The time for talking is over. Regardless of who they are playing, the New York Jets need to find a way to keep winning if they want to make the NFL playoffs in the 2015 season. They need to rise above adversity and figure out a way to make it work. They did so in the preseason, having lost starting quarterback Geno Smith to a jaw injury. Backup QB Ryan Fitzpatrick stepped up and led Gang Green to 5 wins at the halfway point of the season. Can he find victory over his former team, the Buffalo Bills, tonight?
As for more recent setbacks, the team lost reliable kicker Nick Folk to a quad injury, and he is out for the season. Gang Green will have to rely on former Houston Texans (like Fitzpatrick) K Randy Bullock for the foreseeable future. Joining Folk on injured reserve is RG Willie Colon, leaving the spot to backup Brian Winters. C Nick Mangold should start tonight, but we'll see how healthy he is, especially on a short week. Meanwhile, S Calvin Pryor is out, and CB Antonio Cromartie has not practiced all week. CB Dee Milliner comes off the short-term IR, so we'll see if he can make an immediate impact.
And in case you missed all the headlines, there is a coach facing his former team tonight. Yes, that's right. Jets OC Chan Gailey used to be the head coach of the Bills.