Mina Kimes believes the Jets are schemed to exploit a Bills weakness just as the Ravens did

New York Jets can exploit Buffalo Bills’ defensive weakness with outside zone rushing

The Baltimore Ravens somehow still lost to the Bills in Week 1, despite being remarkably dominant on offense for three quarters and leading by 15 points with as many minutes to play.

However, what the Ravens showed in abundance was their pure ruthlessness in running the ball, with Derrick Henry rushing for 169 yards and two touchdowns.

ESPN analyst Mina Kimes identified the Bills’ weakness to outside zone rushing and explained how the Jets are well set up to do the same with Breece Hall.

Speaking on the Mina Kimes show, she said: “Every off-season podcast we did about the Jets was just like, can they run the ball? Can Justin Fields be a threat to run?

“Can this offensive line take the leap that we thought they would? Yes, yes and yes. I mean, Breece Hall, 5.6 yards per carry, 53 % success rate. So good under center, as you talked about the zone running game.

“Justin Fields, 12 carries, 48 yards, 67 % success rate. Going back and watching some of those Baltimore runs against Buffalo. Just until the end, it was such a nightmare.

“The linebackers were just getting out-leveraged, missed tackles, safeties coming from bad angles. It was really concerning.

“And so I think if I’m New York, like I’m watching that and thinking, let’s make all of the same guys tackle because we got a pretty damn good running game as well.”

Buffalo Bills star DT Ed Oliver ruled out of clash with New York Jets

The Buffalo Bills will be without star defensive tackle Ed Oliver for the clash with the Jets, which is a massive loss considering his contribution towards the win over the Ravens.

Oliver forced the crucial Derrick Henry fumble. He also hit Lamar Jackson so hard, legally, that he was cramping after the play, which played a factor in the Ravens punting on 4th and 2 instead of going for it on fourth down.

As Mina Kimes said, the Bills’ run defense was a mess with Oliver involved. NFL Analysis compared Derrick Henry’s stats to Breece Hall’s in Week 1 to show what could happen on Sunday.

The Jets’ O-Line looked excellent against the Steelers, even without Alijah Vera-Tucker , with rookie RT Armand Membou slotting in seamlessly into the line.

While it was only Week 1, that Steelers defensive line had the second-highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history in T.J. Watt, among other big names.

It would not be too wild a prediction to say that the Jets could win this game, but naturally, the Bills are never out of it with Josh Allen at the helm.