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.

The Jets still have the talent to tangle with the Bills, but several starters and key contributors working through injuries during the week of practice were listed as questionable, among them DL Quinnen Williams (hamstring), CB Sauce Gardner (hamstring), WR Davante Adams (hip), CB Michael Carter (back), T Morgan Moses (knee), S Tony Adams (ankle) and DL Haason Reddick (neck). All are active for the game against the Bills.

Rodgers (knee) was also listed as a full practice participant and said there was no way he wouldn't be starting in Orchard Park. And so it is. But A-Rod, needing one TD pass to reach 500 for his regular-season career, and his Jets offense may have to compete in 40-degree temps and rainy conditions for at least the first half. Despite having to send rapidly improving rookie LT Olu Fashanu to injured reserve with an ankle injury, Ulbrich is confident the Jets can grind it out on the ground, led by young veteran bellcow RB Breece Hall and rookies Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis.

"The worse the worse the weather gets, the more we've got to run the ball," Ulbrich said. "We've got the offensive line capable of doing it, we've got the backfield capable of making it happen as well. At the same time, not to talk out of both sides of my mouth, you do have a core quarterback that is historically good in bad weather, so there'll still be balance."

Also returning to action for the G&W will be K Greg Zuerlein, sidelined seven games with a left knee injury. The knee didn't appear to be an issue when Zuerlein missed 32- and 43-yard FG tries that would have helped the Jets in their October upset bid vs. the Bills.

But "Legatron" had a good week of practice and has been a reliable, booming kicker for virtually all of his 13 pro seasons. Sunday should be an "easy" return for Greg the Leg and the Jets, negotiating the winds and raindrops of Western New York to make key kicks during this penultimate AFC East opportunity for the 2024 Jets.

Here are the Jets' six inactive players for Sunday's game:

• K Anders Carlson
• S Jaylin Simpson
• CB Kendall Sheffield
• CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse
• CB Qwan'tez Stiggers
• DL Braiden McGregor

And the Bills' seven inactives:

• WR Curtis Samuel
• S Damar Hamlin
• CB Kaiir Elam
• LB Nick Morrow
• S Lewis Cine
• T Tylan Grable
• DT Austin Johnson