their cars in the offseason.

Through one week, Marshall’s mouth wrote a check that he couldn’t check as he came up woefully short against the Bengals. He committed a ticky-tack offensive pass interference call to stall a drive and then committed a brutal drop on the final drive of the game as the Jets tried to mount a comeback. The Jets will need Marshall to get back on track if they want to defeat the Bills.

It will not be easy, as Marshall will probably find Stephen Gilmore lined up against him most of the night. Gilmore is regarded as one of the top cornerbacks in the league and showed Marshall why last season. Marshall caught only 3-of-10 targets for one touchdown last season against Gilmore.

Without Gilmore in the lineup, Marshall exploded for eight receptions for 126 yards and a touchdown in the season finale. It was not enough to get the Jets a victory, but this is a matchup to watch when the Jets are on offense. Things run smoother when Marshall is on top of his game; will he be able to do that against Gilmore?

Jan 3, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor (5) runs with the ball as New York Jets linebacker Erin Henderson (58) pursues during the second half at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Bills beat the Jets 22-17. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

Tyrod Taylor vs. Jets’ Linebackers

The Jets run defense was stellar against the Bengals. They continually stuffed Giovanni Bernard and Jeremy Hill. The Jets will have their hands full with McCoy, but the real problem for them could be quarterback Tyrod Taylor.

Taylor is a true dual-threat quarterback, as he is arguably more dangerous with his legs than he is with his arm. He is extremely athletic and tough to keep up with; he averaged 5.5 yards per carry last season, his first time in a full-time starting gig. The Jets’ experienced that first hand, as Taylor ran 10 times for 51 yards and a touchdown in the decisive final game of 2015.

The Jets will have to contain him this time around if they want to defeat the Bills, and that job will come down to their linebackers. It is a game of chicken between quarterbacks and linebackers, as each is trying to get the upper hand over their opposition. It will be up to them to slow down the elusive Taylor.

One of the Jets goals this offseason was to get younger and more athletic at linebacker, and this is one of the reasons why. This should be a game that rookie linebacker Darron Lee has a chance to shine in, as the Jets will need all the speed they can get on the field.

Watch for the Jets to keep a spy on Taylor throughout the game as they will look to contain his scrambles and limit his rushing yards.

Jan 3, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Marcell Dareus (99) tries to knock down a pass by New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) during the second half at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Bills beat the Jets 22 to 17. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

Ryan Fitzpatrick vs. Bills’ Secondary

This could be the deciding factor in the game, as quarterback play is as important as anything in the NFL. The Jets have learned this the hard way, as Fitzpatrick has put up some gaudy stats but comes up short when they need him most.

Last season against the Bills was one of those instances. Fitzpatrick crumbled in the final game of the season, completing only 18-of-37 for 181 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions. He completed only three passes to anyone not named Brandon Marshall or Eric Decker, as he was inaccurate all game.

Fitzpatrick struggled mightily against the Bills last season, completing only 43.6 percent of his passes. He threw five interceptions, as he never got things going against the Bills. If the Jets are to make the postseason this year, they will need Fitzpatrick to play better against borderline playoff teams, such as the Bills.

It will not be an easy task, though. If there is anything that a Rex Ryan led team does well it is play defense. While the Bills fell short of expectations last season, their defense can still get the job done. It was not their fault that the Bills are 0-1 to start the season, as they made life difficult on Joe Flacco and the Ravens offense.

Fitzpatrick will have to find a way to produce Thursday against the Bills if the Jets want to win the game. He should take some notes from Taylor on ball security, as the had zero turnovers in two games and got two victories.