NFL betting tips: Free betting tips and odds for Thursday night as Buffalo travel to the New York Jets
Buffalo are fancied to cover the spread for their testing trip to the New York Jets in the NFL on Thursday night.
Buffalo at New York Jets (Friday, 0025GMT Sky Sports Main Event)
It is about this time of the season that New England usually exert a stranglehold on the AFC East but two of their rivals remain within hailing distance and at least have some sort of chance of making things interesting.
Any repeat of Miami’s horror show from last Thursday night in Baltimore might leave Buffalo as the only team in hot pursuit of the Patriots, although a tricky trip to the Jets is up next in front of the TV cameras.
The Bills have become serious non-participants when it comes to the post-season with little hope from those outside Orchard Park during the off-season of a drought that stretches back to 1999 coming to an end this year.
Wide receiver Sammy Watkins plus corners Ronald Darby and Stephon Gilmore all went elsewhere in search of success to leave a team seriously short on playmakers outside of stud running back LeSean McCoy.
Question marks remained over quarterback Tyrod Taylor while rookie head coach Sean McDermott was hurled in at the deep end too as another transitional spell looked on the agenda.
However, a rag-tag collection have thrived under the former Carolina defensive co-ordinator with a 5-2 record that has them on the road to grabbing a wild card berth and perhaps even topple the Patriots with both games against that rival still on the schedule in December.
There is plenty of football until those potentially pivotal clashes and the next month becomes just as much a mental test for Buffalo as a physical or tactical one as they try to build on such a strong start with expectations and scrutiny in this part of upstate New York on the rise.
The Jets (3-5) have already won more games than some people predicted but three defeats on the spin – not heavy ones in all fairness – has them all of a sudden heading in the wrong direction.
They were competitive once more in a 25-20 loss at home to Atlanta last weekend played in utterly filthy conditions as a monsoon swept through New Jersey but lack of serious depth was always going to be a problem over the longer term for head coach Todd Bowles.
Ageing quarterback Josh McCown has done a good job all things considered but that bit of star quality in both the passing and running game when push comes to shove has seen them on the wrong end of the scoreline in some closely-fought recent encounters.
Defensively, the secondary has been decimated by injury and although starting cornerback Morris Claiborne seems positive he will be able to suit up following a foot injury that forced him out at the half against the Falcons, his participation is a big doubt with such limited time for recovery.
Buster Skrine needs to pass the concussion protocol so the trade deadline day arrival of Rashard Robinson from San Francisco could see him required for immediate action.
Buffalo won the opening week encounter against the Jets 20-12 and I fancy them to make it a clean sweep with Taylor, McCoy and perhaps new addition Kelvin Benjamin at wide receiver good enough to put up enough points to cover a spread which stands at just over a field goal.
The Bills defence is extremely stout against the run but less so in terms of passing yards given up, that said, they are aggressive when it comes to forcing turnovers and luring McCown into an error or two should help them keep the pressure up on New England for little longer.
Prediction: Buffalo 22-14 New York Jets
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2pts Buffalo (-3.5) to beat NY Jets at 11/10
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Posted at 1700 GMT on 01/11/17.