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Week 2: Bills vs. Jaguars
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Sunday, Sept. 14th
1:00pm ET
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The Bills head to sunny and warm South Florida this weekend brimming with confidence after their 34-10 dominating win over Seattle on opening day. The Jaguars go into their home opener licking their wounds from an opening day loss and several key injuries to a devastated offensive line. They will look to re-group and patch up the line in time for Marcus Stroud to head back to his old stomping grounds licking his chops facing backups on the interior of the line.
FACTS AND FIGURES
| Matchup: |
Buffalo (1-0) vs. Jacksonville (0-1) |
| Place: |
Jacksonville Municipal Stadium |
| Television: |
CBS |
| Announcers: |
Gus Johnson and Steve Tasker |
| Spread: |
Jaguars by 5½ |
| Series: |
Series tied 4-4 (Jaguars 1-0 in playoffs) |
| Streak: |
Jaguars Won 1 |
| Last Meeting: |
Jaguars 36-14 in Jacksonville (2007) |
| Jaguars Offense: |
Rush (32nd); Pass (24th); overall (30th) |
| Jaguars Defense: |
Rush (20th); Pass (14th); overall (16th) |
| Bills Offense: |
Rush (19th); Pass (8th); overall (11th) |
| Bills Defense: |
Rush (9th); Pass (t-11th); overall (7th) |
INJURY UPDATE
The Bills came out of the Seahawks win without any new significant injuries. Matt Murphy and Derek Fine remain sidelined. John DiGiorgio and Bryan Scott got shaken up against Seattle but both players returned.
The Jaguars are severely banged up especially on the offensive line. Starting guard Vince Manuwai has been placed on injured reserve after suffering a knee injury last week in the loss to the Titans. The other starting guard Maurice Williams and starting center Brad Meester remain sidelined with bicep injuries. The new starters at guard are Uche Nwaneri and former Bill Tutan Reyes. Nwaneri is nursing a knee sprain and may be a bit questionable for this week. Dennis Norman started the opener at center and remains in that spot. Backup tackle Richard Collier remains in a local hospital after he was shot in a late night incident over a week ago. WR Jerry Porter has a hamstring injury and will practice this week in hopes of playing on Sunday. DL Derek Landri has a quadriceps injury and will resume working out this week but probably won't play. CB Scott Starks remains sidelined with a pectoral muscle injury but may practice this week as well.
 Bills Daily Injury Page
KEY MATCHUPS
DT Marcus Stroud vs. C Dennis Norman and RG Tutan Reyes:
Stroud will be fired up to prove to the Jaguars that he has a lot left in the tank and they shouldn't have traded him. Of course, Reyes is looking to prove something to the Bills who gave up on him a couple of years ago. Stroud has a huge matchup advantage over a trio of backups starting on the interior of the Jaguars offensive line.
RT Langston Walker or Kirk Chambers vs. DE Paul Spicer:
Walker will be back in his normal spot if Jason Peters starts at left tackle. If not then Chambers will get his second straight start on the right side. Spicer is the best pass rusher the Jaguars have as he had 7½ sacks last year. Chambers fared very well against an elite tackle last week in Kearney and whoever plays right tackle will have another battle this week.
LB Paul Posluszny vs. RBs Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor:
The Jaguars have the best one-two punch at running back in the league. With Stroud bottling up the middle it will be up to Posluszny to lead the attack and keep the backs at bay. These two have had tremendous success against the Bills in the past and represent a huge test for the re-built front seven of Buffalo. They will also be hungry to avenge poor performances last week in the loss to Tennessee.
DE Aaron Schobel vs. LT Khalif Barnes:
Left tackle is one spot where the Jaguars still have a starter playing on the offensive line. Schobel is coming off a fine performance in the opener and will look to continue pressuring the quarterback which could curtail a passing attack that isn't very strong thanks to a wide receiver corps that isn't among the league's best.
RB Marshawn Lynch vs. LB Mike Peterson:
Lynch will be looking for a big game against a very tough run defense that remains very strong despite losing Stroud last year. Peterson is the tackling leader of the Jags. If Lynch has any success that will go a long way in helping the Bills pull off the upset.
WR Lee Evans vs. CB Drayton Florence:
Evans has an advantage here and will look to build on the chemistry he has developed with QB Trent Edwards. If Evans can get a few deep balls like he did last week that may loosen things up for the running game.
GAME PLAN
When The Bills Have The Ball: The new Turk Schonert offense served notice to defenses in the NFL last week. They will be more aggressive this year. Look for the Bills to attack the Jags defense through the air early and often as they will use the pass to setup the run.
When The Jaguars Have The Ball: Perry Fewell has a lot of tricks up his sleeve and will continue to roll them out as the season progresses. Look for the Bills to mix up schemes and formations to confuse talented, but still young, QB David Garrard.
BILLS DAILY PREDICTION
Many people think that since Jacksonville is so banged up on the offensive line and that Stroud is so fired up for this game the Bills will go to 2-0 without much of a problem. The thing is the Jags are more than five point favorites for a reason. Despite the injuries they are a bit more talented than the Bills plus they will have the huge advantage of playing in front of their fans in their home opener. If the Bills can withstand the early emotion and hold server early, then they have a chance. They are playing with a lot of confidence and feel they can beat anybody. I think they will keep it close in the first half and find a way to pull the game out in the second half:
Bills 21, Jaguars 17
Season Prediction Record: (1-0)
Season Record Against The Spread: (1-0)
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