What to watch in Jets-Bills: How can Gang Green slow down Buffalo QB Josh Allen?

It's a bird . . . it's a plane . . . it's Josh Allen!

Josh Allen doesn’t wear a cape, but he’s able to beat all defenses through the air and ground.

Jets safety Minkah Fitzpatrick described Allen as “one of those quarterbacks that we call superhero quarterbacks. There's nothing that they can't do. You see them get out of impossible situations.”

The Jets (2-7) hope to come up with some kryptonite for Allen on Sunday when he leads the Bills (7-1) into MetLife Stadium. The Jets have dropped four straight and are still searching for their first division win under Aaron Glenn. They’re 0-8 in the AFC East in the past two seasons.

Fitzpatrick said the key is giving Allen multiple looks, disguising things in the secondary and being disciplined in coverage. But Allen has seen it all. He has 21 total touchdowns this season, tied for third most. He ranks second in the NFL with nine rushing scores.

“Everything goes through Josh,” Jets linebacker Demario Davis said.

The Jets need to be much better defensively than they have been. The Bills are averaging a league-high 32 points per game. The Jets have allowed an average of 31.8 points during their four-game losing streak, the second-most in the NFL.

“It’s really about us, it’s not really about the opponent,” Davis said. “Whether it’s the top offense in the league or the worst offense in the league, when we do what we do well, we can stop anybody. When we don’t, it just doesn’t look good.”

Time to go 4 it

Glenn could be — and probably should be — more aggressive in going for it on fourth down in Bills territory. Settling for field goals against Buffalo could lead to a result similar to last week, when the Jets’ only points came on four field goals. Kansas City scored five touchdowns.

“I think it affects some of the fourth-down decisions, I don't think it affects most of the offensive mindset,” coordinator Frank Reich said. “You have to play the game within the game. You're going up against a team that is a high-scoring team, then sure, the charts change as far as how aggressive you should be on fourth down.”

The Jets — who are expected to have receiver Garrett Wilson back after he missed last game with a concussion — really have nothing to lose by being more aggressive. They also need to be more effective, especially in the red zone.

They’ve scored 11 touchdowns on 27 trips inside the 20 (40.7%), including only 5-for-18 in the last five games. The Jets had to settle for a field goal after having a first-and-goal from inside the 5 in each of their last three games.

“When the plays are there to be made, you got to have that killer instinct and we got to make plays, we got to execute,” Geno Smith said.

Running back Breece Hall said the players “should just put it on ourselves to all be better at the end of the day.”

Sack attack

Rookie David Bailey sacked Patrick Mahomes twice last week and will try to add Allen to the growing list of quarterbacks that the No. 2 overall pick has brought down.

Bailey is tied for fourth with 7 ½ sacks and tied for first with five forced fumbles. He had two strip-sacks of Mahomes on the same series.

“That takes next-level athleticism,” Jets defensive coordinator Brian Duker said. “That just kind of reflects a next-level athlete.”

Bailey was all over the field in Kansas City, recording a season-high nine tackles, including three for loss. Allen presents a different challenge because of his size, mobility and ability to escape the pocket.

More McDonald?

Edge rusher Will McDonald is expected to get what he wants in this game — more playing time.

“It's my job to make sure I put him in position to play more because he is improving,” Glenn said. “I've always said this, that you earn the right to play, and he's done that.”

McDonald voiced his frustration about his decreased role and requested a trade after playing only 24 snaps last week in Kansas City. The Jets chose not to move him.

“Will’s a huge part of what we’re doing,” Glenn said.

In Glenn’s defense, McDonald has more responsibilities than just rushing the passer. He  has only three sacks this season and 11 in 24 games since Glenn became coach. He had 10 ½ in 2024 playing for Robert Saleh and Jeff Ulbrich.

McDonald is confident that he can have an impact if he plays more.

“I'm going to continue to trust coaches put me in the best position possible,” he said. “I just want to be on the field so I could be more productive and help the team win.”

By Al Iannazzone

al.iannazzone@newsday.comAl_Iannazzone

Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.