Jets, Bills Going in Opposite Directions

Just a handful of New York Jets players are left from the last squad to start 3-0. They are quick to remember the disaster that ensued.

After getting to 6-1 in 2000, the Jets collapsed, failing to make the playoffs, finishing 9-7. Curtis Martin wants to make sure that doesn’t happen this time around.

“That’s something that’s almost like your worst nightmare coming true,” said Martin, one of 10 current Jets with the same bitter memories. “As a leader, that’s what 0we don’t want to happen. We still have to try to get to that 4-0, 5-0, 6-0. We still have to continue what we’re doing.”

The Jets have a good chance of doing that heading into their next two games. First up is Buffalo (0-3) today, then winless San Francisco before a road game at division foe New England. But the Jets want to ignore the possibilities and focus on the Bills.

That means stopping Travis Henry, who has had his way with the Jets. In five games against them, he has gone over 100 yards three times, including a career-high 169 yards in a 17-6 win over the Jets last year despite a broken bone in his right leg and torn rib cartilage.

“We haven’t stopped him yet,” Jets coach Herman Edwards said. “He knocks us over like bowling pins.”

Jets defenders are aware. John Abraham said it was important to stop Henry so they can show the defensive front is improved under new coordinator Donnie Henderson.

“We’re trying to show that we can stop the running backs,” Abraham said. “Last year when they beat us they had over 200 yards rushing. We can’t do that this year. We have to keep him to under 100 yards rushing and I think we’ll have a better chance to win the game.”

They also will have a better chance at getting to Drew Bledsoe, who has been sacked 15 times.

Making matters worse for the Bills, center Trey Teague is out with a left knee injury, while tackle Jonas Jennings is recovering from a concussion. That doesn’t help a bumbling offensive unit that has been incapable of producing consistently in the clutch.

Their inefficiency in the red zone is particularly glaring. In eight trips inside the 20 this season, the Bills have two touchdowns, three field goals and turned over the ball three times.

“We’ve made mistakes on some little things that in close games are going to be highly magnified and have resulted in some losses for us,” Bledsoe said.

The Bills have been close in all of their losses, falling by three to Jacksonville and Oakland, then playing close with New England until near the end last weekend. Buffalo was driving for the tying score when Richard Seymour returned a fumble 68 yards to seal a 31-17 win.

A big reason for the Bills’ success has been their run defense, which is allowing 85 yards a game. That could be key against Martin, who has three straight 100-yard games to start the season for the first time in his career.

But the Jets might try to take advantage of a depleted secondary, and get their receivers more involved. Justin McCareins, Santana Moss and Wayne Chrebet have combined to catch just 22 of 56 completed passes this year.

The Bills will be without Troy Vincent, out with torn cartilage in his right knee. Terrence McGee, a second-year player, replaces him. Strong safety Coy Wire, who was in for the injured Lawyer Milloy, also is questionable with a bruised quadriceps and Pierson Prioleau is expected to start in his place.

“We’ve lost some key guys in our secondary, some big players, some veteran players, but we have guys that can come in and play, some guys that have made plays with us thus far,” safety Izell Reese said. “So these guys can come in and play and do a good job.”

The Jets just want to stay on track after getting off to such a good start. Martin said even though the they had a great beginning in 2000, he saw cracks developing early. He knew there was impending doom, mainly because the team did not want to play for then coach Al Groh.

Martin sees a different attitude now. He hopes it stays that way.

“I think this team, the guys here want to work for Herm,” Martin said. “With Herm, you have a coach that wants to have leaders that want to follow the coach and you have players that want to follow the leaders. That’s a good formula.”