Opponent Profile: Bills Defense Among League's Best
By Sam McPherson
The Buffalo Bills have a two-game streak going where they've held opposing quarterbacks without a touchdown pass, and while that may not seem like a big deal, it's noteworthy to understand who those quarterbacks were: Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers.
Yeah, the Bills are that good on defense, and even though the Oakland Raiders have a two-game winning streak at home, it'll be a tall order for the Silver & Black to overcome that kind of challenge in Week 16—even at the Coliseum, where the team has pulled off two consecutive upsets over playoff-contending teams.
Season Record
The Bills are in the thick of the AFC wild-card chase, with an 8-6 record after they beat Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers at home last week. Buffalo has won three of its last four, as the team tries to make the playoffs for the first time since 1999. Like the Raiders, it's been a long time since this original AFL squad visited January postseason action.
Buffalo has victories over Chicago, Miami, Detroit, Minnesota, New York (AFC) twice, Cleveland and Green Bay. The Bills have lost games to San Diego, Houston, New England, Kansas City, Miami and Denver. Even with some of the obvious inconsistencies there, this is a very good team not to be taken lightly.
Bills on Offense
On paper, Buffalo's offense doesn't scare anyone, but at the same time, it's an effective unit in the sense the group is just good enough to outscore most opponents—thanks to the awesome defense (see below). Veteran QB Kyle Orton has stepped in to replace youngster E.J. Manuel and stabilize the team.
Orton's 86.7 QB rating is pedestrian, but he doesn't make a lot of mistakes that hurt the team's chances. He has a group of running backs—depending on health—capable of grinding out first downs, and rookie wide receiver Sammy Watkins leads the team in all receiving categories: 59 catches, 850 yards, five TDs and a 14.4-yard average per reception.
WR Robert Woods and tight end Scott Chandler also are crafty at getting open for key receptions.
Bills on Defense
Overall, Buffalo is fifth in total defense, led by two outside linebackers few people know about: Preston Brown (102 tackles) and Nigel Bradham (98 tackles). Meanwhile, the trio of defensive end Mario Williams (13 sacks), defensive tackle Marcell Dareus (10 sacks) and defensive end Jerry Hughes (9.5 sacks) puts a lot of pressure on opposing QBs.
The secondary is formidable as well: cornerback Leodis McKelvin, strong safety Da'Norris Searcy and corner Stephon Gilmore have combined for 10 interceptions this year, and overall, the Buffalo defense has 19 picks in 2014.
Bills to Watch
Watkins is a big-play threat who can score any time he touches the ball. The same can be said for running backs Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller, when fully healthy. With a veteran like Orton at the helm of this offense, there is a lot of potential for disaster this Sunday considering the Raiders' defensive struggles this season.
On defense, well ... Oakland better be watching all 11 guys on the field for Buffalo. If Carr is under a lot of pressure—and if Latavius Murray can't find any running room—this game could turn into a massacre pretty quickly. Just ask Manning or Rodgers how much "fun" it is to play this Bills defense right now.
Outlook
The Raiders have pulled off two big wins at the Coliseum in the last month. But here's the reality: one win is an anomaly, and two is a coincidence. Three would be a pattern, and Oakland isn't good enough—yet?—to establish that sort of consistency. And the Bills are hungry and mean right now.
Buffalo is one of three teams at 8-6 in the conference, one game out of that sixth playoff spot. It can't afford to lose here, depending on how everything else in the AFC shakes out. The Bills go to New England in Week 17, and depending on the Patriots' situation, that could get interesting, too.
Look for the Raiders to play a competitive first half in the Coliseum before succumbing to the vicious Buffalo defense in the second half—and as noted previously, there is no shame in that kind of outcome whatsoever.
For more Raiders news and updates, visit Raiders Central.
Sam McPherson is a freelance writer covering all things Oakland A's. His work can be found on a Examiner.com.