Browns at Bills: Game preview, odds, prediction

By Brad Weiss | Dec 15, 2016

Oct 16, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy (25) runs with the ball and breaks a tackle by San Francisco 49ers free safety Eric Reid (35) during the second half at New Era Field. Buffalo beat San Francisco 45-16. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports /

The Buffalo Bills will host the Cleveland Browns on Sunday as they hope to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. Cleveland will be looking for its first win.

In a matchup of two teams destined to miss the playoffs, the winless Cleveland Browns will head to Buffalo to take on the Bills. Both teams are coming off losses last week, and the Browns are on the doorstep of history, albeit the dubious kind. At 0-13 on the season, Cleveland has an opportunity to be only the second team in NFL history to finish a season without a win, and it is becoming a very real possibility.

Buffalo is actually still alive in the AFC playoff picture, but they are a long shot to make it. Head coach Rex Ryan is on the hot seat, and quarterback Tyrod Taylor has not played up to his new contract. Buffalo has the 31^st ranked passing offense in the league, though they should be able to move the ball against a very weak Cleveland secondary this Sunday.

Cleveland got Robert Griffin III back this past weekend, though it did not help much against a much better Cincinnati Bengals team. Griffin does pose more problems for defenses than quarterbacks like Josh McCown and Cody Kessler, but he just does not have the talent around him to really impact games. He will likely make a couple of big plays in the game, but the Browns should be headed to their 14^th loss of the season.

Odds

Line: Buffalo (-10)

Over/Under: 41.5

Look for a big day from Bills running back LeSean McCoy, as the Browns come into this matchup with the 31^st ranked rushing defense in the league. McCoy has had a terrific season for the Bills, carrying the team when players like Sammy Watkins and Robert Woods had to miss time due to injury. Shady has averaged over five yards per carry this season, and is only 24 yards away from another 1,000-yard season.

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The Bills should definitely be able to beat the Browns at home, and at 7-7, will still be technically alive in the playoff race. The Rex Ryan tenure in Buffalo is sure to come to an end at the end of the season, though the team does have some nice pieces in place going forward. McCoy is going to go off on Sunday, and the Browns will fall to 0-14.

Prediction: Buffalo 25, Cleveland 17

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