Buffalo Bills vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers Week 7 Preview

The Buffalo Bills will be coming fresh off their bye week for a Western New York showdown vs Jameis Winston and the Bucs.

The Buffalo Bills will be playing their third home game of the season and third game out of four vs the NFC South this year.

The Occasion: Week 7, 2017 NFL Season

Where: New Era Field – Orchard Park, New York

Time: 1:00 PM

TV: FOX

The Bucs

The Bucs come into this game sitting last in their division at 2-3. In Week 6 they failed at a comeback attempt vs the Cardinals.

The Buccaneers’ real issue is the health of their QB, Jameis Winston. Winston suffered an AC joint sprain in his right shoulder.

Winston is listed as day-to-day but this type of injury is typically really painful.

In an ironic twist, if Winston does miss a game, Tampa will rely on veteran gun slinger Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Safe to say Bills fans know him very well.

It would be something else to see Fitz start vs the Bills again.

It’s Always Shady In Buffalo

LeSean McCoy is not putting up stellar numbers this season. However, he still plays an integral role in the offense whether its making opposing defense box up against him or him being used in the passing game.

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The Bucs have allowed an average of about 100 yards per game rushing this year, including Adrian Peterson returning to his old self last week.

Shady needs to make some big plays. The Bucs run D could be in for a long game.

It does not look like the new offense revolves around just feeding LeSean McCoy. But Sunday they could try to start due to the Bills stagnant passing game.

Tyrod

Tyrod Taylor is always going to be a key to the game. The Bills offense will be on his back.

Despite what I just said about Shady, if that all fails, “Tygod” will need to be the one who steps up.

The Bucs passing defense is abysmal. The Bills pass offense is also pretty bad so something will have to give.

Tyrod has some great composure and usually is fantastic at protecting the ball he will need to do so again to keep Winston off the field and let the Bucs defense crumble.

Bizarre Matchups

The Bills run defense is really good and the Bucs run offense is really bad. The Bucs average around 82 rush yards a game and the BIlls give up an average of around 87.

The Buccaneer running backs probably won’t have much for the Bills’ run defense but weirder things have happened.

Passing is the key to the Bucs offense. They have almost 300 passing yards a game.

Buffalo’s secondary has stepped up all year with only giving up 235. If the Bucs do win, itll be by passing the ball.

The Bills have been on a slight slump the last two games but still rarely give up passing TDs, Sunday we will find out who is a fluke, the Bucs offense or Bills defense.

The teams are identical in 3rd down conversions on offense, and near identical on time of possession.

Tampa Bay scores roughly 23 points per game, while the Bills gave yet to give up more than 20 in a game all year. One of those will have to give as well.

Sundays game will feature a lot of “something’s got to give” moments based on these odd comparisons.

“Haush-Money”

Not much to note here. Just important to give Stephen Hauschka his own little section. He has been great at field goals for the Bills.

The Bills have a reliable kicker whereas the Bucs do not. This is a matchup the Bills heavily win.

With the colder weather and winds coming, Hauschka needs to keep up the blistering pace he has set thus far.

Notes

The Bucs have the Bills’ number leading the all time series 7-3 including a Bills loss in Tampa in 2013.

One of the Bills’ top WR Jordan Matthews returned to practice this week and could possibly play. He was catching passes but still has a banged up thumb.

It’ll be huge for the offense if he plays.

Charles Clay will miss his first of potentially many weeks after his knee was hurt in Cincy.

“The Gloveless Wonder” Nick O’Leary and Logan Thomas will need to step up in what has been one of Tyrod’s go to positions this season.

The Bills continue to experiment with the offensive line, as they seek much-needed improvement there.

They have had guys lining up differently in practice.

For Sure

The Bills will either remain undefeated at home this year or the Bucs will pick up their first road win on the year, again, something has got to give.

Bold Prediction

The Bills will give up 20 points for the first time Sunday by giving up just 21 points.

Next: Analyzing the Bills season to date

Final Thoughts

I rarely predict the Bills’ games because they are such a sporadic football team but I really like the Bills chances in this one.

As always, please follow me on twitter @johncarroll55 for all things Buffalo Bills Football!

Next Week, the Bills will remain in Buffalo and play host to what will be a well rested Raiders team.

*All stats were courtesy of NFL.com*

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