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Week 2: Bills vs. Packers
at
Sunday, Sept. 19th
1:00pm ET
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The Bills take to the road for the first time this season and they go to one of the toughest places in the league to play. They head to the not so frozen tundra of Lambeau Field to play the high powered offense of the Green Bay Packers. A very tough test for the young team coming off a loss on opening day.
FACTS AND FIGURES
Matchup: |
Buffalo (0-1) vs. Green Bay (1-0) |
Place: |
Lambeau Field |
TV/Radio: |
Network: FOX; DirecTV: 706; Sirius: 108 |
Announcers: |
Spero Dedes and Randy Cross |
Spread: |
Packers by 13 |
Series: |
Bills lead 7-3 |
Streak: |
Bills Won 1 |
Last Meeting: |
Bills 24-10 in Buffalo (2006) |
Packers Offense: |
Rush (18th); Pass (19th); overall (17th) |
Packers Defense: |
Rush (30th); Pass (16th); overall (18th) |
Bills Offense: |
Rush (28th); Pass (29th); overall (32nd) |
Bills Defense: |
Rush (24th); Pass (11th); overall (14th) |
INJURY UPDATE
The Bills lost two players to injury in the season opening loss to Miami. Paul Posluszny and Cary Harris will both miss this game after getting hurt last week. Posluszny will miss 2-3 weeks with a knee sprain and Harris may return next week after sitting with a hamstring injury. Geoff Hangartner has missed practice time this week with an ankle injury but he likely will be available to play. The team hopes to get Reggie Torbor and Antonio Coleman back from injuries this week since they are both practicing. Kawika Mitchell was lost for the season when he hurt his foot during practice last week.
The Packers will be without their starting RB Ryan Grant. He tore ligaments in his ankle on opening day and is lost for the season. DE Justin Harrell was also lost for the season in week 1 with a torn ACL. They are already short at the position because of the four game suspension being served by Johnny Jolly. CB Charles Woodson has missed practice time this week with a toe injury and LB Clay Matthews is battling a slight hamstring issue, both should play. LB Desmond Bishop and DE Mike Neal have also missed practice time this week with injuries.
Check out our Bills Daily Injury Page throughout the week for the latest updates on the injured players.
KEY MATCHUPS
CBs Drayton Florence and Leodis McKelvin vs. WR Greg Jennings: Florence will lineup against Jennings in the normal defensive alignment. When they go to the nickel than McKelvin will get the call to go against the Packers top receiver.
RT Cornell Green vs. OLB Clay Matthews: Green has struggled mightily since coming over to Buffalo to start on the right side of the line. He will have to worry about the growing star Matthews who had two sacks last week.
ILB Keith Ellison and Akin Ayodele vs. RB Brandon Jackson: This is a battle of backups with both Posluszny and Grant out the backups will be key. Ellison and Ayodele will likely split time next to Andra Davis. Jackson is a solid back and could cause problems for the front seven of the Bills.
RB C.J. Spiller vs. NT B.J. Raji: Spiller looks to rebound after an inauspicious debut last week. Raji is a solid nose tackle for the 3-4 defense. If he disrupts the Bills offensive line it could be another long day for the rookie.
WR Lee Evans vs. CB Charles Woodson: The Bills haven't found a good option opposite Evans so he will always draw the better corner. Woodson is a solid veteran who will give Evans a tough matchup. Evans needs a big play or two to help keep the Bills in the game.
NT Kyle Williams vs. C Scott Wells: Williams isn't the prototypical 3-4 nose tackle. If he can win his battles with the veteran Wells then the players coming off the end could put pressure on Aaron Rodgers. The offensive line is not one of the strong spots on the Packers as Rodgers was sacked 50 times last year and three times last week.
GAME PLAN
When The Bills Have The Ball: Last week the abandoned the running game and took to the air early and often. I have to believe they will reverse that trend while the game is close. The more running the do, the longer they may be able to keep the Packers high powered offense off the field. Look for more of the wildcat offense that had some success against Miami with Fred Jackson running the controls.
When The Packers Have The Ball: With Grant sidelined look for the Pack to go to the air the majority of the time and live on the arm of Aaron Rodgers. Look for them to go underneath a lot to take advantage of the linebacking corps that is inexperienced in dropping back into pass coverage.
BILLS DAILY PREDICTION
The bottom line is the Bills do not have a prayer at going up to Green Bay and beating a very good Packers team. They are overmatched, outmanned, and just don't have enough talent. The defense is a strength on this team but Green Bay is just too good offensively. Look for the Bills to play tough early before faltering late:
Packers 35, Bills 13
Season Prediction Record: (0-1)
Season Record Against The Spread: (0-1)
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