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After an inspiring 2-2 start, the Buffalo Bills have plummeted to a mere 3-7 record. Coming off the worst loss of the season in Pittsburgh, the Bills will have their chance to redeem themselves at home against the Jets. Frustration is beginning to rise in the fan base, and if the Bills can’t come out with a win, then they could experience a torrential storm of anger.

What it Means

Things have not been favorable to the Bills the last few weeks. They have fallen to 1-5 in the last six games and their last one being the worst loss of the season. EJ Manuel struggled mightily against an old Steelers defense, creating chaos amongst the fans. The Bills have already played the Jets this year and it was quite a loss as the Jets dominated every facet of the game. Buffalo will be the spoiler and vengeance will be on their mind as they hope to narrow the Jets chances of getting a Wild Card spot.

Geno Smith and the Jets have been rolling and are now sitting at an impressive 5-4. The Jets are looking to start a playoff push supported by a staunch defense and solid play from the rushing attack and Geno Smith. The Jets have dominated the Bills once this season and will expect to do so in their chase for a Wild Card Spot.

Matchups to Watch

Erik Pears vs. Muhammad Wilkerson

The last time these two teams played, Wilkerson registered two sacks and created a multitude of opportunities for the rest of the linemen. He is a versatile player who will move along the line so communication will be key to prevent him or the other linemen from disrupting Manuel.

Leodis McKelvin vs. Stephen Hill

McKelvin was forced out of the game on the first drive resulting in Justin Rogers’ appearance on the field. Hill consistently burned Rogers and the Bills greatly struggled against the pass. Hill only had 3 receptions but for 108 yards and 2 TDs. McKelvin is lightyears ahead of where Rogers is in terms of talent, and he’s playing the best football of his life now. This matchup should prove to be an important one.

Scott Chandler vs. Antonio Allen

With both Robert Woods and Stevie Johnson out, this will likely be the one of the few mismatches the Bills will have. Allen had great success containing the league’s best tight end in Rob Gronkowski and will certainly look to do the same against Chandler. Similarly, Allen will now have a personal tutor in Ed Reed so look for some comparable playing styles this weekend. If Chandler can’t get open, Manuel will be ineffective. He was harassed by the Jets, and if he can’t get the ball to Chandler, it will be a long day.

The Bills Will Win If…

They can effectively rush the football. Compared to 109.6 yards rushing the road, the Bills average 171.8 at home. Manuel struggled against the Jets and especially last week against the Steelers so the run game will be essential if the Bills hope to win. Similarly, the Bills need to force turnovers to help the offense. Finally, the Bills are second in the NFL in sacks with 33. If the Bills pass rush can get to Geno Smith, only good things can happen.

The Jets Will Win If…

They can stifle the rush. The Bills only reached 100 yards on the ground because of Fred Jackson’s miraculous 59 yard run. Spiller was held to 10 yards on 9 carries. Manuel played one of his worst games of the season because of the pressure. If the Jets can stop the run, they can play all out on the pass and that would most definitely not bode well for the Bills. Finally, if the Jets don’t penalize themselves up the wazoo like they did last game, then the Bills should not stick around for long.

Prediction

With Stevie Johnson and Robert Woods out, I can’t imagine the Bills having too much offensive firepower. The Jets have a strong defense and will look to exploit Manuel. The Bills will be at home and this will be advantageous, but the Bills don’t have the offensive capabilities of getting it done against the Jets. However, Bills fans must stay optimistic because the future is very bright for this team. There’s a lot of young talent and they will continue to improve.

Jets Win 24-13.

After 13 plus years of mostly horrible football teams, the 2013 Buffalo Bills have continued to give fans hope for the future. This team features one of the NFL’s premier rushing attacks, a playmaking defense, and a notoriously competitive team to play against. They are on the fringe of the AFC playoff race sitting at 3-4. Despite facing great adversity from injuries, it has been difficult to judge just how good the Bills actually are when competing against a Super Bowl contender, in an incredibly hostile environment. The Saints will prove to be a prime measuring stick for the Bills. Finally, Marrone is returning to the Big Easy, will it be a triumphant one?

What It Means

The Bills are coming off a huge victory in Miami, improving their record to 3-4 and 1-2 in the AFC East. This will be a great game to determine just how good the Bills are, but must be taken with a grain of salt with their two best offensive players (Manuel and Spiller) being out. By moving to .500, the Bills could ride a major momentum swing coming home to play the Chiefs, possibly spring-boarding a late playoff push.

For the Saints, playing any game at home is an automatic leg up, especially when going against a team as young as the Bills. However, they should not take the Bills for granted, as they have played competitively all season against some solid teams. Sitting among the top of a very competitive NFC, it is imperative for the Saints to win all winnable games to clinch home field advantage.

Matchups to Watch

Mario Williams vs. Zach Strief

Mario Williams is currently sitting at second in the NFL with 10 sacks, and played a large role at the end of last game to put it away. The way Williams is playing, it is very possible that Strief may not be able to handle him by himself. The Saints will need to do something to slow Williams down because Brees is a pocket passer, and if the Bills can put pressure on him, it will force quick passes and relieve the secondary. Turnovers have been the Bills specialty this season, but against Brees, the Bills will have to get pressure otherwise there will be no interceptions thrown. Brees is simply too good.

Cordy Glenn vs. Cameron Jordan

Cordy Glenn has had a good season thus far, but this will be one of the tougher matchups he will face going against Jordan. Jordan’s game is a power rush style, and he has been able to generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks. If he can continue this, the Bills rushing attack could be stunted, forcing Lewis to drop back and pass.

Kiko Alonso/Da’Norris Searcy vs. Darren Sproles

Sproles is an absolute handful for anyone to deal with, and has consistently proven to hurt opposing offenses. If the Bills hope to slow down the Saints high-powered offensive attack, then they must be able to stop Sproles.

The Bills Will Win If…

They can keep Brees off the field. The Bills will be going against a similar defense they struggled with against the Jets as Rob Ryan has turned the Saints around. It will be difficult, but if the Bills can establish a solid ground game, then controlling the ball should be a little easier. Similarly, the Bills have to get pressure on Brees. They will most likely only rush 4 and drop everyone else into coverage, but if Brees has time to survey the field, he will pick the secondary apart.

The Saints Will Win If…

They can stifle the Bills rush attack. If they can do this, then Lewis will be forced to drop back and pass, and I’m not sure that’s something Marrone wants. Secondly, the Saints must protect Brees and slow the Bills explosive front four somehow. The Bills have recorded 23 sacks on the season. Protecting Brees and the ball is essential if they are to win this game.

Prediction

The Bills have shown lots of heart and hope for the future, and they have played competitively in all games, but I don’t feel like they can slow the Saints in the Superdome. New Orleans is an especially difficult to play football, especially when you are one of the youngest teams in the NFL. I do believe that the Bills will put up at least 20, but Brees will find a way to exploit the Bills secondary.

Saints Win 35-20.

Despite a 2-4 record and being dead last in the division, this Bills team has shown tremendous heart and has given fans hope for the future. They play aggressively, making big plays on both sides of the ball despite missing key players. The Marrone era has certainly brought a new sense of competitiveness as five of the six games have been decided by one score or less. They are also the only team aside from Denver to score at least 20 points each game. These moral victories are wonderful for the future, but they do not get teams to the playoffs, only their record does. They will go up against a physical Dolphins team, and must battle to refrain from falling to an 0-3 divisional record.

(Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)

What It Means

For the Bills, this season has been nothing short of exciting and has been filled with many moral victories and improvements. However, they still stand at 2-4 and 0-2 in the division. Falling to 0-3 would most likely eliminate any chances at making a run at the playoffs. The Bills have been in every game thus far, but have failed to learn how to win. This is another winnable game, and if the Bills want to turn around their season, this is the time to start.

The Dolphins are coming off a bye week after a tough loss against the Ravens. After a hot start, the Dolphins have cooled losing their last two. This will be their first divisional game and it is a must win if they hope to catch the Patriots for first in the division.

Matchups to Watch

Mario Williams vs. Tyson Clabo

Mario Williams has recorded 8.5 sacks on the season and has been disrupting opposing offenses all year long. Clabo has really struggled this season, allowing 5 sacks in 5 games. Tannehill and the Dolphins offense has been prone to turning the ball over, and the Bills defense thrives off of turnovers, so if Williams can get pressure on Tannehill, Thad Lewis and the Bills offense may be able to benefit from good field position.

Erik Pears vs. Cameron Wake

Cameron Wake is coming off a sprained MCL and will not be 100 percent, but his speed will still be difficult to challenge, especially in a hostile road environment. Despite his injury, Wake will still draw extra attention from the Bills offensive line, and thus, he will be able to open up matchups for rookie Dion Jordan.

CJ Spiller and Fred Jackson vs. Paul Soliai

The Bills enter Sunday’s game as the league’s third best rushing attack averaging 148.8 yards per game. Soliai is Miami’s defensive tackle standing at 6’4″ and 340 pounds. He is an absolute behemoth. If he can create penetration on the Bills offensive line, Lewis will be forced to air out the football. Marrone’s offense has always been a run first attack, and especially with Manuel out, the Bills will lean on the run. If the Bills can establish a rushing attack, then that would open up the passing game for Lewis to exploit, as he proved he could do last week against a staunch Bengals defense.

The Bills Will Win If…

They are able to get pressure on Tannehill. The Dolphins offensive line has allowed more sacks than any other team this year, and Bills defensive coordinator Mike Pettine is known for creating various blitz packages. If the Bills can pressure Tannehill, he will surely turn the ball over creating a short field for Lewis. The pressure will also blanket a weak secondary. Secondly, the Bills must be able to rush the football and maintain possession of the football. They cannot afford to expose their pass defense more than necessary, as that cost them the game last week.

The Dolphins Will Win If…

They can stop the Bills rushing attack. The Bills average 148.8 yards per game, and if they get going, it will be tough to stop. Lewis is also know to run, as he rushed for 1 TD last week, so they must contain him as well. The Dolphins must also be able to stop, or at least hold up, a strong Bills front 7. Pettine thrives off various blitz packages and will certainly throw lots of looks at a young quarterback. Finally, they must keep their fans involved by limiting explosive plays. They have given up 7 plays of 40 or more yards, and the Bills certainly have many playmakers capable of producing such plays.

Prediction

This game will prove to be a physical, competitive, and heated rivalry game in a hostile Miami environment that screams “Fins Up!” Lewis will start his second game, but this one will be a road game so it will be interesting to see how he responds to the crowd noise. Although the Dolphins are coming off a bye week, and may have more raw talent, I believe the Bills have more heart and a more competitive nature under Marrone, and I see a Bills victory. It will be a close and exciting game coming down to the wire, but the Bills will win.

Bills Win 27-24.

What It Means

The Bills are coming off a tough loss at Cleveland on Thursday night, and are now sitting at 2-3 at the bottom of the division. Against another AFC foe in the Bengals, the Bills will play in yet another important game, although this time, they will be playing without EJ Manuel. It will be a grueling matchup, but if the Bills truly want to make a push for the playoffs, there aren’t many more games they can afford to lose.

The Bengals are coming off an impressive defensive victory against Tom Brady and the Patriots. The Bengals were able to hold the perennial great with no touchdown passes, effectively snapping Brady’s 52 game touchdown streak. Sitting in a three way tie for first place in the AFC North, the Bengals seek to push ahead to take the lead.

Matchups to Watch

Stephon Gilmore vs. AJ Green

Gilmore seeks to make his triumphant return to the field after suffering from a broken wrist in the preseason. AJ Green is the most explosive player on the Bengals’ offense, but Dalton has struggled to feed him the ball, and Gilmore may only make it worse. Granted Gilmore plays, it will be his first game back, so it can be expected for him to make some mistakes.

Colin Brown/Doug Legursky vs. Geno Atkins

Geno Atkins has established himself as one of the NFL’s premier interior defensive linemen. The Bills have struggled at left guard all season, and their task will not be any easier against Atkins. If the Bills want to ease Thad Lewis into the game, it will be essential to block Atkins to establish a run game and relieve pressure.

CJ Spiller/Fred Jackson vs. Bengals Front 7

Last week, the Bengals held the Patriots under 100 yards on the ground. Without Manuel, the Bills will have to heavily rely on the run game to blanket Lewis. If the Bills are unable to establish the rush, throwing the ball against a stingy pass defense would put tremendous pressure on Thad Lewis. Look for Spiller and Jackson to split carries evenly.

The Bills Will Win If…

They are able to effectively rush the football. Airing the ball out with Lewis may not be the ideal way to win the football game, especially since this is only his second career start. Secondly, the Bills have to convert on third downs. They have consistently struggled all year long, and it won’t be any easier against the Bengals. The Bills also have to make Dalton uncomfortable. Dalton is on pace to throw a career low 16 touchdowns and a career high 16 interceptions. Pressure has proven to throw Dalton off his game, and the Bills certainly have the talent up front to apply pressure and the ability to create turnovers.

The Bengals Will Win If…

They can stifle the Bills rushing attack. Lewis’s abilities are currently unknown, and the Bengals will surely test him. The Bengals also have to keep the ball safe. The Bills have more interceptions than any other team, and Dalton has struggled, so it is imperative that they keep the ball. Finally, if the Bengals can get the Bills off the field on third down.

Prediction

Overall, this will be an extremely tough game for the Bills to win. Although they get Byrd, Gilmore, and Goodwin back from injuries, they lost Manuel and may also lose Johnson. The Bills are clearly struggling with injuries. The Bengals have a very tough defense, and will look to make Lewis uncomfortable in the pocket. The Bengals will also have an easier time considering the crowd noise will be down because the game didn’t sell out. I just don’t see the Bills being able to pull this game off. I do believe that they will put up a good fight, but I believe the Bengals defense will overpower the Bills offense.

Bengals Win 24-14.

Go Bills!!!!

The Bills, coming off a miserable road loss to the Jets, will return home as the defending Super Bowl champs come to town. This will be a hard-fought game by each team, as each look to improve their standings in the AFC.

What it Means

For the Bills, the embarrassing loss to the New York Jets exposed many of the defensive weaknesses. For the past few weeks, the pass rush was able to cover up the defense, but they were held in check, and thus, players like Justin Rogers were torn apart, mind you, by a quarterback like Geno Smith. The Bills are now 0-2 in the division, riddled with key injuries, and have some major problems that need to be addressed.

The Ravens are coming in with a two game winning streak, and hope to improve to a three game streak. The Bills’ weaknesses on defense were exposed in full effect last week, so expect to see some similar blitz packages on EJ Manuel. The Ravens have had a tough time getting started on the ground, but they are going against the 30th ranked rushing defense in the Bills, and if they can start explosively, the game could get out of hand quickly.

This game will be a tough matchup for the Bills, but winning third downs, playing defense, and actually scoring touchdowns is what it will take to bring down a team like the Ravens. Whoever plays a full four quarters can come away with the win.

Matchups to Watch

Aaron Williams vs. Torrey Smith

Buffalo’s secondary is depleted, and Flacco will definitely look to expose it again. Williams is most likely to be assigned to Smith because of the questionability of McKelvin. Smith is Flacco’s favorite deep and he can absolutely fly. If Flacco can connect with Smith on long balls, the defense would have to soften up, which would allow the Ravens to rush the football easily.

EJ Manuel vs. Defensive Coordinator Dean Pees

Pressure was EJ Manuel’s absolute worst nightmare last week. He had trouble locating receivers, and if he did, he missed the target. Rex Ryan gave him no time to look or think, and Manuel’s inability to read the defense proved as the Bills’ offensive achilles heel. Dean Pees would have certainly watched some film from last week’s game and I expect him to call complex blitz packages to confuse the rookie again. If the Bills are unable to give Manuel a little time, then it will be a long day for the Bills.

Mario Williams vs. Bryant McKinnie

After coming up with a 4.5 sack game against the Panthers, Williams was virtually non-existent last week, along with the rest of the defensive line. McKinnie has played well, and we all have seen Williams’ ability to explode off the line. Because Flacco is not a scrambling quarterback, pressure can disrupt him. Setting the edge will also help contain the Ravens rushing offense. If Williams can draw more attention to himself, he will allow more space for Kyle Williams and Dareus more room to work with. They will be without Carrington for the year, but if Mario Williams can get pressure on Flacco and disrupt the run game, then the Bills’ secondary will not be too exposed.

The Bills Will Win If…

They are able to win third downs. On both sides of the ball, The Bills have been absolutely atrocious. They rank 27th on defense and 28th on offense. If the Bills want any chance of winning this game, then they have to keep their defense off the field because Flacco can tear them apart. CJ Spiller also has to do something. He is nowhere to be found and it is clearly hurting the Bills. Hackett has to get him going whether it be by screens, short passes, or runs to the outside. The offensive line really hasn’t done him a service either. Finally, the Bills need to score touchdowns. For them to have driven to the 10 yard line twice last week and only come up with 6 points is pathetic. No team can win games by kicking field goals, especially not against a team with such offensive talent as the Ravens.

The Ravens Will Win If…

They can run the football. The Bills are ranked 30th in the league against the run, and if they can get the run game going, the Ravens will be able to solidify the play-action fake. The Ravens also have to expose the Bills secondary with some long shots down the field. Flacco has quite the arm, Smith has great speed, and the Bills have nobody left to cover the receivers. Finally, if the Ravens can make Manuel uncomfortable like the Jets did, then this will be a relatively routine win, unless Spiller gets going. Then containing Spiller would be essential.

Prediction

This game will be a difficult game for the Bills. Injuries have accumulated and effected many starters, the defense is weak, and nobody knows what exactly happened to EJ Manuel last week. The Ravens, on the other hand, look solid and are riding a two game win streak. Although the Bills are playing at the Ralph, the Ravens are simply too much for the Bills to handle.

Ravens Win 27-14.

Go Bills!!!

This year’s AFC race appears to be wide-open, and the Bills and Jets square off to look to establish themselves as teams to beat in the AFC. The winner of this game will move to 2-1 and more importantly, 1-1 in the AFC East. Falling into an early 0-2 deficit in the division could prove fatal for potential playoff hopes. It may only be week 3, but every divisional game is important. Mike Pettine and Rex Ryan both field similar defenses, and Doug Marrone and Ryan are also playing rookie quarterbacks. This game looks to be a hard fought battle coming down to the wire.

What it Means

For the Bills, coming off a heart-stopping performance like last week’s final drive, momentum is definitely in their favor. It may only be week 3, but if the Bills fall to 0-2 in the division this early in the season, it would be extremely tough on the team to come back and win their divisional games in the future. New England will certainly be healthier with Gronkowski back (barring a freak accident) and the Dolphins look strong, and well, the Jets are the Jets-you never know what you’ll see from them.

For the Jets, they almost came away with a win on Thursday night against the Patriots. This game will prove to be a measuring stick for both teams. Both barely lost to the Patriots and won the other game in the dying seconds of the fourth quarter.

This game will prove to be a tough matchup coming down to who makes the least mistakes and who can capitalize on the mistakes.

Matchups to Watch

Stevie Johnson vs. Antonio Cromartie

In this week’s matchup, Stevie Johnson won’t have the privilege of making Darrelle Revis look like a fool, but he will have the chance to back up his words by going up against Cromartie. Cromartie is a tall, lanky, athletic guy who allows his instincts to control his game. This means that Cromartie likes to bite a lot, and Johnson loves to run unorthodox routes. This looks like a great matchup. Last week, Johnson lit it up with 8 receptions for 111 yards and the game winning touchdown reception. If Johnson can win this matchup, Manuel will have a lot easier time finding targets, and Spiller’s running lanes will open up.

Mario Williams vs. Austin Howard

Last week, Williams exploded and set the new Bills single-game record for sacks with 4.5. He blew up a lot of plays in the backfield, not only against Cam Newton, but against the run as well. Geno Smith has had an exceptional amount of trouble with turnovers and sacks. If Williams gets into the backfield, then Smith will definitely falter. Howard will have his hands full.

Kraig Urbik vs. Muhammad Wilkerson

The same could be said for Jets linemen Muhammad Wilkerson. He is arguably their best defensive linemen. He’s explosive and loves to blow up plays in the backfield. If Urbik can’t contain him, Manuel will be under constant duress, but more importantly, the Bills rushing attack will falter.

Nickell Robey vs. Jeremy Kerley

Robey somehow went undrafted after a fantastic senior year at USC. He played a strong game last week, but will have to up his performance going against the Jets’ number one slot receiver in Jeremy Kerley. He’s fast, has good hands, and is elusive. Robey needs to be able to contain him to keep the short pass completions away from Smith. This will allow pressure to get to Smith, probably causing turnovers and sacks.

The Bills Will Win If…

They get pressure on Smith. He has had a number of problems turning the ball over or just holding on to it for too long. EJ Manuel also has to keep playing the way he has. He may have had two costly turnovers last week, but he was able to put it behind himself and engineer a phenomenal game winning drive. However, Manuel has to start connecting on some of the deep balls to make the defense respect it, otherwise they will be all over the short game. The Bills must also have an effective rushing attack. This opens up a lot of options in the passing game, especially play action, and this would help Manuel out tremendously. Finally, it will be essential to convert on third downs. The Jets are ranked fourth in the NFL for third down defense, and that seems to be the Bills achilles heel, so if the Bills want to put up points, converting on third down is a great way to start.

The Jets Will Win If…

Geno Smith doesn’t really throw the football. Unfortunately for the Jets, their quarterback situation has not been solved by drafting Smith. He’s had a number of issues in his first two games. If Smith does drop back and pass, the offensive line has to give him time. On the other hand, Smith can’t hold onto the football all day long. The Jets also have to get pressure on the Bills. If Manuel has time, he has shown the ability to pick teams apart. This will also allow Spiller to run free, something the Jets really don’t want to deal with. Finally, the Jets have to get the Bills off the field on third downs. If the Bills can convert, it will be a long day for Jets fans.

Prediction

Last week’s victory for the Bills is a huge momentum swing in their favor. They were so effective in many different facets, especially in the sack department. I believe that, although the Bills are playing their first road game, they have a more competent quarterback and have a great defensive front. I don’t see the Bills letting up on the aggression on defense, and I believe that it will be too much for Geno Smith and their offensive line to handle.

Bills Win 24-17!

Go Bills!!!