What a stage to start the season on!
Monday Night Football in the Meadowlands.
A year after kicking off the opening weekend of the NFL against the reigning Super Bowl Champion Rams in Los Angeles, the Bills are the finale against arguably the most talked about team heading into the 2023 campaign, the Jets.
It’s now Josh Allen and Aaron Rodgers as the quarterback showcase, but there’s so much more talent spread across the field on both rosters.
One game doesn’t dictate a team’s fate for the entire season, but whoever comes out on top of this one will instantly have the upper hand in a division and conference expected to be an absolute dog fight for a place in the playoffs.
Let’s get into what’s on tap!
Rodgers Jets Debut
The Jets had arguably the worst play from the quarterback position in 2022 and still managed to start the season 7-4 before ending on a six-game losing streak.
In comes Rodgers to right the many wrongs from Zach Wilson, Mike White and Joe Flacco.
We all are well aware of the resume he brings with him to the Jets, but I’m not so sure Rodgers has to play up to those previous accomplishments for the offense to fly higher.
This is everyone’s first look at where the chemistry is between Rodgers and his new team.
Of course, it’s not all that new, with Nathaniel Hackett back as Rodgers offensive coordinator after being together years ago in Green Bay.
Then there’s the well-documented pass catchers brought along with Rodgers from their Packers days – Allen Lazard and Randell Cobb.
But where is the rapport with reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson?
Few teams are perfect week one, so the expectation should be there will be at least some natural bumps from Rodgers and Co.
Add into that the fact the Bills held him in check last season with the Packers, with Rodgers throwing for 203 yards, two touchdowns and an interception on 19/30 passing.
Wilson vs. Bills CBs
I wanted to carve out a little separate spot to talk about Wilson.
He caught 14 of the 16 targets for 170 yards last season against the Bills.
Micah Hyde noted this week how he noticed watching injured from the sidelines last season how crafty Wilson was at creating space, especially as a rookie.
Dane Jackson played 95% of the snaps at cornerback in that first game at MetLife, with Christian Benford and Kaiir splitting reps opposite him.
The second game saw Tre’Davious White back in the line-up, playing 100% of the snaps with Dane Jackson also on the field the entire game.
This might be a true test out the gate to see where the Bills believe White is now nearly two years removed from a torn ACL.
Prior to the injury, White would likely shadow a player the caliber of Wilson.
Will Sean McDermott do that Monday Night or will Benford find his way lined up against Wilson?
And while Benford will get the start, McDermott left the door open this week for that rotation is return.
Battle in the Trenches
This is one week where I think the coach speak of ‘The game is won at the line of scrimmage’ very well could be true.
Both offensive lines will be tested by talented and deep defensive fronts.
Last season Allen was sacked five times in the loss at the Jets and another three in a win at home later in the season.
Quinnen Williams still is the biggest issue in the middle to deal with.
On the edge, Carl Lawson, John Franklin-Myers, 2022 first-round pick Jermaine Johnson, and 2023 first-round pick Will McDonald VI will remain relentless.
It’s a big test for the Bills OL, especially incorporating two new guards, one of which is second-round pick O’Cyrus Torrence.
The Jets OL might be their biggest question on the entire team.
Tackles Duane Brown and Mekhi Becton are both listed as questionable with injuries.
Alijah Vera-Tucker’s coming off a triceps injury that cost him the final two-plus months of 2022.
How can the Von Miller-less Bills DL bring the pressure better than they did without the future Hall of Famer down the stretch last season?
Leonard Floyd is the new addition that’ll join with Greg Rousseau, A.J Epenesa and Shaq Lawson.
Don’t sleep on the impact the interior of the front can have, possibly going 4-5 deep.
Whichever unit can be the best likely will play a heavy hand in the outcome Monday night.
All Eyes on the Coordinators
How the Bills attack both sides of the ball will be determined by their playcallers.
Ken Dorsey took heat as the offense just didn’t look the same the back half of 2022, even if the numbers still ended up about the same as when things were humming.
I’ll be curious to see the evolution of Dorsey as his second season calling plays begins.
There’s no doubt the depth of weapons at his disposal, but they’re no good if not all utilized.
It seems most people agree that Dorsey needs to use more variety with formations, personnel packages, and become better at finding a counter punch when the Bills bread and butter isn’t working.
On the other side of the ball, McDermott slides back into a role that helped him land the head coaching gig with the Bills – defensive playcaller.
There is no doubt McDermott was well involved with the Bills defense when Leslie Frazier was the defensive coordinator since 2017, but how much of what was seen on the field was because of Frazier was calling or what McDermott wanted?
We find out beginning Monday night, a chance to see what new wrinkles this defense shows.
Most players and coaches who’ve been asked about McDermott’s style as a defensive play caller have used the word “aggressive.”
What that exactly means will start to play out against the Jets.
On the Line
BUF (-2.5)
O/U: 45.5
Josh Allen O/U Passing Yards: 254.5
Aaron Rodgers O/U Passing Yards: 233.5
Stefon Diggs O/U Receiving Yards: 69.5
Garrett Wilson O/U Receiving Yards: 66.5
**DraftKings Sports Book**
Injury Report
BUF
No One Listed
NYJ
QUESTIONABLE: RB Breece Hall (knee), OL Duane Brown (shoulder), Mekhi Becton (knee, illness)
The Bills and Jets kick things off inside MetLife Stadium Monday at 8:15 p.m.