With the Buffalo Bills visiting the New York Jets this Sunday, Matt Sabuda considers the rivalry that dates back to the original days of the American Football League.
"Jets fans can rank right up there when it comes to getting in your face and letting you know how bad the Bills have been lately," Sabuda says. Of course, the Jets have been bad lately. At 1-6, the Jets have one of the worst records in the NFL.
Sabuda reminds that the Bills and Jets are each other's oldest rivals; they played in their very first games as expansion AFL franchises. For the first several years, the Jets were known as the New York Titans. The Bills fell to the Titans in New York in that first game, but they'd get their historical revenge a few years later when they beat the Jets in the last event ever at the Polo Grounds in upper Manhattan. Dating back to the late 1800's, the stadium was one of the oldest to host modern pro football games.
Overall, the Bills have a winning record all time against the Jets.
Now, the Jets play in MetLife Stadium where the Bills have yet to win. Sabuda believes the Bills could have trouble again Sunday if their offensive line doesn't improve its play. The team is inserting veteran lineman Kraig Urbik into the starting lineup where he'll face the Jets exceptional defensive line.
On the other side, if the line can protect quarterback Kyle Orton, the Bills superb wide receiver corps could exploit a struggling Jets secondary,
Sabuda is also anxious to see how some newcomers can impact the game. The Bills new running back duo of Anthony Dixon and Bryce Brown are being put to their first test following injuries to Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller. For the Jets, new addition Percy Harvin could play a role as a receiver and kick returner.