The New York Jets don't need another reminder of how difficult the Buffalo Bills have been to beat.
Buffalo has dominated this rivalry in recent years and enters Week 10 with a 7-1 record. New York (2-7) is trying to find a way out of another losing stretch. The difference between these teams is apparent, but the Jets still have an opportunity to make Sunday's matchup more competitive than the records suggest.
New York showed stretches of encouraging football against the Kansas City Chiefs, particularly before halftime. The problem has been turning those moments into a complete performance.
The Jets have struggled to finish drives, protect quarterback Geno Smith, and maintain their level of play when opponents make adjustments. Those issues become
even more difficult to overcome against a Buffalo team that can punish mistakes.
If head coach Aaron Glenn's squad wants to pull off the home upset at MetLife Stadium, it will need to execute in several areas.
With that, here are Jets Wire's five keys to the Jets' success against the Bills in Week 10.
Jets can't let James Cook run wild
James Cook III is coming off a 31-carry, 107-yard performance against the Minnesota Vikings, and Buffalo's rushing attack is averaging 148.4 yards per game. That is a significant challenge for a Jets defense that has struggled to consistently control opposing offenses. New York must win at the line of scrimmage, limit Cook's opportunities to reach the second level and force Josh Allen to carry more of the offensive burden through the air.
The offensive line must give Geno Smith a chance
Smith has thrown for 2,078 yards and 12 touchdowns with three interceptions, but he has also been sacked 28 times. The protection problems have put the quarterback under too much pressure and made it difficult for the offense to find consistency. The Jets cannot afford another afternoon in which Smith spends more time avoiding defenders than working through his progressions. Better communication and cleaner protection are essential against Buffalo.
The Jets must put four quarters together
The Jets have shown they can compete in stretches, but they have not sustained that level of play long enough. Against Kansas City, they outgained the Chiefs and controlled time of possession during the first half before allowing 21 unanswered points after the break. That kind of collapse cannot happen against Buffalo, which controlled the ball for more than 42 minutes in its Monday night victory over Minnesota. New York needs to maintain its urgency and execution after halftime instead of allowing the game to get away.
Take advantage of Buffalo's vulnerable pass defense
The Bills have allowed 254.7 passing yards per game, allowing Smith to attack through the air if the Jets can keep him upright. New York has seen the quarterback produce multiple strong passing performances recently, including two games with at least 285 passing yards. The Jets need to create favorable matchups, get the ball out on time, and make Buffalo pay if its secondary gives them opportunities.
The Jets have to finish drives in the red zone
This has been a recurring problem for New York, and it could decide whether the Jets have any chance of keeping pace with Buffalo. The offense ranks 31st in red-zone conversion rate at 40.7%, a figure that reflects its inability to turn promising possessions into touchdowns.
Field goals are unlikely to be enough against a Buffalo offense capable of scoring in a hurry. The Jets must turn their trips inside the 20 into seven points, because moving the ball between the 20-yard lines means very little if the drive ends without a touchdown.
This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: 5 keys to a Jets win against the Bills in Week 10
