Five more games. That’s it for the regular season for the Bills – and this game against the 9-2 Oakland Raiders looms large. A win here will get the Bills into a great spot to be relevant throughout December. A loss, while not fatal will make a drop out of playoff contention expected, almost inevitable.
What does the Buffalo Wins staff think? Read on!
Michael Necci (@manecci) Raiders 34 Bills 28 – If the Bills can somehow, someway find a way to win out in Oakland for the first time since 1966 I would REALLY like their chances of running the table and finishing 11-5. A loss here makes next week’s home game vs Pittsburgh a win or go home game for Buffalo. Actually, because of how the standings are now, the Steelers game next week is actually bigger than this Sunday. The Raiders have a distinct advantage in two key areas. Their WR’s vs Buffalo’s banged up secondary, and the Raiders edge rushers Bruce Irvin and Khalil Mack vs Buffalo’s tackles. The Bills will need to get mighty mighty creative in their protection plans vs Mack. If they don’t Jordan Mills may never sleep again. In the end I think the Raiders are just too talented and will be able to outscore Buffalo. However, a Bills win would set the table for a fun finish.
Evan, @evancdent (7-4). Raiders 34 – Bills 24 – Some sort of tryptophan-induced haze must’ve kept me from getting my pick in on time last week, but rest assured, even I wasn’t feeling so pessimistic as to pick the Jaguars last week. (I have proof I picked the Bills, and if you really need to see it, you are, uh, extremely pedantic about these free predictions.)
I don’t think the Raiders are as good as their 9-2 record indicates, but I still think they’re a hair or two better than the Bills. If the game were in Buffalo, I’d be more optimistic, but a cross-country flight to Oakland will do the Bills no favors. I think it’ll be something of a shootout, as both sides struggle on the defensive end, but the Raiders have a more consistent offense and should be able to put up more than enough points as opposed to the boom or bust Bills offense. And if the Raiders need a stop near the end of the game, I’m already having nightmares about Khalil Mack lining up across from Jordan Mills. I think the Bills put up a good fight, but it just won’t be enough, and they’ll fly home at 6-6.
Tyler Hyp (@tyhyp, 8-3) – Who would’ve thought that Oakland would be one of the “teams to beat” in the AFC as we enter December? Not I. With the exception of their 33-16 win over the Jags, most of the Raiders wins have come in very close games, showing they have not been dominating the opposition as their 9-2 record may imply. I can’t lie and say I have watched any Raiders games this year other than a few minutes here and there, so I won’t pretend to be an expert on their squad. I do however have WR Michael Crabtree and RB Latavius Murray on my fantasy team, who put up big numbers for me on a weekly basis. So shutting down those 2 it seems will be the key. On the other side of the ball, UB product Khalil Mack is the obvious focal point. The Bills OL will have their hands full trying to contain him. All said, I think this will be a close game but the home field advantage may end up being the difference for Oakland. Don’t sleep on Buffalo though, who has played pretty good on the road and was a few bad calls away in that Seattle game from being 2-0 on the West Coast. You know what though? The more I write this, the more I think Buffalo can come away victorious. Oakland is bound to lose sooner or later, and perhaps they fall into a “trap game.” Screw it, I am going against my original call and taking Buffalo 30, Oakland 26.
@2ITB_Buffalo, 4-7 – So last week was fun. It seemed a little touch and go for a bit when the Jags were moving the ball but big plays are always the best way to erase any concerns from earlier in a game. This week intrigues me as you’d think this will be one of the biggest tests for the Bills defense. If the secondary, particularly the corners, can keep Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree quiet, it will go a long way towards getting the Bills a vital win in the AFC playoff race. Stephon Gilmore’s recent play has been extremely encouraging and this week will represent a huge test. If he’s able to continue this run of play, I have faith the Bills will have a puncher’s chance. Obviously Jordan Mills vs. Khalil Mack is a scary matchup, but I think the Bills have shown the ability to provide help in pass blocking throughout the year, so I don’t think Mack will completely dictate what the Bills do on offense. For some reason I think the Bills might steal one this week. I don’t feel like the matchup is that great for the Bills but something tells me they come away with a win on the west coast. Bills 31-23.
Mike McKenzie (@mack10zie 7-4 I think) The line sits at Oakland -3. This is going to be a very tough game for Buffalo. Buffalo is traveling across the country for a late start against possibly the best offense in the NFL this season. Buffalo has a path to win this game, but can they execute. Oakland has a good, but not great D. Buffalo needs to run the ball as they have done recently. They need to slow this game down and limit possessions. Obviously Oakland can;t score if they don’t get the ball (think NYG in SB25). On D, Buffalo will miss Darby as Oakland can throw the ball as well an anyone in the NFL. Jerry, Lorenzo, Shaq and company have to get pressure on the QB. Carr is dealing with a finger issue, and hitting him early and often will be important. I just think right now Buffalo is too banged up to match what Oakland will be able to do. OAK 27 BUF 20.
Brett Ludwiczak (@BLeez17, 6-5) Oakland 31 Buffalo 21
In 2014 the Bills went out to Oakland needing a win to stay in the playoff hunt and they didn’t get it. I don’t see it happening here either. Just another edition of the Bills getting your hopes only to destroy them. It happens pretty much every year around this time.
Mike Migliore (@mmigliore 6-5) – I’ve been picking against the Bills consistently since the loss in Miami and that’s worked out fine, actually. The Bills have taken care of business in the last two weeks against teams they are clearly better than. But now here comes a step up in class and I never trust the Bills to do well when they have to prove themselves at the next level.
Each Bills win this season has come against a team with a losing record, other than the Jacoby Brissett game. The cupboard is pretty bare when it comes to impressive wins against teams with winning records in recent years. The Bills did beat the 10-6 Jets twice last season, but you really have to go back to their wins against playoff-bound Detriot and Green Bay in 2014 to find other signature wins. So why should we have confidence in the Bills on the road against the 9-2 Raiders this week?
Vegas seems to like the Bills’ chances better than I do as they have the Bills as just a 3-point underdog. That’s a peculiar line. Vegas seems to think a Bills/Raiders matchup on a neutral field would be an even game. Perhaps they’re concerned about Derek Carr’s pinkie, but this seems like an easy OAK -3 bet. Of course, Vegas looked insane for making the Bills just a 4.5-point underdog against Arizona in Week 3, but it turns out they knew something was up.
Who honestly can see a way the Bills actually win this game? Show of hands? The Bills defense is better than what people on the interwebs would have you believe, but they have their hands full against the league’s fifth-ranked offense (total yards). The Bills are going to need to trade scores with Oakland in order to keep this game close. If you saw this Bills offense struggle to push the rock up the hill in the first half against Jacksonville, you know this just isn’t possible. Prediction: Raiders 31, Bills 20
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