Week 16: Bills vs. Raiders
at
Sunday, Dec. 21st
4:25pm ET
There isn't much more Bills fans can ask for than a meaningful game with two weeks to go in the season but that is exactly what they got. Unless San Diego, Kansas City, and Baltimore all win before the Bills take the field in Oakland they will still be alive in the playoff race when they take on the two win Raiders.

FACTS AND FIGURES

Matchup: Buffalo (8-6) vs. Oakland (2-12)
Place: O.co Coliseum
TV/Radio: Network: CBS; DirecTV: 715; Sirius: 92
Announcers: Brian Anderson and Chris Simms
Spread: Bills by 5½
Series: Series Tied 19-19 (Bills 2-0 in playoffs)
Streak: Bills Won 2
Last Meeting: Bills 38-35 in Buffalo (2011)
Raiders Offense: Rush (32nd); Pass (24th); overall (32nd)
Raiders Defense: Rush (25th); Pass (8th); overall (18th)
Bills Offense: Rush (23rd); Pass (19th); overall (23rd)
Bills Defense: Rush (9th); Pass (5th); overall (5th)


INJURY UPDATE

The Bills are banged up at the safety position. Da'Norris Searcy missed last week's game with a hamstring injury and remains limited in practice. Duke Williams left last week's game with concussion like symptoms making his status for this week's game unknown. Chris Gragg is back practicing after being sidelined a month with a knee injury while Jairus Wynn may return this week after missing a month and a half with a knee injury. C.J. Spiller has been cleared to return from a broken collarbone that had landed him on the IR/designated to return list.

The Raiders have had seven players miss practice time this week WR Vincent Brown with a groin, CB Tarell Brown (Foot), CB Chimdi Chekwa (Hamstring), TE Brian Leonhardt (Concussion), WR Denarius Moore and T Menelik Watson with ankle injuries and DE C.J. Wilson has a knee injury.

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

KEY MATCHUPS

RG Erik Pears vs. SLB Khalil Mack:
Pears will be dealing with the former University of Buffalo star on many plays. Mack is a candidate for rookie of the year as he has quickly become the heart and soul of the Raiders defense.

WR Sammy Watkins vs. CB D.J. Hayden:
Watkins has been way too inconsistent over the past six weeks, he needs to step up his game now. He will likely be lined up at least half the time with the 2nd year player Hayden.

DE Mario Williams vs. RT Khalif Barnes:
This will be a battle of veterans as Super Mario goes against the 10 year veteran Barnes. Mario has had a superb season while Barnes is a rock on their O-line with 114 career starts.

CB Stephon Gilmore vs. WR James Jones:
Gilmore has finally developed into a lockdown corner as he has been nothing short of fabulous in coverage the second half of the year. Jones is the leading receiver on the Raiders with 70 catches.

KEYS TO THE GAME

1. Avoid The Letdown: This is definitely a potential trap game which this team is not used to dealing with. Coming off a huge win last week and with the Patriots on the horizon there is a chance they overlook the Raiders and come out flat especially after the long flight to the West Coast.

2. Commit To The Running Game: They did this in the 2nd half last week and need to do it from the start this week against one of the weaker run defenses in the league. This will take the pressure off of Kyle Orton.

3. Vertical Passing Game: If they are successful in establishing the running game it should open up the play action pass. They need to move away from the dink and dunk passing game they have employed the past month and take shots deep that will stretch the defense.

BILLS DAILY PREDICTION

It would be a horrible twist of fate to see the Bills go cross country and lose to one of the worst teams in the league after getting a monumental win over one of the league's best. This team is peaking right now and I don't think they will be looking past the lowly Raiders. Look for the Bills to put together a complete game this week to hopefully keep their playoff hopes alive:
Bills 30, Raiders 14

Season Prediction Record: (5-9)
Season Record Against The Spread: (4-10)

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