Oct 16, 2022; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) scores a touchdown against Kansas City Chiefs cornerback L'Jarius Sneed (38) during the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
NFL: Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs
This Sunday, the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets will face off for their first matchup of the season. This is a game of a lot of firsts, as the Bills are looking for their first divisional win of the year, despite being 6-1 on the season. The Jets will be looking for their first win against Buffalo since week 17 in 2019, where the already playoff bound Bills, rested their starters. This Jets team is different than the ones the Bills have been rolling over the past few seasons. They’re off to a red-hot start, with a 5-3 record, and have a stingy defense.
A huge reason for the Jets success on defense has been because of rookie top-5 draft pick, cornerback Sauce Gardner. Gardner has already placed himself as one of the best corners in the league early on in his career. Through eight career games, Sauce has been targeted in coverage 46 times and let up only 197 yards, one touchdown, a 61.6 passer rating and a 52.2% completion percentage. He is known for talking trash and will be covering one of the best receivers in the league this Sunday, in Stefon Diggs.
Stefon Diggs has come out of the gates on a tear this season. On 55 catches, Diggs has 764 yards, with seven touchdowns, 34 catches for first downs, 13.9 yards per reception, and averaging 109.1 yards per game. His 764 yards currently ranks as second most in the league this season, despite already having a bye week. He is also tied with Travis Kelce for most touchdown catches thus far. The 2021 All-Pro receiver is putting together a case for not only another All-Pro year, but potentially the offensive player of the year. Diggs has 100 or more yards in five out of seven games this season and is looking to add to that, no matter who is covering him.
Diggs has been on a different type of energy this year than we have seen in the past, and his matchup with Sauce should be very entertaining. Two of the best going at it head-to-head, which should feature plenty of trash talk and top-notch plays. Sauce is looking to help his Jets continue their hot and unexpected start and stun the league. While Diggs is looking to give Sauce his first, “welcome to league rookie” moment, and keep proving his Bills are the top dogs. Not to mention, Sauce told reporters a few months back he thought he could easily cover Diggs; and we can almost guarantee Diggs kept a note of that.
