Jets at Bills -- Week 17

Where: Ralph Wilson Stadium, Orchard Park, N.Y. (artificial turf, outdoors)

When: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)

Spread: Bills by 3.5

Forecast: Chance of snow. Temperature in the upper 20s.

Records: Jets (6-9; AFC East 2-3); Bills (5-10; AFC East 1-4)

Past results: Two most recent meetings -- Sept. 9, 2012: Jets 48, Bills 28; Nov. 27, 2011: Jets 28, Bills 24. Series record: Bills lead 50-53

What matters: Establishing the run. The Jets need to get into a rhythm in the running game in order to control the clock and take QB Mark Sanchez off the hook in having to play from behind.

Who matters: Sanchez. Sanchez was benched in favor of third-string QB Greg McElroy following the Jets’ Monday night loss to the Titans. However, McElroy sustained a concussion in his first start against the Chargers and Sanchez will start again. He has thrown 17 interceptions this season, one of the reasons coach Rex Ryan benched him. Ball security is paramount and Sanchez can’t make bad decisions. 

Key matchups: Bills RB CJ Spiller vs. the Jets front seven. Spiller is averaging an impressive 6.5 yards per carry and the Jets are 31st in the NFL in rushing defense. If they can’t stop him, it will make for a very long day and an uphill battle in trying to come out with the win.



Injuries of note: TE Dustin Keller has a sprained ankle. DL Muhammad Wilkerson and CB Ellis Lankster are concussed, WR Braylon Edwards has knee and hamstring injuries, LB Bryan Thomas has a chest injury, WR Chaz Schilens has a knee injury and S LaRon Landry has a hamstring injury.

Inside stuff: The quarterback situation continues to provide drama. First, backup QB Tim Tebow was passed over for the starting position in favor of McElroy. When McElroy said he was concussed, Ryan went back to Sanchez rather than giving Tebow a chance. The Tebow wildcat package has not been utilized nearly as much as was anticipated early in the season and last week WR Jeremy Kerley ran the wildcat and threw a 42-yard pass, setting up a touchdown. Kerley said he has practiced the wildcat again in the week leading up to Sunday's game.

Connections: Bills WR Brad Smith was drafted by the Jets in 2006. He was signed by the Bills as a free agent in 2011. Bills RB Tashard Choice and Jets S LaRon Landry played for the Redskins in 2011. Lankster was a seventh-round draft pick by the Bills in 2009 and
spent one season with the team.

Stat you should know: The Jets who pride themselves on their defense are in 26th place in the NFL, with the Bills 11th overall.

Looking ahead: The Jets are out of the playoffs. It is highly likely changes will start being made to the roster and front office as early as Monday.

Prediction: Bills 17, Jets 13

Stay dialed in on the New York Jets by following correspondent Lisa Zimmerman on Twitter @CBSJets and @LisaZimmerman.