Rex Ryan has sworn the Bills to secrecy over who the team’s starting quarterback will be once the regular season opens. We do know Matt Simms, who’s been with Ryan the last two seasons with the Jets, gets the start against Detroit, looking to pick apart a Lions defense that has been suspect this preseason.
ODDS
With both teams intent on playing backups the game opened as a toss-up. We’ll find out which club has more depth. The total surfaced at 38.5.
QUARTERBACK ROTATION
While head coach Rex Ryan and his staff makes a decision about the Bills opening day starter, we do know fourth-stringer Matt Simms will start against the Lions and is likely to play the entire game. Simms had a nice game Saturday, completing all five of his pass attempts for 65 yards and a touchdown in two series. Simms played one series in the preseason opener going 0 for 3 taking a sack and throwing an interception. He didn’t play in Week 2 of the preseason. The Bills will decide between Matt Cassel, E.J. Manuel and Tyrod Taylor, and it won’t be easy. All played well this preseason and Ryan hopes to keep his decision as quiet as possible.
We do know Matthew Stafford will not play in the final preseason game. Coach Jim Caldwell likes having three quarterbacks on his roster but needs elsewhere could change that. Kellen Moore hasn’t played as well this preseason as he did in 2014 and could be let go when the rosters trim to 53. He will likely play a majority of snaps against the Bills with Dan Orlovskly sneaking in a series or two before the final cut down date.
COACHES' MOTIVATION
Detroit’s defense helped in a number of wins last season. The offense may need to help out this year. In Friday’s dress rehearsal, the Lions were scorched by the Jacksonville Jaguars, who compiled 254 yards of offense against the starters. The Lions couldn’t get to the opposing quarterbacks. They also had little success staying with receivers and couldn’t get off the field on third down. “We have to get better. That’s a fact,” Caldwell said after the game. The Lions were without several starters, but it’s certainly not an excuse, Caldwell said. If the group can’t do the job without the starters, then it speaks to the lack of depth on that side of the ball. An area Caldwell will touch on. “It’s good we got the win, but I can guarantee you one thing, we better get better in a hurry.”
QUOTE TO NOTE
“The toughest thing about this is we’ve had six wideouts out and five running backs out and that’s the toughest thing. They’re not going to play this week so the timing and all that, we’re hitting our stride with guys who are trying to compete for the back end of the roster.” – Bills coach Rex Ryan
POSITION BATTLE TO WATCH
It’s a good bet the Bills won’t be making any cuts at wide receiver when the deadline arrives. Buffalo finished Saturday’s game with just four healthy receivers after Marquise Goodwin, Marcus Thigpen and Austin Willis left and didn’t return. Five receivers – Sammy Watkins, Robert Woods, Percy Harvin, Chris Hogan and Deonte Thompson didn’t even dress for the game. All the injuries cloud the picture at the position. Watch for Dez Lewis, Andre Davis and Tobais Palmer to get the bulk of the playing time against the Lions. They’ll be catching passes from Simms the entire game, but considering the injuries, all three are in the mix for roster spots, so they’ll be more than empty reps.
INJURIES
Buffalo’s banged up group of receivers lost another player after Goodwin sustained broken ribs Saturday. Cornerback Stephon Gilmore hurt his shoulder and return man Austin Willis sustained a concussion. Both will likely be held out against the Lions.
Linebacker DeAndre Levy and defensive end Ezekiel Ansah did not play Saturday after dealing with what appear to be minor injuries. Receiver Calvin Johnson is healthy but will likely be held out until the season opener.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
The last game of the preseason is always a battle between backups and players who are likely to be released afterwards. But the Lions have not been good defensively during the preseason and Caldwell is making improvements on that side of the ball a point of emphasis. Detroit will go against Simms for the entire game and that should help the Lions chances of containing Buffalo’s offense. The Lions will have an advantage on offense and Moore, though he’s been inconsistent, can run Detroit’s attack.
Detroit 24, Buffalo 9
The NFL odds for this Thursday contest were first released by BookMaker and the game opened as a pick ‘em with a total of 38.5. Now you can wager in-game while the action unfolds with BookMaker's live betting option.
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