Jaguars at Bills Line

Written by Steve Janus

This Sunday the Buffalo Bills will look to grab their first win of the season when they host the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Bills were crushed 38-14 by the New York Jets at home last week, while the Jaguars stunned the Indianapolis Colts with a last second field goal for a 31-28 win at home. If you are thinking about betting on the game this weekend, the current NFL odds have the Jaguars are favored by 1-point over the Bills on the road.

Jacksonville (2-2): While the win over the Colts was impressive, the Jaguars can not come into the game against the Bills this week thinking this will be an easy win. You can’t take any game lightly in the NFL, and this team definitely can’t, as they already have two losses by 25 points on the season. A big reason the Jaguars were able to turn things around last week, was the improved play of quarterback David Garrard, who completed 17 of 22 passes for 163 yards and two touchdowns without an interceptions. Garrard was also effective on the ground, rushing for 44 yards and another touchdown. Running back Maurice Jones-Drew had his best game of the season, rushing for 105 yards on 26 carries, and had a touchdown on the ground and one receiving for his first two scores of the season.

If the offense comes in focused and ready to go they should have no problem moving the ball against a Bills defense that has allowed at least 34 points in each of their last three games, and is dead last in the NFL allowing 174 yards a game. The matchup against the Bills really looks for the Jaguars on paper, as Jacksonville has really struggled against the pass this season, allowing 303 yards a game, but the Bills have the worst pass offense in the league, averaging just 131 yards a game.

Buffalo (0-4): The Bills will look to avoid going 0-5 for the first time since 1985 this Sunday, and while a lot of people aren’t giving them much of a chance, I think this is a very winnable game for Buffalo. During the week the Bills decided to trade running back Marshawn Lynch to the Seahawks, and it will be interesting to see how much the Bills increase the role of rookie running back C.J. Spiller. I am still confused on why the Bills drafted Spiller with their first round pick if they don’t plan on using him. It would be one thing if Spiller went in and carried the ball 15 times and did nothing, but he hasn’t got more than seven attempts in one game this season. I really believe Spiller could help this team right now, and just maybe we will get to see what this rookie can do on Sunday.

The Bills are going to have to find a way to put some points on the board, because the way their defense is playing right now they might not win a game all season. Last week against the Jets the Bills were absolutely torched on the ground, as LaDainian Tomlinson had 133 yards on two scores, while Shonn Green added 117 yards. Not exactly the numbers you want to see, when you are going up against Jones-Drew after his best game of the season.

Looking at the Odds: This may come as a surprise to many, but I am going to go out on a limb and say the Bills win this game. I think Jacksonville is set up for a huge let down game, as they are coming off a very emotional win over the Colts, and will likely not take the Bills as seriously as they should. My final score prediction is Buffalo 24, Jacksonville 23.

Comments

One Response to “Jaguars at Bills Line”

Robert on October 10th, 2010 4:01 PM

Well Steve, you stuck your neck out, and the Jags cut off your head.

Jags won by 10 points.

The Bills came out real strong in the 1st quarter, only to collapse in the last few minutes of the 2nd Quarter.

The Jags owned the 3rd quarter, and the Bills did briefly surge toward the middle of the 4th quarter, but they were just too far behind to keep up.

Good game though.

I was surprised that your game was blacked out, as your stadium looked full.

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