The New York Jets turn to Mike White for a third-straight start when the Buffalo Bills visit MetLife Stadium in Week 10.
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ—The Mike White Rises. Or, perhaps the White Knight Rises …
However one titles the New York Jets‘ current quarterback story, one thing is for certain: Robert Saleh and this regime really like this Mike White kid.
On Wednesday, Saleh announced the team’s big quarterback decision by tabbing the 2018 fifth-round pick with his third-straight start. Zach Wilson‘s official status is “not yet fully ready to go,” so the unexpected quarterback from Florida will take to the MetLife Stadium turf against one of the best defenses in the NFL.
Is this the end of the line for Mike White’s magic? At least this kid has one more shot to prove it shouldn’t end right now.
Considering he left the Indianapolis Colts game in such a torturous way, Mike White has truly risen. Or, at the very least, he will have risen once the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills get things going this Sunday at 1 p.m. ET from the swamps of Northern New Jersey.
"The Mike White Rises." #Jets vs. Bills, 1 p.m. ET on CBS. pic.twitter.com/VO6Zdu7Ss5
— Jets X-Factor (@jetsxfactor) November 12, 2021
Jets vs. Bills game info
- New York Jets (2-6)
- Buffalo Bills (5-3)
- NFL, Week 10, Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
- MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
Well, nobody can claim the Jets don’t have an opportunity here. The 2-6 Jets welcome in a really good Bills team that hasn’t played their best ball as of late.
Buffalo inexplicably fell to the then-one-win Jacksonville Jaguars, 9-6, last Sunday. How Urban Meyer’s team held the Bills without a touchdown is still somewhat of a mystery.
While Josh Allen did complete 31 of his 47 passes, he threw for a modest 264 yards to go along with two costly interceptions.
It’ll be interesting to see how Jeff Ulbrich plays Allen and Brian Daboll’s unit.
As is usually the tradition as of late, Jets chairman Woody Johnson announced that the Jets will wear their Gotham Green jerseys with white pants in Week 10.
Classic look. pic.twitter.com/TP3yvCRij0
— New York Jets (@nyjets) November 12, 2021
Jets vs. Bills history
- Bills lead the Jets all-time series, 65-56
The Bills have won the last two meetings and 11 of the last 17—not exactly great stuff if you’re a Jets fan.
Buffalo took the last meeting, 18-10, in a late October matchup a year ago. A La’Mical Perine five-yard run accounted for New York’s only touchdown.
Of course, one of the most consequential games of recent Jets memory occurred against the Bills in town. Week 1 of the 2019 season—Adam Gase’s first game as head coach—featured a blown lead, a huge C.J. Mosley injury, and Sam Darnold’s last game prior to coming down with mononucleosis.
The only thing keeping the Jets from a four-game losing streak against the Bills is a Week 17 win in Buffalo in 2019—one that saw Sean McDermott rest many starters.
Jets vs. Bills odds (FanDuel Sportsbook)
- Spread: Jets +13 (-114), Bills -13 (-106)
- Moneyline: Jets +520, Bills -720
- Over/Under: 47.5 (O: -110, U: -110)
There’s no sugarcoating this line: A 13-point spread at home is flat-out disrespectful. Then again, the way the Jets have played doesn’t exactly scream “respect.”
Despite making things somewhat interesting in Indianapolis last Thursday night, the Jets still couldn’t beat the spread.
Again, bet against the Jets in every situation until further notice. The rare reward isn’t worth the obvious risk.
Jets vs. Bills injury report
New York Jets
- Chuma Edoga (Knee): Doubtful
- Zach Wilson (Knee): Doubtful
- Tevin Coleman (Hamstring): Questionable
- Corey Davis (Hip): Questionable
- Shaq Lawson (Hamstring): Questionable
- Alijah Vera-Tucker (Toe): Questionable
Chuma Edoga will most likely miss the game, but veteran Conor McDermott is back after missing the entirety of the season with an injury.
We've activated P Braden Mann and OL Conor McDermott.
We've placed OL Chuma Edoga on IR.
We've elevated TE Kenny Yeboah, FB Nick Bawden, DE Hamilcar Rashed and DE Ronnie Blair.
— New York Jets (@nyjets) November 13, 2021
Punter Braden Mann will also make his long-awaited return.
Obviously, Zach Wilson won’t suit up, as Saleh already announced that veteran Joe Flacco will serve as the No. 2 on Sunday. Additionally, Tevin Coleman, Corey Davis, Shaq Lawson and Alijah Vera-Tucker all enter Sunday as questionable.
To help make up for Tyler Kroft’s IR status, the Jets have elevated undrafted rookie Kenny Yeboah, in addition to defensive ends Hamilcar Rashed and Ronnie Blair.
Buffalo Bills
- Tremaine Edmunds (Hamstring): Out
- Zack Moss (Concussion): Questionable
Buffalo enters the contest relatively healthy, but linebacker Tremaine Edmunds will be missed. If running back Zack Moss misses the game, Devin Singletary will see a bump in his usual workload.
New York Jets’ keys to victory
Allow plenty of room for pre-snap offensive maneuvering
Buffalo might boast the best pass coverage in the entire league. McDermott’s coverages are usually disguised extremely well, which is designed to confuse quarterbacks.
Although Mike White seems to have that pre-snap magic, he’s still extremely inexperienced. Mike LaFleur’s game plan has to revolve around allowing White freedom to maneuver prior to the snap.
Contain Josh Allen in the pocket
Every fantasy football player understands this one thing about the Bills offense: The unit’s best running back is Josh Allen. Allen’s 28 rushing touchdowns in 52 career games is more than most starting running backs.
What makes it so difficult to stop the Wyoming product is that his rushing prowess isn’t just limited to his scrambling abilities; Daboll entrenches his quarterback into the offense’s rushing design.
The Jets, especially when rushing four, have to take a contain-over-relentless pursuit mindset against Allen—especially on the edge.
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Jets vs. Bills prediction
- New York Jets 27, Buffalo Bills 37
I’ll give Mike White and Mike LaFleur the benefit of the doubt this Sunday. The offense is humming, and despite the Bills’ excellent defense, they should be able to put up some points.
However, this Jets’ defense might be the worst in the NFL. Carl Lawson and Vinny Curry are suddenly severely missed, which doesn’t help the young corners and beat-up safety position on the back end.
How New York could possibly stop Allen and this well-oiled machine of an offense remains a mind-boggling mystery.
