Although the Jets are 4-3, it feels like they are doing a whole lot worse when you look at their actual performances. The Buffalo Bills have been this season's surprise story thanks to a much better than expected offense. The main reason for this sudden offensive outburst is the revival of a once-awful offensive line that has turned itself around to be one of the top units the league this year. Led by a stunning season by left guard Andy Levitre, this line has given Ryan Fitzpatrick all the time in the world and is finally providing some much-needed push for stud back Fred Jackson.

Nick Mangold is finally back after rag doll Colin Baxter proceeded to suck things up as a run blocker (though he did provide some huge value in pass pro). Brandon Moore has been a surprise this season, but not in a good way. One of the best guards in the league, Moore has digressed this season to the "very mediocre" range of play. He will be matched up, for the most part, against explosive rookie Marcell Dareus in this game.

The interesting thing about Dareus is that he was always solid this season, but he turned up the heat in his last two games and put forth two of the best performances by a defensive tackle this season. Forget the criminally underrated Kyle Williams; it's the Dareus show in Buffalo now. The Jets will be soon acquainted with the the real "Hard Knock Life".

I really hate the Jets offense right now, and the listing of Plaxico Burress as the team's number one receiver over incumbent Santonio Holmes sums it up; stupidity. This offense squanders around and doesn't do crap, and that Mark Sanchez guy- as clutch as he is- doesn't put his team in the position to actually have a clutch anyway. He wilts under pressure, he has no arm, and he'll make stupid decisions too. Yeah, the guy has the whole package.

However, it isn't really all Sanchez's fault. Shonn Greene is subpar, and I have totally given up on him as a starting-caliber NFL running back. Nick Barnett and Kirk Morrison are two of the better linebackers against the run in the NFL, and they will eat this guy alive.

I think that's pretty much most of the pessimistic comments directed at the Jets, because they still have a nice D (read: Darrelle Revis is freaking awesome).

Fred Jackson is one of the best ten backs in the NFL, because he does everything extremely well. Not only is he a great pure runner with his elusiveness, but he can catch and is one of the best pass blocking backs in the league. However, he will face a huge challenge against the Jets in this game (the same can be said for his line). Sione Pouha and Mike DeVito are two of the best defensive linemen against the run in the NFL, and Pouha has ripped apart far better linemen than the ones that he is prepared to face today. And oh by the way, those linebackers are pretty tough to get by too.

The good thing- for the offensive line- is that the Jets have very poor pass rushers. Thus, Fitzpatrick should continue to have time to test the Jets secondary. Which means, everybody except Revis (if he's smart).

There is no more valuable defensive player in the league than Revis, because he is the reason why the Jets can blitz defensive backs and do all the crazy stuff that they do. Revis has given up the least amount of receiving yards, and he has had more tips/picks than catches allowed.

This lavish praise of Revis is actually pertinent to his game, because the Bills offense is one-dimensional receiving-wise. Everybody knows that Fitz is going to try to hit Stevie Johnson as much as he can, but Revis can easily take him out. This leaves David Nelson to be contained by Cromartie and whoever else has him guarded.

This is going to be a low-scoring contest, and it's the Jets utter offensive incompetence that makes the Bills go 6-2, instead of tying them up at 5-3. It seems hard to believe, well, to everybody but me. Look, the Jets stink because their offense has been horrible for such a long time. Revis and the defense will once again be the only guys keeping this game close. This is going to be one heckuva ballgame, and Revis will be the MVP, regardless of who wins.

Stevie Johnson: Prepare to be shipwrecked

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Posted By: Joe Soriano - Category: NFL, NFL Predictions, Jets, Antonio Cromartie, Brandon Moore, Colin Baxter, Darrelle Revis, Mark Sanchez, Mike DeVito, Nick Mangold, Plaxico Burress, Santonio Holmes, Shonn Greene, Sione Pouha, Bills, Andy Levitre, David Nelson, Fred Jackson, Kirk Morrison, Kyle Williams, Marcell Dareus, Nick Barnett, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Stevie Johnson

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8/2011 Player Profile: Mike DeVito

August 7th 2011 13:28

The New York Jets are one of the best run-stuffing teams in the NFL, and a large part of their success is due to the work of defensive linemen Sione Pouha and Mike DeVito. One of the best 3-4 ends in the NFL against the run, DeVito is one of the most underrated players in the game today. There are many great players on the Jets defense who deservedly get a ton of the spotlight, but that doesn't mean that Mike DeVito's contributions should be overlooked.

Although he is a poor pass rusher, 3-4 ends are rarely guys who are asked to put pressure on the QB on a consistent basis. Rex Ryan runs his dad's 46, and it's a hybrid scheme; there really is no base personnel. Usually, though, the Jets run a 3-4 to allow Bryan Thomas and Calvin Pace to get more opportunities to rush the passer.

So DeVito is usually a 4-3 tackle or 3-4 end (otherwise known as a 3-technique). He is mainly classified as a 3-4 end, and I believe that DeVito is definitely one of the top ten 3-4 ends in the game. He may even be the best at his position against the run.

Even though DeVito isn't expected to be a good pass rusher, he does need some work in that department. It's not that big of a deal though, because he is such a great player against the run. Rex Ryan is able to use his complex blitz packages because of the great run-stuffers up front. Sione Pouha was great in 2009, but DeVito's performance last season- including a great playoff run- makes him the best defensive lineman on the Jets.

With Shaun Ellis's future with the Jets in limbo, DeVito may finally get some more recognition. Even if Ellis comes back, DeVito and Pouha are both far better players. Ellis is still a decent pass rusher, but he can't play the run nearly as well as the other two guys. I mean, Ellis is a useful player; but DeVito and Pouha are two very good players who are among the best 3-4 ends/defensive tackles in the NFL.