Jeff Ulbrich: Jets Will Lean on Character, Talents to Take On Adversity & the Bills

The new year is almost upon us, and in the NFL that has several possible meanings.

For the Jets, this is the time on the calendar for them to wrap up a disappointing season with a season-ending two-game division bloc, beginning at Buffalo Sunday and finishing at home against Miami next week.

The opponents will be tough, beginning with the Bills (12-3), who can’t take the AFC’s No. 1 playoff seed away from Kansas City but can secure the second seed with a strong finish to their strong season.

And this is the time, interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich says, for the character of the 4-11 Jets to ring like a bell.

“Adversity’s a gift because it really reveals people’s true identity, their true character,” Ulbrich said this past week. “In moments like this, it’s a really opportune time to look around and see how people respond. And that’s why I’m so confident we’re going to finish the way we need to finish, because of the character of this locker room.”

“Brick” has been on message all season regarding the Jets’ character, but the Green & White will be tested strongly in the expected rain at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park this afternoon. Buffalo is led by MVP-quality QB Josh Allen, RB James Cook, WR Khalil Shakir and a ballhawking band of defenders.

The Bills have won 10 consecutive regular-season home games, the longest active streak in the league. The Bills and Chiefs, both at 7-0, are the lone remaining undefeated teams at home this season. Buffalo’s NFL-record-tying streak of scoring 30-plus points in eight straight games was snapped last week in their 24-21 home win over New England. The Blls’ plus-20 turnover margin leads the league.

Yet the Jets hung with them in their Week 6 Monday night home game, taking a 20-20 tie deep into the fourth quarter before losing on a short Tyler Bass field goal with 3:43 to play and an Aaron Rodgers interception from the Jets 40 at the two-minute warning. The game was Ulbrich’s first as the Jets’ IHC after replacing Robert Saleh.