Sunday, December 17th at 4:25 p.m. ET.
Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, N.Y.
Weather: 50, rain, and breezy.
Latest line: Bills-1.5, over/under 48.5
Thank goodness for a week spent talking about football! Nice win in KC, and welcome to WNY the hottest team in the NFL in the Dallas Cowboys. The stakes are high for both teams.
Let’s Break It Down
QB:
Dak ranks #1 in tenure among NFL Starting QBs, and has consistently been on the 2nd tier of QBs. At his best he has flirted with the top tier, and the roll he’s currently on is one of those times. Josh Allen seems to have shaken his slump, but the numbers aren’t gaudy. Slight edge to the Bills given the weather and the 12th man.
Running game weapons:
The Cowboys are a top Super Bowl contender, and Tony Pollard a nice RB, but if the Cowboys fall short this season, not getting Pollard enough help will be a big factor. In any event, James will Cook, the ageless Latavius will play a factor in wet weather, and Ty Johnson will keep contributing. Advantage Bills.
Passing game weapons:
Cee Dee Lamb wins the category for Dallas, but the TEs in this game will be fun to watch. We missed Knox. The Bills swiped Kincaid from the Cowboys (allegedly), but Ferguson and Schoonmaker were a solid plan B. Advantage Cowboys.
Offensive Line:
Two of the NFLs better OLs against two of the league’s best pass rushes. Depending on the wind and rain, run blocking might be a bigger factor. I’m proud to call this even…it might be the high water mark for the unit in the McDermott era.
Run Defense:
It seems to be the area where Dallas would be most vulnerable, and the play of Bernard and Dodson recently hasn’t gotten proper credit. Advantage Bills.
Pass Defense:
Short version: Buffalo is good, Dallas is great. Stephon Gilmore is another in a long line of HOF CBs that aged very, very well. Advantage Cowboys.
Special teams:
Lack of faith in Tyler Bass is not sitting well with me…and I promise never to jinx him again by drafting him in Fantasy. Brandon Aubrey is having one of the best kicking seasons ever, let alone by a rookie. Let’s hope Lake Erie ends the perfection, but advantage Cowboys.
Coaching:
Sean McDermott vs Mike McCarthy…now there’s a debate…but I’ve got Sean’s back. Advantage Bills.
Intangibles:
The one we pin our hopes on is the Cowboys’ home/road split. JerryWorld is very friendly confines. Weather and the 12th man should help, and don’t forget the bug that has run through the Dallas locker room this week. Advantage Bills.
The Forecast:
If you bill-ieve in miracles and the Bills somehow play in February, the Cowboys and the 49ers are fascinating but very difficult matchups on a neutral field. But in Buffalo, on a damp December night, the intangibles provide the margin of victory.
Bills 27 Cowboys 19
The Pregame Plan:
Food:
Back to back BBQ with KC and Dallas; this week, Brisket. With sticky Lips Cherry Bomb BBQ Sauce.
Beer:
I would happily have a Lone Star if I could find one, but Shiner Bock is even better.
Music:
The late, great, Stevie Ray Vaughn
- The House Is A Rockin……the force of the 12th man will be strong.
- Tightrope…the position the Bills have put themselves in.
- Couldn’t Stand the Weather…we hope to hear from the visitors locker room.
- Pride and Joy….”well you’ve heard about love giving sight to the blind”.
Tough game, but on home turf. Go Bills!
Editor’s babble: I hope Joe Reagan knows how much we appreciate his contributions to our blog. Joe is an awesome guy! You might also catch Joe on Xwitter @joer869.
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