Friday 3 November 2017 06:31, UK
Thursday Night Football sees the surprisingly competitive New York Jets host playoff hopefuls Buffalo Bills in an AFC East battle, live on Sky Sports Action from 12.30am.
Buffalo come into the game 5-2 on the season, their best start since 2011, as they look for a first postseason berth since 1999 - the longest playoff drought in the NFL.
The rebuilding Jets, meanwhile, have lost three straight but, at 3-5, have three more wins than many experts expected at this stage.
Watch these two divisional rivals go head to head live on Sky Sports Action (407) from 12.15am...
In 140 Characters...
The Jets hope to put a dent in Buffalo's playoff bid. The Bills, with a win, would move to 6-2, their best start to a season since 1993.
What's the latest?
With just three minutes left before the trade deadline, the Bills added big-bodied Carolina Panthers receiver Kelvin Benjamin to their 29th-ranked passing attack, in exchange for a third and seventh rounder in the 2018 draft.
The Jets too did their own bit of late business, acquiring cornerback Rashard Robinson from the San Francisco 49ers for an undisclosed draft pick. And, sticking with Jets corners - Buster Skrine has cleared the NFL's concussion protocol and is available to play against the Bills on Thursday night but, fellow starter, Morris Claiborne is questionable because of a foot injury.
New York wide receiver Jeremy Kerley is also a doubt to play after reportedly being suspended by the NFL for a violation of league policy. Neither the NFL nor the Jets have commented further on the possible suspension, though Kerley and coach Todd Bowles have called it "a league matter".
Stat attack
The Bills are 5-2 through seven games of a season for the first time since 2011. But, in 2011, the team went 1-8 over the final nine games - that slump started with a Week Nine loss to the Jets. An omen, perhaps?
Buffalo leads the NFL with a +14 turnover differential and ties for the league lead with 17 takeaways (equal with the Baltimore Ravens). Safety Micah Hyde ranks first in the NFL with five interceptions, four of those in his past four games.
Jets journeyman quarterback Josh McCown actually ranks second in the NFL with a 70.5 per cent completion percentage.
Key battle
It might not sound like the sexiest of sells, but given the stats above, this game really could come down to who has the better of it out of McCown and the ball-hawking Bills defence.
McCown has thrown two passing touchdowns in each of New York's last four games. With two more TDs on Thursday night, he'd become the first Jets QB since Joe Namath to do that in five consecutive games. But, the Bills defence has three or more takeaways in four straight games. Which streak comes to a close?
Game-changer
While there is an argument for it being Benjamin following his trade from Carolina, there is no guarantee he'll see action, given we're only two days removed from his arrival. Instead, watch out for LeSean McCoy. The Bills running back had no rushing touchdowns through their first five games, but has exploded into life following their Week Six bye, with a 91-yard, two-TD effort against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers backed up by 151 yards and a score in last week's win over the Oakland Raiders. Be afraid Jets faithful...
Watch the Buffalo Bills @ New York Jets on Thursday Night Football, live on Sky Sports Action from 12.30am on Friday.
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