Week 6: Bills vs. Bengals
at
Sunday, Oct. 18th
1:00pm ET
The undefeated Bengals come to Orchard Park to take on a very banged up Bills team. Cincinnati is flying high after a big comeback win over the defending NFC Champions. Andy Dalton is having the best start of his career in leading a potent offensive attack. The Bills will need a great effort from their vaunted defense to pull off the upset with all the injuries on offense. The biggest being the question mark surrounding Tyrod Taylor's availability because of a sprained MCL.

FACTS AND FIGURES

Matchup: Buffalo (3-2) vs. Cincinnati (5-0)
Place: Ralph Wilson Stadium
TV/Radio: Network: CBS; DirecTV: 705; Sirius: 126; XM: 231
Announcers: Spero Dedes and Solomon Wilcots
Spread: Bengals by 3
Series: Bills lead 15-11 (Bills 0-2 in Playoffs)
Streak: Bengals Won 2
Last Meeting: Bengals 27-24 in OT in Buffalo (2013)
Bengals Offense: Rush (10th); Pass (5th); overall (2nd)
Bengals Defense: Rush (18th); Pass (22nd); overall (21st)
Bills Offense: Rush (6th); Pass (t-27th); overall (24th)
Bills Defense: Rush (3rd); Pass (24th); overall (16th)


INJURY UPDATE

The Bills may be without Tyrod Taylor who suffered a sprained MCL against the Titans. LeSean McCoy remains sidelined with a hamstring injury but is trying to get back for this week. Bacarri Rambo has a quad injury that has had him sidelined. Karlos Williams is currently undergoing concussion protocol and may sit again this week. The team does expect to have Sammy Watkins back from a calf injury. Several other players are banged up but should go.

The Bengals are a bit banged up at cornerback. Leon Hall and Adam Jones have missed practice time this week with back and groin injuries respectively.

Check out our Bills Daily Injury Page throughout the week for the latest updates on the injured players.

KEY MATCHUPS

WR Sammy Watkins vs. CB Adam Jones:
Watkins will return and he will lock up one corner which will likely be Jones. Even if he's not 100% he will help open things up for the other receivers because of his mere presence on the field.

RT Seantrel Henderson vs. LDE Carlos Dunlap:
Henderson is coming off his worst game of the year and goes up against Dunlap who leads the league with five sacks already on the young season.

S Corey Graham vs. TE Tyler Eifert:
The third year TE is coming into his own this year as he is second on the team in catches and yards. The Bills will likely put the former cornerback Graham on him to keep him at bay.

CB Ronald Darby vs. WR A.J. Green:
The Bengals will likely lineup Green on the rookie's side of the field. Darby has played real well but Green right now may be the best receiver in the league.

KEYS TO THE GAME

1. Control the clock: No matter who plays QB, they need to have long, sustained drives to keep the ball out of the hands of the Bengals high powered offense.

2. Protect the ball: It's going to be tough enough to win this game without making it easier by giving the ball away. If they don't turn the ball over it will go a long way towards pulling off the win.

3. 12th Man advantage: Rex Ryan once again challenged the fans to be very loud to help them beat the undefeated Bengals. If the crowd is loud and stays in the game throughout that can even up this matchup.

BILLS DAILY PREDICTION

This game was always going to be tough to win for the Bills even if they were healthy. With the injuries mounting and the Bengals soaring I just don't see how the Bills could win no matter who plays QB or if Watkins and/or McCoy can go:
Bengals 30, Bills 16

Season Prediction Record: (2-3)
Season Record Against The Spread: (2-3)

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