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Week 3: Bills vs. Browns
 at 
Sunday, Sept. 23rd
1:00pm ET
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Which Bills team will show up in Cleveland this week? The one that got blown out in New Jersey on opening day or the team that beat up the Chiefs at Ralph Wilson Stadium last week. The Bills better hope the latter shows up because the schedule gets much tougher after they play the winless Browns and they can't afford to slip up. The Browns will be ready and are better than their record as they had two close losses against Philadelphia and Cincinnati.
FACTS AND FIGURES
| Matchup: |
Buffalo (1-1) vs. Cleveland (0-2) |
| Place: |
Cleveland Browns Stadium |
| TV/Radio: |
Network: CBS; DirecTV: 708; Sirius: 106 |
| Announcers: |
Spero Dedes and Steve Beuerlein |
| Spread: |
Bills by 2½ |
| Series: |
Browns lead 10-6 (Bills 0-1 in playoffs) |
| Streak: |
Bills Won 1 |
| Last Meeting: |
Bills 13-6 in Buffalo (2010) |
| Browns Offense: |
Rush (t-11th); Pass (23rd); overall (22nd) |
| Browns Defense: |
Rush (18th); Pass (28th); overall (29th) |
| Bills Offense: |
Rush (1st); Pass (28th); overall (7th) |
| Bills Defense: |
Rush (24th); Pass (23rd); overall (t-25th) |
INJURY UPDATE
The Bills may be without Jairus Byrd who suffered an ankle injury in the win over Kansas City last week. He isn't expected to practice much this week if at all and should be a gametime decision. Fred Jackson remains sidelined for at least another week. Ruvell Martin has been limited with an ankle injury putting his availability in doubt.
The Browns will have CB Sheldon Brown back. He played only one snap last week with a neck injury. CB Joe Haden is out serving a suspension. DE Juqua Parker expects to play despite suffering from a sprained foot. DT Billy Winn and TE Alex Smith are slowed with concussions and are questionable at best for this game. LB James Michael-Johnson has a rib injury and did not practice early in the week.
Check out our  Bills Daily Injury Page throughout the week for the latest updates on the injured players.
KEY MATCHUPS
DE Mario Williams vs. RT Mitchell Schwartz:
The Bills are still waiting for Williams' first sack as a Bill. They may get it this week as Schwartz is a rookie starting at right tackle for Cleveland.
C Eric Wood vs. MLB D'Qwell Jackson:
Wood may have to get off his blocks of the Browns big defensive tackles quickly because Jackson will likely be coming up the middle on passing downs. He leads Cleveland with three sacks.
LBs Kelvin Sheppard and Nick Barnett vs. RB Trent Richardson:
The Bills will be facing a dynamic rookie back clicking on all cylinders it will be up to Sheppard and Barnett to keep him in check.
WR Stevie Johnson vs. CB Dimitri Patterson:
If the Browns put eight men in the block to stop the running of C.J. Spiller than Johnson will need to make more plays in the passing game than he has the first two weeks of the season.
KT/PT Leodis McKelvin vs. KT/PT Josh Cribbs:
These two players don't battle head to head but they are two of the most dynamic returners in the NFL. If one of them makes a big play that gives his team a huge advantage.
KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Stop Big Play In The Running Game: Both teams face fast rising stars at running back. The Bills may not be able to totally stop Richardson but need to keep him from making big plays.
2. Pressure QB: Rookie QBs can get rattled and the Bills need to get pressure on Brandon Weeden to try and force him into mistakes.
3. Tight Coverage: Weeden will likely try to get the ball out quickly but the Bills need to make that difficult by pressing the receivers at the line and keep him from making the short, quick throws.
BILLS DAILY PREDICTION
This game will be a tough battle don't let the Browns 0-2 record fool you. They are a tough, young team with a lot of talent and upside. The Bills will have to play a very good game to come away with their first road win since opening day last season. They are due for a road win and they know they have to get this one with New England and San Francisco waiting the next two weeks. I think they will get it done in the first barn burner of the season:
Bills 20, Browns 16
Season Prediction Record: (1-1)
Season Record Against The Spread: (1-1)
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