I consider this game a season defining ones for the Buffalo Bills. So far the Bills have stayed with every opponent, making each game matter late into the 4th quarter. As Bills fans we’ve seen this many times, after a big-time win comes a humbling loss making us realize, it’s just more of the same. We keep hearing that this is a new team, that there’s a new mentality. Now they need to show us on the road in Cleveland, against a team that had basically conceded their season.
Quarterback:
Look, we don’t know anything about Bobby Hoyer (joke). We know that he was handed the reigns over Jason Campbell, most likely to lose out, but he’s battling and he’s playing well especially since the team has shown no ability to run the ball after trading Trent Richardson.
EJ Manuel has been criticized the last two weeks, I was actually quite happy with his play against Baltimore, he threw 2 INT’s sure, but both were very forgivable, if people want to see him working the long ball interceptions are part of that development. Browns need to count on Hoyer to win this game, and I don’t think he can do it three weeks in a row. = Bills
EJ Manuel: 74/130, 856 yards, 5TD – 3INT, QBR 80.2
Brian Hoyer: 55/92, 590 yards, 5TD – 3INT, QBR 83.2
Running back:
Both Fred Jackson and CJ Spiller are expected to play at less than 100% on Thursday night, Cleveland has the 6th ranked rushing defense. What can we expect? Is this going to be like the Jets game or the Baltimore game? (Both defenses ranked in the top ten when facing the Bills) I think it will be somewhere in the middle, I think we’ll see each back pick up about 60 yards or so, and I think we’ll see CJ find the endzone for the first time in 2013. On the opposite side of the field Willis McGahee is still trying to get into rhythm with the Browns offense I expect we will continue to see him improve but this matchup favors the Bill. = Bills
Fred Jackson: 48/256 yards, 5.3YPC, 2TD’s
Willis McGahee: 23/55 yards, 2.4YPC, 0 TD’s
Wide Receivers/Tight ends:
Robert Woods and Scott Chandler are getting better every week, TJ Graham had a huge play to set the tempo for the Bills against Baltimore and Stevie Johnson was almost shutout. We’re seeing inconsistencies in Manuel and that carries down to his receivers. In Cleveland it’s all about Jordan Cameron. No team has found an answer for him yet. Josh Gordon is the other big name in the Dog Pound, but it’s Davone Bess who worries me. I expect him to have a similar game that Tedd Ginn had just a few weeks ago in Buffalo. = Browns
Jordan Cameron: 30/360 yards, 5 TD
Stevie Johnson: 18/235 yards, 2 TD
Josh Gordon: 14/217 yards, 1 TD
Robert Woods: 11/201 yards, 2 TD
Oline:
Cleveland has allowed 17 sacks this year, allowing that kind of pressure has resulted in 6 INT’s. The Bills have allowed 13 sacks, 8 of them coming against the Jets. Both teams have faced four solid defenses, but the Browns inability to run the ball has me leaning to the Bills on this one. =Bills
Dline/LBers:
The Browns are led by DE Desmond Bryant and LBer’s D’Qwell Jackson & Barkevious Mingo. Their front seven can get after your QB and are sure tacklers in the run game. The Bills have had great success up the middle lately with Darues and Williams, where the play from the Outside/End position has been up and down. Kiko Alonso has shown to have the right instincts and has become a fan favorite overnight. A defining game for both groups, so I’ll call this one a draw. = Tie
Defensive backs:
What a difference a week makes. Aaron Williams versatility was a huge factor in why the Bills were able to squeak out a win over the Ravens. With question marks all over the secondary again (Byrd, McKelvin) Williams is going to need to step it up again. This Browns secondary is almost always in perfect position, it’s going to take some good throws and some play-action to take advantage of this group. I feel wrong doing this after a 5 INT game, but Browns win this battle. = Browns
Coaching:
Memo from the front office to Rob Chudzinski: You’re messing it up!
Both rookie coaches come into this game at 2-2, Chudzinski, beat MIN on the road and CIN at home, and Marrone has 2 home wins and a loss at NYJ.
Chudzinski got the Cleveland job from his success in working with Cam Newton. After being hired as head coach, he brought with him Norv Turner who he worked under in San Diego as a TE coach and Ray Horton who was a hot head coaching prospect in his own right working under Whisenhunt in AZ.
Both coaches are well supported but I give Cleveland the edge. = Browns
