New York Jets: What you need to know for Buffalo 9/8

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Le’Veon Bell, New York Jets. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) /

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In a bit of a cut-down day surprise, Buffalo parted ways with their top running back from last season, LeSean McCoy. They will still try to run the ball, but this year they will go with 36-year-old Frank Gore and rookie, third-round pick, Devin Singletary. The way both of them run, hard and low to the ground make both ball carriers hard to carry.

Although second-year quarterback Josh Allen has a Howitzer attached to his right shoulder, he doesn’t have much talent to throw to. Wideouts Zay Jones and offseason free-agent acquisition John Brown aren’t going to scare the Jets defense. Buffalo’s other free agent signing, slot receiver Cole Beasley is almost impossible to cover, but he isn’t a downfield threat.

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All-Pro defensive tackle Kyle Williams retired after last season. Buffalo replaced him with 2017 Outland Trophy winner, given to the best interior lineman in NCAA football, Ed Oliver who they selected with the eighth overall pick in the 2019 draft. DE Shaq Lawson, MLB Tremaine Edmunds, and S Tre’Davious White lead a very stingy defense.

The New York Jets did all they could to surround and protect prized QB Sam Darnold with quality. Additionally, new head coach Adam Gase has a good reputation of working with quarterbacks. Free-agent running back Le’Veon Bell is going to be a game-changer for this offense. His talent opens a variety of options for new offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains.

Gang Green also has an ideal combination at receiver. Deep threat Robby Anderson and new slot receiver Jamison Crowder will give Buffalo’s secondary fits. What will really drive the defense crazy is Bell catching the ball out of the backfield after the receivers clear out an area.

Predicting the Jets 2019 win total - EWB roundtable. dark. Next

Sunday’s game comes down to matchups. Its strength versus strength and weakness versus weakness. The Jets strengths are better than Buffalo’s strength, and the Bills don’t have the horses to exploit Gang Green’s weaknesses

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