Buffalo Bills vs New York Jets: prediction, preview, pick to win

KICKOFF: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, MetLife Stadium. TV: CBS, Andrew Catalon, Steve Tasker, Steve Beuerlein.

SERIES HISTORY: 112th regular-season meeting. Bills lead the series, 59-52. The Jets beat Buffalo 37-31 in Week 2, snapping a five-game losing streak against their AFC East foe. Bills offensive coordinator Greg Roman was fired the next day, which was a bad harbinger for Buffalo.

KEYS TO THE GAME:

Both teams had disappointing seasons. The Bills, however, are dealing with more turmoil and an uncertain future with the firing of coach Rex Ryan and defensive coordinator Rob Ryan earlier in the week. Those events could serve as a major distraction.

The Bills have also opted to play backup quarterback EJ Manuel instead of regular starter Tyrod Taylor. As a result, they will use their No. 1 rushing game to pound away at the Jets, even though stopping the run might be the strength of New York's defense. Buffalo running backs LeSean McCoy and Mike Gillislee will get a full workload.

Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick could be playing his final game for the franchise, so he might want to showcase his skills to potential suitors. He has a solid weapon in receiver Brandon Marshall. Fitzpatrick threw for 374 yards in the first meeting.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

--Jets WR Robby Anderson vs. CB Stephon Gilmore and/or CB Ronald Darby: The re-re-re-entrance of QB Ryan Fitzpatrick into the Jets' lineup would seem to open up opportunities for WR Brandon Marshall, but Marshall missed practice Wednesday and is a candidate to sit out a thoroughly meaningless season finale after playing through injuries all season. While Fitzpatrick has not established the rapport with Anderson that QB Bryce Petty enjoyed with the rookie, it makes sense to pair Anderson against an opponent's top corner to see what the Jets can expect out of him as a sophomore.

--Bills interior offensive line vs. Jets defensive tackles. This is an intriguing battle in a game that has no playoff implications. The Bills have the league's top rushing offense and will likely carry the load with quarterback EJ Manuel making his first in a year and a half. LeSean McCoy and Mike Gillislee figure to split the workload -- each has found seams behind a stout offensive line. The Bills' inside blockers -- Ryan Groy, Richie Incognito and John Miller -- have to win against a Jets defense led by Leonard Williams, Sheldon Richardson and Muhammed Wilkerson.

FRIDAY INJURY REPORT

BUFFALO BILLS

--Out: CB Stephon Gilmore (concussion), T Cordy Glenn (back)

--Questionable: LB Preston Brown (foot), LB Zach Brown (illness), TE Charles Clay (knee), G John Miller (hip), WR Sammy Watkins (foot), DT Kyle Williams (back)

NEW YORK JETS

--Out: RB Matt Forte (knee), LB Lorenzo Mauldin (ankle), DT Steve McLendon (hamstring), TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins (hamstring)

--Doubtful: CB Nick Marshall (hamstring)

--Questionable: WR Robby Anderson (hamstring), CB Juston Burris (knee), WR Brandon Marshall (hip, shoulder), RB Bilal Powell (knee), DT Sheldon Richardson (back), RB Brandon Wilds (hamstring), DE Muhammad Wilkerson (ankle, knee)

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT:

Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. The 12-year veteran could be looking for a new home in the offseason as the Jets retool their roster once again. Fitzpatrick has already been benched twice this season, only to reemerge as the starter. The latest opportunity arrived because of a season-ending shoulder injury to Bryce Petty. The decision to start Fitzpatrick has rankled the fan base, which has been clamoring for rookie Christian Hackenberg to take over the starting role. Fitzpatrick has thrown for 2,500 yards, with 10 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. In last year's finale against Buffalo, Fitzgerald had three interceptions in the fourth quarter as the Jets fell out of the playoff race.

FAST FACTS:

-- Bills QB Tyrod Taylor is one of six quarterbacks in NFL history to have 3,000 passing yards and 500 rushing yards in consecutive seasons.

-- Bills QB EJ Manuel passed for 245 yards and two touchdowns in his last start against the Jets, on Nov. 17, 2013.

-- Bills RB LeSean McCoy has 13 rushing touchdowns, tied for second most in a season in franchise history.

-- Bills WR Sammy Watkins had 154 receiving yards and a touchdown reception last week.

-- Bills TE Charles Clay is one of five NFL tight ends with 50 receptions and three touchdown catches in each of past four seasons.

-- Bills LB Lorenzo Alexander has 11.5 sacks, tied for fourth in the NFL.

-- Bills CB Stephon Gilmore has five interceptions, tied for second in the league.

-- Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick passed for 374 yards with a touchdown and had a 116.5 rating in the last meeting.

-- Jets RB Matt Forte is one of two active players in the NFL, along with Frank Gore, with at least nine consecutive seasons with 1,000 yards from scrimmage.

-- Jets RB Bilal Powell has 973 scrimmage yards (600 rushing). He needs 27 yards to join Forte as the only running back duo with 1,000 scrimmage yards each in franchise history.

-- Since entering the NFL in 2006, Jets WR Brandon Marshall ranks second in NFL with 941 receptions and 12,061 receiving yards.

PREDICTION:

Many of the Bills' players are not happy with the firing of coach Rex Ryan or the decision to bench quarterback Tyrod Taylor. That animosity could carry over to the field and help the Jets, who will also face an offseason full of uncertainty.

OUR PICK: Jets, 20-13.

--Todd Karpovich