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Week 9: Bills vs. Bengals
The Bills come home on a two game winning streak to take on a Bengals team that has underachieved this year. The last time Cincinnati beat Buffalo was in the AFC Championship game in 1988. The Bills have one eight straight games since then. The Bengals still have a high powered offensive attack especially through the air. Their defense is the reason they have won only two games after being highly touted coming into the season. They are still very dangerous. J.P. Losman gets the start for the injured Trent Edwards and he looks to light it up and try to take the starting job back.
FACTS AND FIGURES
| Matchup: |
Buffalo (3-4) vs. Cincinnati (2-5) |
| Place: |
Ralph Wilson Stadium |
| Television: |
CBS |
| Announcers: |
Ian Eagle and Solomon Wilcots |
| Spread: |
Bengals by 1 |
| Series: |
Bills lead 13-11 (Bengals 2-0 in playoffs) |
| Streak: |
Bills Won 8 |
| Last Meeting: |
Bills 37-27 in Cincinnati (2005) |
| Bengals Offense: |
Rush (21st); Pass (t-4th); overall (5th) |
| Bengals Defense: |
Rush (28th); Pass (28th); overall (31st) |
| Bills Offense: |
Rush (20th); Pass (31st); overall (31st) |
| Bills Defense: |
Rush (24th); Pass (29th); overall (30th) |
INJURY UPDATE
The Bills will be without Edwards who is recovering from a sprained wrist in his throwing hand. There is a chance that he will be able to be the backup but probably not. Ryan Denney has yet to play after breaking his foot in the preseason but he is closing in on his return and there is a chance he will make his debut this week. Leon Joe is suffering from a back injury and remains out. Ashton Youboty hopes to work his way back on the field after missing two games with an ankle injury, he remains limited in practice. Jim Leonhard should return this week after missing several weeks with a thigh injury. Peerless Price, Ko Simpson, Kevin Everett, Paul Pozluszny, Jason Whittle, and Jason Webster are also among the players that are on injured reserve.
The Bengals are banged up as well, RB Rudi Johnson returns this week after missing several weeks with a hamstring injury. His backup Kenny Watson suffered a concussion in last week's loss to the Steelers but should be ready to play as well giving them a powerful one-two punch. DT John Thornton suffered a stinger last week. OL Willie Anderson is out with a knee injury. SS Herana-Daze Jones suffered a shoulder injury against the Steelers and will likely be out.
 Bills Daily Injury Page
KEY MATCHUPS
CBs Jabari Greer and Terrence McGee vs. WRs Chad Johnson and TJ Houshmandzadeh:
This is the toughest battle of the game for the Bills. McGee and Greer will have their hands full with perhaps the best wide receiver duo in the game. They can only hope to contain them since they won't be able to completely shut them down.
RB Marshawn Lynch vs. LB Landon Johnson:
Lynch is still searching for his first 100 yard game and has a good chance at getting it this week against a weak run defense. Johnson leads the team in tackles from his weakside linebacker spot.
QB J.P. Losman vs. FS Madieu Williams:
Losman has a lot to prove and hopes to have a big game against a pass defense that has struggled. Williams is the man that guards the deep middle and will try to take away the homerun ball that is huge in Losman's game.
WR Lee Evans vs. CB Jonathan Joseph:
Evans must be happy that his draft class teammate is back behind center. Look for him to be motivated for a huge game and can get it against the average corners of Cincinnati. Joseph usually will lineup on Evans' side but the Bills have been moving him around more lately.
DE Aaron Schobel vs. LT Levi Jones:
Schobel is coming off his best game of the season and now goes up against the best player on the Bengals offensive line. If Schobel and his linemates can get pressure on Carson Palmer that will take pressure off of the secondary against the talented receiving corps.
K Rian Lindell vs. K Shayne Graham:
This is a battle of two very accurate kickers. This game should be tight so it may come down to a big kick by one of these players.
GAME PLAN
When The Bills Have The Ball: Look for the Bills to mix up the attack against a defense that is weak against the run and the pass. Losman will be out to prove something and will try to go deep early and often to stretch the field. That will open up running lanes for Lynch.
When The Bengals Have The Ball: The Bengals are a passing first team and that will continue with the banged up players they have at running back. Look for them to take to the air on a vast majority of the plays especially to their two very talented starting receivers.
BILLS DAILY PREDICTION
The Bengals may be 2-5 but they are a better team than that. They will look to get back on track against the Bills and they can put on an aerial show and win the game going away. The Bills however are playing with a lot of confidence now and have played excellent at home as they are just :02 away from being 4-0 at the Ralph. Losman is out to prove something and looks ready to have a big game that will put the Bills over the hump in an unusually high scoring affair for the Bills:
Bills 34, Bengals 30
Season Prediction Record: (4-3)
Season Record Against The Spread: (4-3)
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