People in Buffalo haven’t been this excited since the creation of the wings. New head coach Rex Ryan has his Bills primed for their first postseason appearance in 15 years and they’ll lean heavily on a defense that could potentially be the best in the NFL.
ODDS
The Bills give three points by being the home team and this likely is a close game. The Panthers go nowhere without Cam Newton and that’s where they’re headed once he leaves after a series or two. With the total at 35.5, the game has the under written all over it.
QUARTERBACK ROTATION
Carolina’s rotation should be clear cut with starter Cam Newton playing two series before backup Derek Anderson takes over. Anderson is now in his fifth season as Newton’s backup and played sparingly the previous four. He was a starter with Cleveland and Arizona before joining the Panthers. Joe Webb took a majority of the snaps when the teams met in the last year’s preseason opener and Newton didn’t play. But the Panthers had four quarterbacks on the roster last season and enter the 2015 preseason with just three.
New Bills head coach Rex Ryan is already playing mind games entering the preseason opener. The Bills listed three quarterbacks at the top of the depth chart when it was released, with Matt Cassell, E.J. Manuel and Tyrod Taylor all listed as starters. Rex was also mum on how much playing time each will get, though he did say Cassell would start the game. With no clear cut starter it’s safe to assume Cassell and Manuel would get the bulk of the snaps with Taylor, who backed up Joe Flacco in Baltimore the last three seasons, getting in a few series.
COACHES' MOTIVATION
I often wonder what Rex Ryan’s motivation is. I would like to think it’s about winning football games, but then again, it’s Rex. Ryan made an attempt to show up his former employer by claiming Ikemefuna Enemkpali off waivers one day after he broke the jaw of Jets quarterback Geno Smith with a punch. Ryan coached the linebacker in New York last season and, although he doesn’t condone his actions, Ryan feels Enemkpali deserves another chance. And Rex, like his father Buddy, the architect of the famed ‘46’ defense in Chicago years ago, knows how to coach a defense. And the Bills have a talented group on that side of the football, leaving Ryan and new offensive coordinator Greg Roman to worry about the offense. And there’s plenty there to keep them busy.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“There’s always going to be critics out there. And for me as a player, I think my best football’s ahead of me. It’ll be exciting because I know I worked hard to bet back to this point. And to have another opportunity to be on the field, it’s always a blessing and I don’t take it for granted.” – Bills quarterback Matt Cassell
POSITION BATTLE TO WATCH
The obvious battle is for the Bills starting quarterback job, and though Matt Cassel was pegged to begin the preseason opener, by no means does that make him the No. 1 guy once the games count. Cassel has moved forward in the three-way competition, which also involves former Bills starter E.J. Manuel and newly acquired Tyrod Taylor, who was a backup in Baltimore. Coach Ryan insists he’s not close to making a determination on his starter, but Cassel has taken a majority of the snaps with the first team offense during camp. All three have had their ups and downs during camp making the coaching staff’s decision much harder if there’s no separation between now and opening day.
INJURIES
Panthers defensive end Charles Johnson, who averaged 10 sacks a season since becoming a starter in 2010, sustained an ankle injury in practice and will not play. Star Lotulelei will also miss some time with a foot injury leaving the defensive line to work with several reserves.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Buffalo’s quarterback battle will come down to which player better handles the football and manages the game. Not who can sling the ball down the field. New offensive coordinator Greg Roman will lean on the running game with LeSean McCoy, though the passing attack has been revamped. But the Bills are about defense, featuring what could be a top unit in the league, and they shouldn’t have too much difficulty shutting down the Panthers, who will be without a number of banged up regulars.
Buffalo 16, Carolina 10
The NFL spread for this Thursday game was first available at BookMaker sportsbook and the Bills surfaced as 3-point chalk. The total opened at 35.5. Minute-by-minute spreads, totals and props are available for this game using the live betting platform at BookMaker.
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