Week 5: Bills vs. Bengals
at
Sunday, Oct. 8th
1:00pm ET
The Bills are flying high as they head to Cincinnati to play a Bengals team that has had an offensive resurgence the past two games after firing their offensive coordinator. The Bills are underdogs in this game but many are calling it a trap game as one they should win to keep their hot start going.

FACTS AND FIGURES

Matchup: Buffalo (3-1) vs. Cincinnati (1-3)
Place: Paul Brown Stadium
TV/Radio: Network: CBS; DirecTV: 707; Sirius: 112; SiriusXM: 384
Announcers: Tom McCarthy, Steve Beuerlein, and Steve Tasker
Spread: Bengals by 3
Series: Bills lead 16-12 (Bills 0-2 in playoffs)
Streak: Bills Won 1
Last Meeting: Bills 16-12 in Cincinnati (2016)
Bengals Offense Rush (23rd); Pass (18th); overall (27th)
Bengals Defense Rush (17th); Pass (3rd); overall (3rd)
Bills Offense Rush (16th); Pass (31st); overall (29th)
Bills Defense Rush (13th); Pass (11th); overall (9th)


INJURY UPDATE

The Bills are banged up for the first time this year as Ramon Humber and Jordan Matthews are sidelined with thumb injuries. Micah Hyde is battling knee soreness but should play. Cordy Glenn continues to battle foot and ankle issues that cost him last week's game. Shaq Lawson and E.J. Gaines both are battling groin injuries.

The Bengals are also battling injuries with both starting corners and three tight ends on their injury report. Starting TE Tyler Eifert is sidelined with a back injury. WR John Ross has a knee injury and is sidelined. LB Jordan Evans has a hamstring injury. S Derron Smith has an ankle injury. Corners Adam Jones and Dre Kirkpatrick have been limited this week.

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

KEY MATCHUPS

LG John Miller vs. LB Vontaze Burfict:
Miller will be overmatched against the fired up Burfict who came off of suspension last week. He can't count on help from Wood who will be busy with the defensive tackles.

C Eric Wood vs. DT Geno Atkins:
Wood will have his hands full with the veteran star Atkins and his partner Pat Sims. Atkins leads the Bengals with three sacks and can dominant the middle of the line. Wood always gets extra excited about coming home to the Cincy area.

DB E.J. Gaines vs. WR A.J. Green:
Gaines is banged up but should play, they will need him to be healthy because he likely will be lined up against Green much of the time. Teams are going to stop picking on the Tre'Davious White.

LB Matt Milano vs. RB Joe Mixon:
Milano replaces the team's tackle leader in the injured Ramon Humber and will need to slow down the rookie back Mixon.

KEYS TO THE GAME

1. No Letdown: This is the main key, the Bills have to guard against feeling too good about themselves after back to back impressive wins. If they put those wins out of their mind and play like they have been, they should win but that is easier said than done.

2. Pressure Dalton: The Bengals offense has been hot the past two weeks. If the Bills can constantly pressure Andy Dalton that can go a long way towards keeping them in check.

3. Run The Football: If the Bills struggle again this week running the football it may be time to start worrying. Granted, the Bengals have a solid front four but that didn't stop the Bills last year, so far it has stopped them this year.

BILLS DAILY PREDICTION

The Bills are surprisingly not favored going into a game against a one win team. The Bengals are better than their record and the jury is still out on if the Bills are as good as theirs. A loss this week would undo some of the good that came from back to back wins. Sean McDermott and some of the veterans are making it a point to make sure the team doesn't overlook this team. I'm worried that they will but I will give them the benefit of the doubt:
Bills 20, Bengals 16

Season Prediction Record: (3-1)
Season Record Against The Spread: (2-1-1)

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