AFC East rivals kick off the season with an important litmus test for both sides when the New York Jets host the Buffalo Bills in Week 1 on Sunday.
While the Jets have been heaped with media coverage this offseason, mainly following the trade for quarterback Tim Tebow and the ensuing talk of a quarterback controversy between he and Mark Sanchez, the Bills are hoping to regain their early 2011 form, when they raced out to a 5-2 start. The signing of defensive end Mario Williams figures to aid Buffalo's 4-3 defense.
SB Nation's NFL Editor Joel Thorman sees the Bills edging New York in low-scoring battle, 14-10, as well as in the overall division standings:
Don't hate me, Jets fans, but I think your team is in trouble this year. The Bills will win this game and they will finish the season ahead of the Jets in the AFC East.
Over at Sports Illustrated, Peter King is forecasting a 27-13 Buffalo win, and Sanchez to be "rooting for 15 road games by the time he walks off the field."
ESPN's 12-man panel of experts is split right down the middle on this one, with Accuscore's computerized projections siding with the Jets. At Yahoo! Sports, NFL gurus Mike Silver, Jason Cole and Les Carpenter unanimously chose the Bills to get the win in MetLife Stadium.
For more on the Jets, head over to Gang Green Nation, and stick to SB Nation New York for all the latest updates on the team throughout the course of the season. For news on the Bills, check out Buffalo Rumblings.