Dan Posted September 28, 2014 Posted September 28, 2014 Week 4: Buffalo Bills at Houston Texans Sunday, September 28, 2014 at 1:00pm TV Network: CBS (TV Map) Announcers: Spero Dedes, Solomon Wilcots DirecTV: 709 Bills Radio: On the call: John Murphy (play by play), Mark Kelso (analyst), Sal Capaccio (sideline) Flagship: Buffalo – WGR550 (550AM); Toronto - 590 The Fan; Rochester - WCMF (96.5) and WROC (950AM); Syracuse - WKRL (100.9/WKLL 94.9) Sirius/XM: 126 (Internet 803; Spanish 971) ================================================================= Game Preview: With Arian Foster's status still in question, Fitzpatrick likely must cut down on his mistakes Sunday in Houston if he's to win his first matchup with a Bills team for which he was once the franchise quarterback. Rookie Alfred Blue had 78 yards on 13 carries starting for Foster, but 46 of them came on one run. Either Foster or Blue has a tough assignment against a Buffalo defense which has not allowed more than 90 yards rushing in a game. That unit, though, was picked apart by Philip Rivers in a 22-10 home loss to San Diego last Sunday. Buffalo's pass defense ranks 26th in the league at 267.3 yards per game. Read more at ESPN game preview... --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bills at Texans NFL.com Preview NFL Week 4 Preview: Bills at Texans NFL Week 4 Viewer's Guide NFL.com Game Center Team Stats: Bills Texans Total Yds/Game.... 322.3 353.0 Total Rush............. 131.0 140.7 Total Pass............. 191.3 212.3 Points/Game.......... 21.3 20.7 Time of Poss.......... 29.2 31.7 ---------------------------------------------- Yds/Gm Allowed... 350.0 385.0 Rush Yards........... 83.0 141.7 Pass Yards........... 267.0 243.3 Points Allowed........ 17.3 16.7 Source: NFL.com Overall Offense: Bills - 24th; Texans - 15th Overall Defense: Bills - 15th; Texans - 25th MatchUp Comparison via SportingCharts.com Injury Report: Buffalo Bills NAME POSITION INJURY WED. THU. FRI. GAME STATUS Brooks, Ron CB Illness - - DNP Probable Easley, Marcus WR Knee DNP DNP DNP Out Goodwin, Marquise WR Concussion LP DNP DNP Out Johnson, Randell LB Knee DNP DNP DNP Out Manuel, EJ QB Abdomen FP FP FP Probable Rivers, Keith LB Groin LP LP LP Doubtful Searcy, Da'Norris S Ankle LP LP LP Probable Spiller, C.J. RB Chest - FP FP Probable Watkins, Sammy WR Ribs FP FP FP Probable Williams, Chris G Back DNP DNP DNP Out Woods, Rober WR Ankle FP FP FP Probable Source: BuffaloBills.com Houston Texans NAME POSITION INJURY WED. THU. FRI. GAME STATUS A.J. Bouye CB Groin Did Not Participate In Practice Questionable Jadeveon Clowney LB Knee Did Not Participate In Practice Out Jared Crick DE Neck Full Participation in Practice Probable Arian Foster RB Hamstring Limited Participation in Practice Questionable Kareem Jackson CB Thigh Full Participation in Practice Probable Tim Jamison DE Groin Full Participation in Practice Probable Andre Johnson WR Ankle Full Participation in Practice Probable Ben Jones G Knee Full Participation in Practice Probable Johnathan Joseph CB Foot Limited Participation in Practice Probable Shiloh Keo S Calf Did Not Participate In Practice Out Shane Lechler P left Hip Did Not Participate In Practice Questionable Eddie Pleasant S Ankle Did Not Participate In Practice Out D.J. Swearinger S Elbow Limited Participation in Practice Probable Source: NFL.com Practice Status Game Status DNP = Did Not Participate in Practice Out = Player will not play LP = Limited Participation - Less than 100% of normal reps Doubtful = 25% chance a player will play FP = Full Participation - 100% of a player's normal repetitions Questionable = 50% chance a player will play Out = Player will not play Probable = 75% chance a player will play (-) = Not Listed = No practice status available (-) = Not Listed - No game status available The Odds: Line: Texans -3 Over/Under: 41.0 Source: The LineMakers (good video preview at Linemakers) Up to date lines... if you're in Vegas. My Thoughts on the Game: Some of the air has really been let out of the optimism around our team with last week’s loss, deservedly so. The team looked pretty bad in all phases of the game. So, this week is a big test. Can they bounce back? Can they shake off a miserable loss and get back in the win column? We should get an early indication of the team’s character this weekend. For those thinking this is an easy game and the Bills should win handily, just look at the team stats. These teams are pretty evenly matched and in most areas, except run defense, the Texans seem to have an edge. By no means should this be considered an easy win, especially if Foster is able to play. What are my keys to the game that I’m looking for: 1. Run game/Stopping the Run. Our key advantage on the stat sheet is in the run game. We run and stop the run better than the Texans. We have to keep this trend up today. The Bills were forced out of that formula last week and EJ was unable to pass us to a win. Hopefully, this week Fred and CJ can get our run game going; while the Williams brothers can stop theirs. 2. EJ. Yep, despite #1 above, EJ is going to have to throw the ball. He has to do a better job of finding our WRs than he did last week. I expect to see defenses start crowding the LOS to stop our run game. EJ has to show that teams will pay for that. 3. Marrone. He needs to show progress. His end of the half clock management last week was bad. His decision to punt from the 43 on 4th and 1 was bad. He’s still making poor in-game decisions. It’d be nice to see him coach with some of the intensity and confidence that he’s trying to get the players to play with. Also.. . can we please, please not start the game with a run up the middle! 4. Fitzy. I like the guy. He was a good player and got us a great win over the Pats. I hope he throws 3 picks to us, but it’ll be nice to see the back and forth between him and some of the players. Hopefully, he’s not too fired up to prove to the Bills brass they made a mistake in letting him go. 5. DBs. This should be a week for them to step up. If they let Fitz torch us for big 3rd down conversions, I’d make them walk home from Houston. Go Bills!!
BringBackFergy Posted September 28, 2014 Posted September 28, 2014 Not sure how this game will go. Away game, Fitz can go on a hot streak...or he can be really bad, run game will either show up or sputter....and EJ will be accurate or way off. I have no clue how this game will go.
mitchmurraydowntown Posted September 28, 2014 Posted September 28, 2014 http://s138.photobucket.com/user/JoeMama025/media/403544_903888563129_467392380_n.jpg.html
YoloinOhio Posted September 28, 2014 Posted September 28, 2014 Foster is playing @JoeBuscaglia: According to @RapSheet, Arian Foster is expected to play for the Texans today against the #Bills
1billsfan Posted September 28, 2014 Posted September 28, 2014 Not sure how this game will go. Away game, Fitz can go on a hot streak...or he can be really bad, run game will either show up or sputter....and EJ will be accurate or way off. I have no clue how this game will go. I think the Texans are one of the bottom five worst teams in the league and I think the Bills are a playoff team this year. So I'm pretty confident that they'll will this game. I'll bet there's a locker room full of Texan players who are not happy that Fitzpatrick is their starting QB. Players don't like it when their team puts winning on hold for a year, yet expects them to put their bodies in harms way for the full season. I don't ever remember a team that had no starting QB pass on one with the first pick. They'll probably pick high again this year, but there will be questions on this next crop of QBs as well.
The Wiz Posted September 28, 2014 Posted September 28, 2014 Foster is playing @JoeBuscaglia: According to @RapSheet, Arian Foster is expected to play for the Texans today against the #Bills Good, bradham needs someone to hit.
Rockinon Posted September 28, 2014 Posted September 28, 2014 Good, bradham needs someone to hit. So does Spikes.
Tyrod's Tailor Posted September 28, 2014 Posted September 28, 2014 (edited) Not exactly a ringing endorsement of his health, even though he's playing. Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter 26s RT @taniaganguli: Texans plan to play Arian Foster today. Workload will depend on how his hamstring holds up. Edited September 28, 2014 by billsfaninmanhattan
Rockinon Posted September 28, 2014 Posted September 28, 2014 Not exactly a ringing endorsement of his health, even though he's playing. Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter 26s RT @taniaganguli: Texans plan to play Arian Foster today. Workload will depend on how his hamstring holds up. Doesn't matter. The Bills D will be all over the run. They definitely want to stop the run and force Fitz to pass.
YoloinOhio Posted September 28, 2014 Posted September 28, 2014 How is the texans OL? I know Duane Brown is supposed to be a good LT. I am thinking they want Foster in there for his pass protection ability as much as his running. Fitz gets rid of the ball quickly but still, our DL is no joke.
Wayne Cubed Posted September 28, 2014 Posted September 28, 2014 Doesn't matter. The Bills D will be all over the run. They definitely want to stop the run and force Fitz to pass. Agreed. Fitz is 8-39-1 when attempting more than 30 passes. His interceptions per attempts doubles when he passes more than 30 times. The first 2 games of the season he had 19, 22 attempts. Last week he had 34. Force him to pass.
Fixxxer Posted September 28, 2014 Posted September 28, 2014 Another event that will mean glory or doom for the next week.
Rockinon Posted September 28, 2014 Posted September 28, 2014 Buffalo's pass defense appears to be among the worst in the NFL while the run defense is among the best. After going up against some very good QBs so far this season, I expect them to right the ship this week. Fitz will be pressured all day and the Bills pass defense jumps up a few spots. Houston is in double digit trouble for this game.
YoloinOhio Posted September 28, 2014 Posted September 28, 2014 I think the Bills pass D is underrated if you just look at stats. Prior to playing Rivers they had only allowed 1 play over 20 yds. The first 2 weeks the opponents were playing from behind and were forced to throw the whole game which piles up yards but is misleading in the stats. You can have a bad team that is losing every game, allowing the opponent to have a more balanced run/ pass and give up a lot less yards in the air for that reason. The Bills gave up a lot of short passes the first 2 weeks.
zazie Posted September 28, 2014 Posted September 28, 2014 hopefully not a jinx prediction - a sack for Hughes, an interception for Robey....
Fixxxer Posted September 28, 2014 Posted September 28, 2014 I think the Bills pass D is underrated if you just look at stats. Prior to playing Rivers they had only allowed 1 play over 20 yds. The first 2 weeks the opponents were playing from behind and were forced to throw the whole game which piles up yards but is misleading in the stats. You can have a bad team that is losing every game, allowing the opponent to have a more balanced run/ pass and give up a lot less yards in the air for that reason. The Bills gave up a lot of short passes the first 2 weeks. It is underrated, I agree, we faced two very good QBs and they got their yards, we faced subpar one and he couldn't do much. The most important thing is points allowed so, the defense overall, did its job. We knew going in that losing Kiko would be hard for the defense, Rivers showed range in the first week but when he went down it meant more Brown or Bradham doing a job they're not quite suited for.
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