Bills Central

Bills' letdown incoming? 3 reasons why Buffalo could falter on Sunday vs. Jets

Are the Bills motivated enough to deal with a litany of injuries?
Sep 7, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA;  Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott reacts against the Baltimore Ravens at Highmark Stadium.
Sep 7, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott reacts against the Baltimore Ravens at Highmark Stadium. | Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

The Buffalo Bills will head to MetLife Stadium for an AFC East matchup in Week 2 of the NFL season against the New York Jets on Sunday, a matchup that the Bills have won 8 of 10 times during their five straight division-title seasons.

There are, however, a few factors that could result in just the Bills' third defeat to the Jets since 2020, and the list has piled on.

1. Will the Bills be tired after last week's amazing comeback?

Josh Allen and Matt Prater
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen chats with Matt Prater, who won the Bills' game against the Ravens on Sept. 7, 2025 with a 32-yard field goal. | Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

On Sunday against the Ravens, the Bills became the first team in NFL history to come back from 15+ points down with four minutes left in regulation and win it in that period, which had to take a lot of energy out of them.

RELATED: Josh Allen trolls Bills fans who left before Buffalo's historic comeback vs. Ravens

Josh Allen, whose incredible fourth quarter sparked the Bills to their comeback, may have plays for him limited and the team as a whole may feel like going through the motions after such a nerve-racking affair.

The Jets, who could have been 1-0 if not for a couple of things going against them on Sunday against the Steelers, could take advantage.

2. The Bills will be on a short week

Keon Coleman
Sep 7, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman (0) fights for a ball against Baltimore Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins (2). | Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

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In addition to possibly being tired, another reason why the Bills may be sluggish is that their next game is on Thursday night against the Dolphins, which will force them to change the way they prepare.

Granted, the Dolphins looked like the worst team in the NFL in Week 1, but to quote the great Chris Berman, "That's why they play the games."

The Bills may be looking ahead to Thursday's home affair, the second of four primetime games in the first six weeks of the season for the Bills, and the second of three at home in the first five, so they may not be focused.

3. A lengthy injury list continues to grow

Ed Oliver
Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver sacks Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park on Sept. 7, 2025. | Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Bills are now dealing with cluster injuries at multiple defensive positions. At cornerback, former All-Pro Tre'Davious White is dealing with a groin issue and rookie first-rounderMaxwell Hairston is on the IR with a knee issue he's had since July.

And now, the issues have expanded to the defensive tackle group. Ed Oliver, who was the Bills' anchor on defense in their Week 1 win, is going to be out for a while with an ankle injury after getting stepped on during Wednesday's practice and eventually being seen in a walking boot. He joins former third-round pick DeWayne Carter (Achilles tear) on the shelf.

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And of course, there's the infamous MetLife Stadium turf playing surface that can cause serious injuries. The NFLPA does not like it, and Aaron Rodgers' Achilles tear on that surface on September 10, 2023 cannot be forgotten.

The Bills will have to overcome these challenges and a stingy Jets team to go to 2-0, and in a top-heavy AFC, every game matters in terms of playoff positioning.

Dorian Strong and Taron Johnson
Bills cornerbacks Dorian Strong and Taron Johnson meet Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park on Sunday. | Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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Owen Klein
OWEN KLEIN

Owen Klein has covered football, basketball and baseball for Penn State athletics as a broadcaster on local radio, including producing Penn State’s 2024 men’s basketball Big Ten Tournament games and calling Penn State football’s Whiteout vs. Washington in November 2024. He has internships with the Buffalo Bisons and CBS affiliate WIVB in Buffalo, NY, in the summer of 2025. He is a Penn State University broadcast journalism student at the Bellisario College of Communications majoring in broadcast journalism and is passionate about college and professional sports, the Pokémon Video Game Championships and the Buffalo Bills.

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