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Week 9: Bills vs. Bears
 at 
Sunday, Nov. 7th
1:00pm ET
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The Bills annual pilgrimage to Toronto happens earlier this year as the Chicago Bears are welcomed North of the border for the Bills "home" game. The Bears are coming off a bye and should be well rested. The Bills look to bounce back from back to back overtime losses to get that elusive first win.
FACTS AND FIGURES
| Matchup: |
Buffalo (0-7) vs. Chicago (4-3) |
| Place: |
Rogers Centre |
| TV/Radio: |
Network: FOX; DirecTV: 708; Sirius: 129 |
| Announcers: |
Sam Rosen and Tim Ryan |
| Spread: |
Bears by 2½ |
| Series: |
Bears lead 6-4 |
| Streak: |
Bears Won 1 |
| Last Meeting: |
Bears 40-7 in Chicago (2006) |
| Bears Offense: |
Rush (26th); Pass (19th); overall (29th) |
| Bears Defense: |
Rush (5th); Pass (15th); overall (6th) |
| Bills Offense: |
Rush (13th); Pass (26th); overall (26th) |
| Bills Defense: |
Rush (32nd); Pass (6th); overall (29th) |
INJURY UPDATE
The Bills are pretty healthy heading into this game as they should get Terrence McGee back in the lineup. Cornell Green has been placed on injured reserve ending his season. They have a few other players battling minor ailments but everyone should be ready for the game.
The Bears were missing LB Lance Briggs before the bye with an ankle injury but he should return this week. RG Roberto Garza should also be ready to return from a knee injury. Backup cornerback Zackary Bowman has a foot injury and may miss the game. Backup guard Edwin Williams is battling a back problem.
Check out our  Bills Daily Injury Page throughout the week for the latest updates on the injured players.
KEY MATCHUPS
LB Paul Posluszny vs. RB Matt Forte:
Poz is coming off a big game last week as he is playing better as the Bills play in a 4-3 defense more than the 3-4. Forte must be licking his chops going against a run defenses that is on pace to be one of the worst in the history of the league. He will likely hurt the Bills on the ground and through the air since he leads the team in receptions.
RT Cordaro Howard vs. DE Israel Idonije:
The undrafted free agent had a solid first outing against Baltimore and an awful second start against KC. He faced Idonije who leads the Bears with 4½ sacks. It could be another long day for the Bills new starter at this important position.
RB Fred Jackson vs. MLB Brian Urlacher:
The Bills have not utilized the running game enough but that is partly because it hasn't been that successful when they do run it. Jackson is the guy since rookie C.J. Spiller is struggling offensively. Urlacher has been the rock in the middle of the Bears defense for over a decade now and he leads the team in tackles again.
S Donte Whitner vs. TE Greg Olsen:
The Bills have yet to stop a tight end this year. Olsen is a veteran who is capable but not a game breaker. If Whitner can keep him under wraps the Bills will be more successful defensively.
WR Lee Evans vs. CB Charles Tillman:
Evans is playing better now thanks to having Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback and Stevie Johnson on the other side making plays. Tillman is a veteran who has three takeaways this year.
CB Drayton Florence vs. WR Johnny Knox:
Florence has been inconsistent this year but will likely line up opposite Knox who leads the Bears in receiving yards and has a 20 yard per catch average.
GAME PLAN
When The Bills Have The Ball: The way to attack the Bears is through the air and that is the way Chan Gailey likes to play offense so look for the Bills to throw early and often. They likely will also try to mix in a few more runs than they did last week in Kansas City.
When The Bears Have The Ball: They were really struggling offensively before their bye but they will attack the Bills like everyone should, on the ground. They will likely run the ball on about 70% of the snaps until the Bills prove they can stop them.
BILLS DAILY PREDICTION
Many people think this is the week the Bills finally get that big W. The reasoning is that they have come so close the past two weeks, and they are due. The fact is the Bears are good team despite coming off two straight losses. They have had two weeks to prepare for the worst team in the league and that should be enough to win what amounts to a neutral site game:
Bears 16, Bills 13
Season Prediction Record: (5-2)
Season Record Against The Spread: (3-4)
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