Things are bigger in Texas, so it’s only fitting the Cowboys trot out their fourth starting quarterback of the season. Kellen Moore has been in the NFL for four years and made his first regular-season appearance last week, providing a little spark to what’s been a listless offense all season.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Buffalo Bills -6.5
Dallas Cowboys +6.5
Over/Under 44
ODDS ANALYSIS
Dallas is a poor bet this season going 4-9-1 ATS and the Bills have been only marginally better with a 6-7-1 ATS ledger. In games that Tony Romo did not start, the Cowboys are a dismal 1-9 SU and 2-7-1 ATS. So why not let Moore take a shot. The line was wagered to Buffalo -6.5 while the total dropped to 42.5.
KEY INJURIES
Gavin Escobar – The Cowboys lost their No. 2 tight end to an Achilles injury last week. They will likely turn to James Hannah or Geoff Swaim to get some opportunities in the final two weeks.
LeSean McCoy – His status for Sunday is uncertain after a right knee injury forced him out of the last game. Karlos Williams has returned to the Bills backfield after missing a few games and Mike Gillislee picked up some slack with a 60-yard scoring run against Washington.
Robert Woods – Buffalo’s second-leading receiver was placed on injured reserve after he sustained a groin injury in last week’s loss to Washington. Marcus Easley is likely to see more snaps.
KEY MISMATCH
Kellen Moore, who has been signed, cut, re-signed and promoted by Jerry Jones this season, will lead the Cowboys onto the field in a game where many are simply hoping that Dez Bryant doesn’t get hurt. The move may end up being a wise one if only because Garrett can get a complete evaluation on Moore as a potential backup of the future. Clearly Matt Cassel is not the option they hoped for, and Brandon Weeden is too busy leading Houston to the playoffs. Moore, who spent his first three season as a backup in Detroit, went 15 of 25 for 158 yards in the debut last week against the Jets. He threw one touchdown and three interceptions. While some of the fear associated with a Rex Ryan defense has withered away, this is not a great spot for a quarterback with little experience to walk into. The scheme is still predicated on confusion and deception, and Moore is still a 26-year-old making his first NFL start.
KEY STAT
-18 – Dallas’ turnover margin. The Cowboys are dead last in this category and go against a Bills team that rarely turns the ball over and has a plus-4 differential.
BETTING ANGLE
The Bills just didn’t respond to coach Rex Ryan’s new defensive scheme this season and the frustration of missing the playoffs for a 16th straight season was evident after last week’s loss in Washington. Defensive end Mario Williams is a key member of what was to be a strong group, but after the game he complained about the way the team subs players, trying to match personnel rather than play the defense. Williams and several other defensive players expressed their concerns earlier in the year and the team has failed to make necessary adjustments. Under Ryan the Bills have wavered from their attacking, aggressive style that made them one of the top defenses in the league last season.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
Moore, the former Boise State quarterback, finally gets a shot to start an NFL game. After several years with the Detroit Lions, the lefty looks to seize the opportunity Cassel and Weeden couldn’t. Moore was an underdog in college but all he did was win football games – and some pretty big ones at that. During his time in Detroit he worked with current Cowboys offensive coordinator Scott Linehan, so he knows the offense. He also had a decent debut, which would have been much better if not for three picks and another loss. But that game is out of the way and Moore has the chance to audition for a role that could lead to something much larger down the line. Tony Romo is 35-years-old and coming off a broken collarbone. It’ll be a tough opening act for Moore, but it’s nothing he hasn’t faced before.
Dallas 22, Buffalo 17
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