Will the Buffalo Bills bounce back after an embarrassing 9-6 loss to a Jacksonville Jaguars team that hadn't won a game on American soil in 14 months? Nearly our entire panel believes so, as they're backing the Bills to cover an 11.5-point spread against the inferior but feisty New York Jets on the road Sunday afternoon.
"This is admittedly a beefy spread," Davenport said, "especially after the Bills just scored all of six points in a stunning loss to the Jaguars. But Buffalo has to be seething after that setback last week, and while the Jets have shown some fight of late, they also fell by 15 last time out against the Colts. The Bills are playing as well defensively as any team in the league, and the Buffalo offense should get back on track against the NFL's 32nd-ranked defense. Buffalo rolls by 20-plus points and covers."
Predictions
Davenport: Buffalo
Gagnon: Buffalo
Kenyon: Buffalo
O'Donnell: Buffalo
Rogers: New York
Sobleski: Buffalo
Score Prediction: Bills 31, Jets 14
MDS's take: Whoever is starting at quarterback, the Bills' defense is going to give him a tough day.
MDS's pick: Bills 24, Jets 13.
Florio's take: The Jets are about to get sucked into a supersonic engine.
Florio's pick: Bills 41, Jets 21.
The Colts' and Patriots' powerful offensive lines were able to expose Robert Saleh's overaggressive run defense in a way the Bills aren't built for. If the Dolphins' and Jaguars' defenses can compete against the Bills, why not Saleh's group? I'm still not convinced New York can score enough to pull off the upset. Facing the Bills' defense could be the toughest test for a young quarterback to pass, and it's telling the Jets seem to believe more in Mike White's ability to achieve that feat than they do in Zach Wilson's. I'm starting to believe in White, too, at least enough to keep this game competitive.
Score prediction: Bills 27-17
The Bills were awful last week in losing to the Jaguars, but they get the perfect tonic for their issues in the Jets. Buffalo's offense has been inept the past few games. That has to change. It will here. The Bills will finally have an offensive explosion and the defense will play well again.
Pick: Bills 33, Jets 13
