The Bills look to gain even more late-season steam, as they play Oakland a visit in Week 13. After beating the young but unexciting Jaguars on Sunday, 28-21, Tyrod Taylor and company will look to take down next the young and exciting Raiders on the road. Speaking of which, the Bills are 3-1-1 ATS in their past five games away from Buffalo.
LeSean McCoy spearheaded the Bills’ attack versus Jacksonville, rushing for 103 yards and two touchdowns. That performance appears to be a bad omen for the Raiders’ faulty run defense that allows 115.7 rushing yards per game so McCoy will likely see lots of touches again on Sunday.
The Bills are the top rushing team in the NFL with 157.4 yards on the ground per contest, but also expect them to throw against Oakland, especially with Sammy Watkins back in action. In his first game back since Week 2, Watkins caught three passes for 80 yards against the Jags and he’s bound to get better next game now that he’s shaken off the rust of a long layoff.
Buffalo’s defense, which allows just 341.9 total yards per game, will be put to test by an Oakland offense that’s among the highest scoring in the NFL.
There was a moment in Oakland’s Sunday 35-32 win over Carolina in which the Raiders went “Dude, where’s Derek Carr?” Carr was taken out of the game with an injured pinkie finger but managed to return, finishing with 315 passing yards and two passing touchdowns against one interception on 26 of 38 passing.
Regardless of how quick Carr’s finger will heal, his protection unit will be in for an acid test against the Bills pass rush, which paces the entire league in sacks.
That Bills’ defensive line against the Raiders’ offensive line is the matchup to see in this game, as Oakland has allowed the fewest QB takedowns on the season. In any case, the Raiders’ backfield will also be crucial against Buffalo, considering the Bills’ mediocre run defense that surrenders 114.2 rushing yards per game.
The Raiders are eighth in the league with 118.0 rushing yards per game so expect Latavius Murray to see a ton of work, especially if Carr’s not 100 percent healthy.
It’s no secret that Oakland’s defense sucks. That puts pressure on Carr and the offense to put up points to compensate for any self-inflicted damage their stop unit would incur against the Bills.
The Raiders are 3-0 SU and 2-1 ATS in their last four home games.
