No team has more to work out in the preseason at the quarterback spot than do the Buffalo Bills. First up for Rex Ryan in his tenure in Orchard Park is a date with the Carolina Panthers.
ODDS ANALYSIS
The oddsmakers are expecting a low-scoring affair in this one. The total is set at a modestly low 35.5. The Bills are giving home field advantage at -3, though the vig on Carolina's side is a bit favored at -130.
QUARTERBACK ROTATION
The Bills have a train wreck at the quarterback spot this year. E.J. Manuel could do anything from be named the starter to get cut in the preseason depending upon how well he does. We suspect that he and Matt Cassel will get relatively even reps.
Ryan loves using his fourth quarterback in Week 1 situations in the preseason, so you'll see some Matt Simms as well later on after Tyrod Taylor makes his Buffalo debut.
Cam Newton won't play long for the Panthers if he even plays at all. This quarterback rotation doesn't need a lot of work, though. Derek Anderson and Joe Webb have now been here for a while, and they won't need tons of reps to be efficient in this offense.
COACHES' MOTIVATION
Rex Ryan has actually had just one winning preseason in his history, and he is 1-5 in Week 1. He's come to Buffalo full of sound and fury, and he promises to bring an aggressive defense, the likes of which could frustrate the Panthers, but don't expect to see the hounds unleashed until the games actually start to count.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"However you rank them. That's pretty much it. We've got a long way to go. This obviously is just the start of everything, every day you're evaluating, but I'm not ready to say this guy's in this spot or whatever." – Bills head coach Rex Ryan when asked about his depth chart at quarterback
POSITION BATTLE TO WATCH
None of Buffalo's four quarterbacks have been sharp early in practice, as Ryan has been quick to point out. You can already feel and hear his frustrations starting to boil over about his pivots. This isn't all going to be worked out on Friday night, but Manuel, in particular, has struggled historically in the preseason and will be one to watch carefully.
INJURIES
The Panthers have some real depth issues at D-tackle coming into this one. Both Star Lotulelei and Kawann Short are going to sit out, while Kenneth Horsley was cut late last week.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
It's just so hard to trust Buffalo as a favorite with these quarterbacks playing as poorly as it seems.
Carolina isn't generally a trustworthy team, but we prefer its game plan, which is going to include running the ball a ton behind an offensive line with some moving parts and three rookie running backs all hoping to earn a spot on the roster.
We're not wild over the play, and the over might actually be the better play with Carolina missing a lot of members of its defense right up the middle, but we suspect that the Panthers will win this one as well on the road.
Carolina 24, Buffalo 16
The NFL lines for this Friday game surfaced at BookMaker before anywhere else on the internet. The Buffalo Bills are favored at -3 alongside a total of 35.5. Gamble on the game between every commercial break with BookMaker's live betting feature. Along with an adjusted in-game moneyline, you can wager on what will happen on the next play or how many points will be scored in the next quarter. Live betting is the most exciting way to play!
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook! The preseason Week 1 duel between the Carolina Panthers and the Buffalo Bills will take place at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, NY on Friday, August 14, 2015. This 7:00 p.m. ET kickoff can be seen live on WKBW and PTVN.
