Week 5: Bills vs. Browns
at
Sunday, Oct. 11th
1:00pm ET
The Bills limp home after last week's blowout loss to Miami. The potential good news is the wounded animal that comes to Orchard Park this week. The Browns are winless and have lost 10 straight games dating back to last season. Their last win though was on Monday night in this stadium last November. They traded perhaps their best offensive weapon this week by sending Braylon Edwards to the Jets.

FACTS AND FIGURES

Matchup: Buffalo (1-3) vs. Cleveland (0-4)
Place: Ralph Wilson Stadium
Television: CBS
Announcers: Don Criqui and Randy Cross
Spread: Bills by 6
Series: Browns lead 10-5 (Bills 0-1 in playoffs)
Streak: Browns Won 2
Last Meeting: Browns 29-27 in Buffalo (2008)
Browns Offense: Rush (27th); Pass (26th); overall (29th)
Browns Defense: Rush (31st); Pass (t-21st); overall (32nd)
Bills Offense: Rush (14th); Pass (25th); overall (26th)
Bills Defense: Rush (27th); Pass (t-21st); overall (27th)


INJURY UPDATE

The Bills will likely be without 75% of their defensive secondary again in this game. Donte Whitner is out after undergoing thumb injury, Leodis McKelvin is on injured reserve. Bryan Scott is sidelined with a high ankle sprain. Demetrius Bell has a groin injury but will likely play this week. John McCargo will also likely return this week. He has a calf injury. Derek Schouman and Brad Butler are out for the year with knee injuries. Paul Posluszny remains out with a forearm injury.

The Browns have some injuries at running back. Jamal Lewis missed last week's game with a hamstring injury while James Davis has been put on IR with a shoulder injury. K Phil Dawson has been sidelined with a calf injury. Guards Rex Hadnot and Floyd Womack missed last week's game against Cincinnati with knee and ankle injuries respectively. S Mike Adams will likely miss the game with a groin injury. LBs Kamerion Wimbley and Eric Barton are both hobbled as well.

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

KEY MATCHUPS

KR/PR Roscoe Parrish vs. KR/PR Josh Cribbs:
These two don't face off but if one of them makes a big play or two in the return game and the other player doesn't, then that team gets a huge advantage in this game. Parrish could be due to break one since he hasn't all year. Cribbs has a punt return for a score.

MLB Kawika Mitchell vs. RBs Jerome Harrison and Jamal Lewis:
Mitchell moves to the middle to quarterback the defense. He will be in charge of helping the team shutdown an opponent's run game. That is something that hasn't happened the past two weeks.

DE Aaron Schobel vs. LT Joe Thomas:
Schobel goes up against another premier left tackle in the Pro Bowler Thomas. If he gets some pressure on Browns QB Derek Anderson it can help the very banged up secondary.

RT Jonathan Scott vs. OLB Kamerion Wimbley:
With Bell likely to return this week, Scott will go back to the right side. He has to watch out for Wimbley who leads the Browns with three sacks.

RBs Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch vs. ILBs D'Qwell Jackson and Eric Barton:
This is a big battle as Jackson and Lynch need to get the running game going to keep the defense fresh. Jackson and Barton are good tacklers in the middle of the Browns defense.

CB Terrence McGee vs. WR Mohamed Massaquoi:
With Edwards gone Massaquoi becomes in even bigger part of the Browns offense. He's a big playmaker for them as he's averaging 17.9 yards per reception. McGee needs to keep him from making the big plays that could give the Browns momentum.

GAME PLAN

When The Bills Have The Ball: The offense hopes to get revived this week against a weak Browns defense on paper at least. The Bills should try to run the ball a lot early to wear down the Browns and try to keep the defense off the field to keep them from giving up big gainers on the ground.

When The Browns Have The Ball: It would be a surprise if the Browns don't try to attack the Bills on the ground as well. They have lost their best weapon in the passing game by trading Braylon Edwards to the Jets. The Bills defense has given up 472 yards on the ground the past two games. The Browns may or may not get Lewis back this week but Harrison ran very well last week and will likely see a heavy load.

BILLS DAILY PREDICTION

The Bills need to get off to a fast start or the boo birds will come up and things can get away from them really quick. They should be focused and determined to prove they have not quit on Dick Jauron. It is hard to believe that they would lose to a winless team two weeks in a row. Miami is better than Cleveland and this game is at home. Look for the Bills to get off to a quick start and get the win:
Bills 27, Browns 21

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

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