When the Jets and Bills hooked up to kick off the season in Week 1, the Jets lost Aaron Rodgers to a torn Achilles tendon four plays into the game.
The Jets — a 2.5-point underdog entering the contest — rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit to stun Buffalo in overtime, 22-16.
Since then, one team has leaned on its defense to get through tough times, while the other has underperformed by all measures.
And now both enter Sunday’s game coming off prime-time losses.
The Jets suffered their second straight defeat in Las Vegas and have scored just one touchdown in their last three games, but with a win on Sunday can improve to 5-5 on the season and remarkably stay in the mix in the AFC East.
The Bills shook things up (again) following their last-second loss on Monday night to Denver.
Sean McDermott fired offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey, nine months after losing his defensive coordinator and trusted confidant, Leslie Frazier.
Quarterback Josh Allen has thrown at least one interception in six straight games and was picked off three times by the Jets in the season opener.
A preseason favorite to win MVP, he now leads the NFL in interceptions with 11.
The Jets have covered the spread in three straight matchups with the Bills, including two outright victories.
Buffalo is currently mired in a six-game losing streak against the spread, while owning a 1-4 ATS mark when laying at least seven points.
Betting on the NFL?
Although the Jets’ offense has struggled, their defense remains the strength of their team.
They have allowed 16 or fewer points in three of the past four games.
Since blowing out Las Vegas, Washington and Miami in consecutive games in September, the Bills have been anything but consistent, with some really bad losses (Patriots, Broncos) and a close-call victory over the Giants.
The Jets should be able to stay close in this one with their defense. Take the Jets and the points.
The play: Jets +7.5
