Bills Run Defense Vs. Bears Run Defense

[BillsImpossible]

Preseason statistics can at times be somewhat misleading, but generally speaking I think the stats give a good glimpse of what is to come.

http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorystats?tabSeq=2&offensiveStatisticCategory=GAME_STATS&conference=ALL&role=TM&season=2014&seasonType=PRE&d-447263-s=TOTAL_YARDS_GAME_AVG&d-447263-o=2&d-447263-n=1

The Eagles, Seahawks, and Patriots ranked 1 2 3 respectively on offense.

That seems to be an accurate sneak peak of what may soon follow but then again, Oakland and St. Louis finished in the top 10 and the Bills ranked better than the 49ers and Colts so it's just a sneak preview at best and nobody really knows how the movie will start or end.

Based on the sneak previews called preseason football, the Bills look like they have a dominant defensive line.

The Broncos, Bills, and Ravens ranked 1 2 3 respectively against the preseason run.

http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorystats?tabSeq=2&defensiveStatisticCategory=RUSHING&conference=ALL&role=OPP&season=2014&seasonType=PRE&d-447263-s=RUSHING_YARDS_PER_GAME_AVG&d-447263-o=1&d-447263-n=1

The Bears finished 25th against the run.

Overall defensive statistics show that the Ravens, Broncos, and Redskins ranked 1 2 3 respectfully.

http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorystats?tabSeq=2&defensiveStatisticCategory=GAME_STATS&conference=ALL&role=OPP&season=2014&seasonType=PRE&d-447263-s=TOTAL_YARDS_GAME_AVG&d-447263-o=1&d-447263-n=1

Bills finished 6th. Bears finished 29th.

Against the pass, Bills defense finished 12th.

Against the pass, Bears defense finished 31st.

Looks like the Bills have the better D.

http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorystats?tabSeq=2&defensiveStatisticCategory=TEAM_PASSING&conference=ALL&role=OPP&season=2014&seasonType=PRE&d-447263-s=PASSING_NET_YARDS_GAME_AVG&d-447263-o=1&d-447263-n=1

Okay. What's your game plan to beat the Bears?

On offense. Run the ball 40 times, no more than 20 passes for EJ Manuel.

If the Bills can rip Chicago by running all over them, EJ's going to have 20 easy passes.

On defense. Jim Schwartz beat Jay Cutler twice last year. How'd he do it?

KEY to the game: The Bills front 4.

If the Bills defense can get good pressure on Cutler up front with a 4 man rush and stuff the run, all EJ Manuel has to do is hand off the ball.

[Fletch]

KEY to the game: The Bills front 4.

If the Bills defense can get good pressure on Cutler up front with a 4 man rush and stuff the run, all EJ Manuel has to do is hand off the ball.

The key to the game will be scoring where we must have ranked 32nd in the preseason. At least 1st-team on 1st-team.

Spiller averaged 3.5 ypc in the preseason, Jackson averaged 3.2. Without a viable passing game that's no likely to improve.

[jamze132]

The key is EJ not turning the ball over since we're not going to be able to run against 8-9 in the box.

[BillsImpossible]

The key to the game will be scoring where we must have ranked 32nd in the preseason. At least 1st-team on 1st-team.

Spiller averaged 3.5 ypc in the preseason, Jackson averaged 3.2. Without a viable passing game that's no likely to improve.

I think the defensive stats will matter more.

[justasportsfan]

Run all day and keep Cutler off the field

[BillsImpossible]

The key is EJ not turning the ball over since we're not going to be able to run against 8-9 in the box.

8-9 in the box?

Pass and pray.

[ghz in pittsburgh]

8-9 in the box?

Pass and pray.

It depends. If you have quality people, 8-9 in box will stop run most of the time. If you have bad people (esp safeties), then you allow big runs as you are so close to the line.

If Marrone is true to what he said "ain't showing nothing preseason", expect lot of "spread them out then run at them", kind of our old Chan's strategy. I myself expect to see more 3 wide + Chandler + Jackson sets which they haven't shown much, but logically the best option on 3rd downs.

[BillsOverDolphins]

It's amazing that the line is still Bears -6.5...some places it's now at 7. It would behoove all of you to get while the gettin's good. Don't let it creep up to 7.5 w/o getting a piece of the action. This game has rape written all over it

[ghz in pittsburgh]

I'm afraid the line will creep up.

Remember the Bears lost 5 of the front 7 on defense at one point. So expect better D from them (one of the reason they didn't address too much on that side off season).

On the other hand, I DO believe we are going to be better on offense despite what they have shown in pre-season games. It's probably the only logical conclusion. No coaching nor philosophical change on that side of the ball; Manuel, Woods, Goodwin just went through the universal jumps from year 1 to year 2 -- EJ may or may not be good enough for NFL eventually, but year 1 to year 2 should still be an improvement for him; they upgraded O-Line talent and the coaches know the players better.

I don't expect them to win this Sunday. But I expect them to play better than what their did on their first road game last year, a 27-20 loss to the Jets.

[better days]

It's amazing that the line is still Bears -6.5...some places it's now at 7. It would behoove all of you to get while the gettin's good. Don't let it creep up to 7.5 w/o getting a piece of the action. This game has rape written all over it

I would rather wait until it creeps up to 7.5 myself.

[stuckincincy]

Run all day and keep Cutler off the field

Chewing up the clock is probably a reasonable strategy.

[Generalissimus Gibby]

I'm much more curious to compare our Run D to their Run O, unless Marone thinks that some of our defensive players can play qb and OL and really I would not be against that.

[stuckincincy]

The pundits on the CBS sports site don't like BUF's chances:

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/features/writers/expert/picks/straight-up/1

[justasportsfan]

The pundits on the CBS sports site don't like BUF's chances:

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/features/writers/expert/picks/straight-up/1

bills fans don't like BUF's chances ......except for homers like me. Buff 23 - chi 10

[stuckincincy]

bills fans don't like BUF's chances ......except for homers like me. Buff 23 - chi 10

I was surprised that their pick was unanimous. They did say their choices were straight up, so they can weasel around the usual bookie line of giving a home club 3 points.

I'd try to slap around Cutler, to force him into one of his well-documented, out of control snits. Get the 12th man involved. :boozer:

[BLeonard]

The pundits on the CBS sports site don't like BUF's chances:

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/features/writers/expert/picks/straight-up/1

Not that I think the Bills will win Sunday, but one of their "pundits" (Dave Richard) got outpicked last season by Jake "The Snake" Roberts... So, I personally don't put much stock into what the "pundits" say... They're all using educated guesses, just like anyone else.

-Bill

[better days]

The pundits on the CBS sports site don't like BUF's chances:

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/features/writers/expert/picks/straight-up/1

CBS is too CRAPPY to even carry this game. It is on Fox.