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Week 17: Bills vs. Ravens
The Bills will find it very hard to get up for this game after the devastating 30-29 loss to the Titans last week that squashed their slim playoff hopes. The Ravens are another in a long line of powerhouses the Bills have faced this year. Baltimore looks to wrap up the #2 seed with a chance at the top seed in the playoffs with a win.
FACTS AND FIGURES
| Matchup: |
Buffalo (7-8) vs. Baltimore (12-3) |
| Place: |
M&T Bank Stadium |
| Television: |
CBS |
| Announcers: |
Kevin Harlan and Rich Gannon |
| Spread: |
Ravens by 9 |
| Series: |
Tied 1-1 |
| Streak: |
Ravens Won 1 |
| Last Meeting: |
Ravens 20-6 in Baltimore (2004) |
| Ravens Offense: |
Rush (25th); Pass (11th); overall (17th) |
| Ravens Defense: |
Rush (2nd); Pass (6th); overall (1st) |
| Bills Offense: |
Rush (27th); Pass (29th); overall (30th) |
| Bills Defense: |
Rush (29th); Pass (7th); overall (19th) |
INJURY UPDATE
The Bills should be fairly healthy going into the final week of the season. Daimon Shelton is the one player that may not be available. He has missed the last game and a half with a head injury.
The Ravens are also very healthy with just two offensive linemen banged up. OT Jonathan Ogden missed last week's game with a toe injury. He may be held out again this week. LG Jason Brown is playing with an ankle injury but should be set to go.
 Bills Daily Injury Page
KEY MATCHUPS
RB Willis McGahee vs. ILBs Bart Scott and Ray Lewis:
The Ravens run defense is nearly impossible to get yards on and that is because of Scott and Lewis. McGahee will have a tough time running up the middle. Even though Lewis hasn't had a superman type season he's still be solid and has opened up more plays for Scott.
WR Peerless Price vs. CB Chris McAlister:
Price is coming off his best game of the year and will be lined up against the playmaker McAlister, he has five interceptions on the year. The Ravens may slide McAlister to Evans side at some point which means Price has to take on a solid veteran in Samari Rolle.
CB Nate Clements vs. WR Mark Clayton:
Clements has one more chance to up his income next year and takes on the Ravens best receiver in Clayton. Clements has been matching up against the opponent's top receivers for weeks now and has lived up to his reputation as a lockdown corner, shutting them all down. Clayton isn't on par with other opponents like Marvin Harrison, Chris Chambers, and Drew Bennett.
DE Aaron Schobel vs. LT Adam Terry:
Assuming Ogden doesn't play, Schobel gets to finish his season against a backup tackle. He will look to end with a flourish as he does have a chance at the league lead in sacks, he's 1½ behind Shawn Merriman and Aaron Kampman.
LB London Fletcher vs. RB Jamal Lewis:
This may be Fletcher's last game in a Bills uniform. If it is, he would like to go out with glory. He needs to shutdown the running game of Lewis who just went over 1,000 yards for the year. Something he has not done well this year.
RT Terrence Pennington vs. LDE Trevor Pryce:
The veteran Pryce leads the team in sacks with 12. Pennington will likely need help against him.
GAME PLAN
When The Bills Have The Ball: What do they attack? They will be facing the best defense in football and yards will be tough to come by especially on the road. There pass defense isn't quite as good as the run defense but it is still very formidable. Look for the Bills to try to score with the big play early to loosen up the defense.
When The Ravens Have The Ball: Their strength is the passing game, which is also the strength of the Bills defense so it may be tougher for the Ravens to get yards then usual. Look for them to try and establish a ground game, they haven't had much success grinding it out this year but they are playing the pitiful Bills run defense so they could have quality production on the ground.
BILLS DAILY PREDICTION
The Bills are bound to suffer a letdown from the loss against Tennessee that knocked them out of the playoff race. Will they run for the bus? That isn't likely with a young team that is well coached by Dick Jauron. Look for the Bills to battle early but the Ravens superior talent to take over the game in the second half:
Ravens 24, Bills 13
Season Prediction Record: (10-5)
Season Record Against The Spread: (8-7)
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