The Jets will close out the 2025 season with a Week 18 road game against the Buffalo Bills. As the Jets search for their first divisional win, the Bills will aim to improve their playoff seeding.
"We know who their guys are and we know how this team operates," HC Aaron Glenn said. "They have a really good record, they're going to the playoffs. It gives us another chance to play against a good playoff team."
Sunday's AFC East matchup will be the final regular season contest played at Highmark Stadium, the Bills' home in Orchard Park, NY, for the last 53 seasons. The Jets and Bills faced off in the first regular season game played at the facility, when Buffalo edged New York, 9-7, on Sept. 30, 1973. Buffalo is set to begin play at New Highmark Stadium in 2026.
'Any Opportunity in This League Is a Great One'
Rookie QB Brady Cook, who will make his fourth consecutive start on Sunday, is set to face an AFC East rival and 2025 playoff team for the second week in a row.
"I'm grateful for it, because any opportunity in this league is a great one," Cook said.
Buffalo's defense has not made life easy on opposing quarterbacks this season. Ahead of Week 18, the unit ranks at the top of the league in passing yards allowed per game (163.4).
"We welcome the challenge," Cook said. "We welcome that opportunity. This is a great opportunity for us to go against a great defense, and why not? This is our last game of the year. We have things we want to improve on, and we get to do it against some of the best players in the league. So, it's definitely exciting."
In his three starts this season, Cook has already faced two 2025 playoff teams in the Jaguars and the Patriots, as well as a Saints team that has showcased improvement and sustained a late season winning streak. The Jets have played from behind in each contest, including Cook's first NFL game action in Week 14 against the Dolphins. Cook entered the game for Tyrod Taylor with the Jets trailing by 21-0.
"It's been really good for him to go through these experiences," OC Tanner Engstrand said. "Coming in, he was going to be in the role that he was in. And then, he's kind of been thrust into this starter role the last month of the season, and how valuable those reps are for him. Just to get in there and be in the moment and be live in those games. Gather that experience that he may not have expected to get this year."
Cook, who has thrown for 679 yards, 1 TD and 7 INTs in his four game appearances, said he looks forward to leading the Green & White again on Sunday.
"For him, he just has to take it really how it comes and learn from those experiences," Engstrand said. "I don't think his mentality has changed one bit. I don't think his confidence has wavered. I think he has confidence in himself and it's just a matter of going out there and performing to the best of his ability."
'I'm Proud of the Way Our Guys Went About That'
HC Aaron Glenn pointed to the Jets' rushing attack as a significant area of improvement this season. After ranking 31st in rushing yards per game in 2024, the Green & White enter Week 18 of the 2025 season No. 7 in the league in rushing yards per game (126.7). The team is led by RB Breece Hall, who eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards last week for the first time in his NFL career.
"That was a huge emphasis," Glenn said of the improvement. "I'm proud of the way our guys went about that."
While the Bills have limited opposing quarterbacks this season, the unit has struggled to stop the run. Buffalo is allowing 140.4 rushing yards per game, the fourth most in the league. The Jets could aim to take advantage of the opportunity to run the ball, however, OC Tanner Engstrand stressed the priority will be finding ways to put points on the board. The Jets have been held to 6 and 10 points, respectively, in their last two contests.
"This week, our real focus and attention has been on finding ways to get more production," Engstrand said. "That's something that we haven't done enough of lately and that's really the sole focus of our practice and our plan. … We're putting our best foot forward and we're ready for Sunday."
'Our Focus is Making Sure That We Make All the Corrections'
After what DC Chris Harris described as a "tough game" against New England last week, the defense will look to make corrections and "play good, solid football" in the final game of the 2025 season.
The Jets, however, will face another explosive offense at Highmark Stadium. The Bills rank fifth in yards per game (370.4) and sixth in points per game (27.9). RB James Cook currently leads the league with 1,606 rushing yards, while QB Josh Allen's 69.3 completion percentage ranks second in the league among starting quarterbacks.
But with the postseason on the horizon and the Bills set to travel on the road for wild card weekend, Harris knows the Jets must be ready for a variety of possibilities on Sunday.
"We know they have a really good quarterback; we know they have a really good running back -- so they do things conceptually," Harris said, "So, just making sure that we're prepared for the things conceptually that they do regardless of who they play. Our guys will definitely be ready and prepared to face whoever they put out there."
HC Aaron Glenn stressed that the Jets "haven't done the things that we want to do" defensively this season, citing missed tackles and coverage discipline as areas for improvement. Additionally, the Jets have not intercepted a pass this season.
With one final opportunity ahead, Harris believes the team will be ready to respond at Buffalo on Sunday.
"I have no doubt that our guys -- they're ready," Harris said. "We talk about it all the time -- about being professional athletes, especially football players. You only get so many opportunities. And this being our last opportunity, we want to make sure we do everything we can to get our guys prepared."
