The New York Jets will conclude a miserable 2016 campaign on Sunday against the Buffalo Bills. Ironically, the hight point of the Jets season was their week two matchup with Buffalo in which they bested their longtime rival, 37-31. Since then, the season has turned decidedly ugly. The team now sits at 4-11, cellar-dwellers in the AFC East, fresh off a 41-3 loss to the New England Patriots. The Jets get one last shot on Sunday to close out a dismal season on a high note. Here’s what they’ll need to do to earn their fifth victory of the season.
New York Jets Week 17 Keys to Victory
Establish the Run
In just three games since taking over for an injured Matt Forte, Bilal Powell looks like the real deal. It’s no secret that Powell has been vastly underutilized throughout his tenure with the New York Jets. But finally, Powell has been given his chance to shine, and shine he has. The six-year veteran has averaged 96 yards a game on 4.8 yards per carry over his last three games, running behind a makeshift offensive line. Powell’s job is made easier by a Bills team that has ranked dead last against the run over the past four weeks. It’s too early to crown Powell just yet, but if he can manage another big day, the offense should be in good shape.
Prevent Big Plays
To say the Jets secondary has disappointed this season would be an understatement. The embattled unit has allowed a 101.3 passer rating against them, and has gotten shredded by everyone from Matt Moore to Tom Brady. Most troubling has been the inexplicable tendency to allow huge plays. In week two against the Bills, the Jets allowed touchdowns of 88 and 57 yards, respectively. The Jets get one last shot to right the ship before 2016 closes, against backup E.J. Manuel. Buffalo boasts a number of deep weapons, most notably Marquise Goodwin and Sammy Watkins. Furthermore, the game will be another test for rookie Justin Burris, who has played well thus far. For other members of the struggling defensive backfield, the game offers one last shot at redemption before an offseason of roster purging. Look for the secondary to come out motivated, just a week removed from a 41-3 thrashing at the hands of the New England Patriots.
Competent Offensive Line Play
Among the multitude of other problems plaguing the Jets, Todd Bowles’s team has been simply ravaged by injuries. Nowhere is this more evident than on the offensive line, now on its third or fourth combination of players. The line Mike Maccagnan put together over the offseason has played a grand total of zero snaps together. The lone remaining starter on the line is James Carpenter at right guard. All that being said, to expect an outstanding performance from this makeshift offensive line would be audacious. However, for the Jets to win, the line needs to at least play proficiently. Protecting Ryan Fitzpatrick will be essential, as the interception-prone quarterback only fares worse under pressure. Additionally, let’s remember that the Jets are one big hit away from Christian Hackenburg, for better or worse. Most importantly, for the Jets to establish a successful running game, the line needs to create running lanes for Bilal Powell.
Quincy Enunwa
This season, Quincy Enunwa has emerged as a dynamic weapon for the New York Jets offense. Even with an unstable quarterback situation, he has tallied 54 catches for nearly 800 yards this season. There have been games in which he has looked simply dominant. There have also been games, however, where Enunwa has been uninvolved. The Jets need to manufacture touches for the explosive receiver. He torched the Bills in week two, totaling nearly one-hundred yards in the decisive victory. If Enunwa plays his best, he’ll pose quite a challenge to the Bills defensive backfield.
