New York Jets: Three keys to victory against the Buffalo Bills

Stretch the Defense Early

The last slide not withstanding, the Jets are going to have to go long a couple of times early in the game. I understand that could be interpreted in conflict with the last slide, but the truth is that they go hand in hand. Again, the film on the Jets is clear.  They are not going to be doing an intense vertical attack. They are going to play a ball control game, using short to medium passes and the running game. That is what the “West Coast” offense is; using the field horizontally as well as vertically.

That being said, this will cause the Bills to play close to the line of scrimmage. Based on the tape that is exactly what they should be doing. Granted it won’t be Christian Hackenberg under center, the guy who NEVER took a shot, and when he did it wasn’t close to accurate. Josh McCown did take a couple, especially the one in the game against the Titans, connecting with Robby Anderson. But that one piece of film will not keep Buffalo from crowding the box with eight or even nine guys.

McCown is going to have to send his guys long at least once early in the game. Even if it doesn’t connect for a long gain it does its job. It plants the idea in the head of the defense. If the deep pass is an option on the table they must account for it. If they are concerned about getting beaten over the top, they won’t crowd the line and that will leave John Morton and the Jets offense options to work with. Stretching the defense is very important.