The last time the Jets faced the Buffalo Bills, they lost 35-8 despite the fact that the Bills were resting all of their starters. New York has a stronger team right now than they had at the end of last year, but there’s still a big gulf between them and the 7-1 Bills.
On Sunday, the Jets will be heavy underdogs as the Bills seek to continue setting the pace in the race for the AFC’s number one seed.
Let’s break down the Bills’ roster going position by position:
Quarterbacks
With Josh Allen once again
leading the way, the Bills have the league’s number one offense in terms of points and yardage.
Allen has been solid, but his numbers are not as impressive as in some of his previous seasons. He hasn’t thrown for 300 yards since the opener and his quarterback rating is below 100.
He’s also thrown six interceptions in the past six games, which is uncharacteristic for a player who had just 16 interceptions in his past 43 regular season and playoff games prior to this. He does have a career-best (and league-leading) yards per attempt average of 8.6 though.
The backup is veteran Kyle Allen, who is 7-12 as a starter in his career.
Offensive Line
The only change on the offensive line this year for the Bills is that Alec Anderson has replaced David Edwards at left guard. The other four starters remain from a group that all started at least 15 regular or postseason games last year. The versatile Anderson had also played over 200 snaps off the bench.
The other four starters include five-time pro bowler Dion Dawkins at left tackle and 2024 pro bowler Connor McGovern at center. On the right side, tackle Spencer Brown and guard O’Cyrus Torrence round out the starting group.
The Bills have been banged up on the line, though. Dawkins and Anderson missed their last game against the Vikings on Monday night football, Brown missed practice on Thursday and McGovern was also limited in practice. Spencer has been listed as doubtful, but the other four starters are due to play.
On the bench, the Bills have Tyler Grable, who has started a game at each tackle position this year and veteran Austin Corbett who started in place of Anderson on Sunday. The backup center is Lloyd Cushenberry and they also have two rookies – fourth rounder Jude Bowry and seventh rounder Ar’maj Reed-Adams.
Running Backs
The Bills have the number two running game in the NFL, led by James Cook, who is averaging over 100 rushing yards per game. Cook has also rushed for eight touchdowns, although that’s actually one less than Allen.
Backup Ray Davis hasn’t featured much but should be confident having had a monster game against the Jets in January.
The third down back is still ex-Jet Ty Johnson who has really found himself a home with the Bills. Johnson has 17 receptions off the bench.
Pass catchers
The Bills’ biggest star at wide receiver is DJ Moore, but he’s been slowed by injuries since posting a 100-yard game in the season opener. Instead, they’ve been led by Khalil Shakir, who has 31 catches. Keon Coleman has also contributed with 23 receptions and a team-high three touchdown catches.
Tight end Dalton Kincaid leads the Bills in receiving yards with 429 as Dawson Knox, a 2022 pro bowler, continues to play second fiddle.
The other backups at wide receiver – fourth round rookie Skyler Bell and ex-Jets return specialist Greg Dortch – have yet to register a catch.
Reserve tight ends Jackson Hawes and Keleki Latu have just three catches between them, but Latu’s only reception was a 25-yard touchdown.
Defensive Line
New defensive coordinator and ex-Jets safety Jim Leonhard has switched the Bills’ defense to a 3-4 system this year and they’re in the middle of the pack overall but actually strong against the run and weak against the pass, statistically.
The massive Deone Walker has arguably been the biggest beneficiary of the scheme change on the interior, continuing to emerge as a disruptive pass rusher in addition to the space he takes up against the run. He’s also batted down five passes at the line.
The other two starters are Ed Oliver and TJ Sanders, although they’ve missed seven games between them so backups Greg Gaines, DeWayne Carter and Landon Jackson have all also seen extensive playing time.
Oliver has been productive when he has played, with 10 quarterback hits in just five games.
Linebackers
Whether it was due to the scheme change or because he was just due to break out anyway, 2026 has been the year that Gregory Rousseau has taken his game to a new level coming off the edge.
Rousseau, who led the team with seven sacks last year, already has eight sacks in eight games to tie his career high. In addition, he has eight passes defensed which more than doubles the most he has ever had in a season.
Otherwise, Buffalo doesn’t have anyone with two sacks, although the other starting edge, Bradley Chubb, has 1.5 sacks and eight quarterback hits.
The starters inside are Dorian Williams and Terrel Bernard. Bernard plays a full-time role and leads the team with 57 tackles but Williams has two interceptions to lead the team. Fourth round rookie Kaleb Elarms-Orr has also seen action in coverage situations.
Veteran Michael Hoecht and second round rookie TJ Parker are the main backups on the edge, with Javon Solomon and Mike Danna having not played much.
Joe Andresseen has only played on special teams so far, but is the number four inside linebacker.
Defensive Backs
The Bills’ number one cornerback is Christian Benford but the other starter has been a surprise package. Second round rookie Davison Igbinosun currently leads the team with nine pass breakups.
In the slot, the Bills let longtime slot cornerback Taron Johnson go during the offseason and replaced him with another experienced player in Dee Alford.
Last year’s first round pick Maxwell Hairston has still received plenty of playing time on the outside but is behind the rookie right now. He may need to step up this week because Benford is listed as questionable with a wrist injury despite practicing full on Friday.
The starting safeties are Damar Hamlin and Cole Bishop. CJ Gardner-Johnson had been starting but was released after getting suspended following a controversial spitting incident.
Sam Franklin and fifth round rookie Jalon Kilgore are available as cover at safety, as is Amani Hooker, who was just acquired via trade. Te’Cory Couch is also on the roster as cornerback cover.
Special Teams
After missing the entire 2025 season due to injury, Tyler Bass is having a stellar 2026 season as he has made all 19 of his field goal attempts, including a game-winner against the Rams. He has missed two extra points though.
Their punter is a rookie, seventh rounder Tommy Doman. So far, his numbers are underwhelming but he hasn’t allowed much in the way of return yardage.
Davis, who was an all-pro kick returner a few years ago, splits kickoff return duties with Dortch, who is also the main punt returner. Davis had a 70-yarder and Dortch had a 58-yarder so far on kickoffs.
Alford and Shakir are also options on punts and Johnson is the third-stringer on kickoffs.
Andreessen, Franklin and Hoecht have been Buffalo’s most productive players in kick coverage. Andreessen was second in the league with 23 special teams tackles last season. Franklin is their primary punt gunner, although he has been listed as questionable with a shoulder issue.
