The Buffalo Bills are inching closer to extending a franchise-record playoff streak, as they look to qualify for the postseason for the seventh straight season. The Cleveland Browns, meanwhile, are once again limping towards the finish line in a season where they will miss the postseason.
This one has all the makings of a classic “trap game” for Buffalo. They’re coming off a big, emotional victory against a division rival, as they turned a 21-point deficit into a 35-31 victory over the New England
Patriots last week. They have a date with the defending Super Bowl champions on the horizon, as they host the Philadelphia Eagles next Sunday. Sandwiched in between is a game against a 3-11 Cleveland squad playing for nothing but pride.
However, the Browns boast one of the league’s best defenses in terms of yards allowed. They have arguably the best defensive lineman in the NFL, Myles Garrett, who is just 1.5 sacks away from sole possession of the single-season sack record. They also have a tough secondary that excels in man coverage situations, something that has given Buffalo fits this season.
Can Josh Allen and the Bills take care of business today in Ohio? Will James Cook become just the second individual to surpass the 1,500-rushing-yard mark in Buffalo history, joining O.J. Simpson, who did it three times in his Hall of Fame career? The answers to these questions and plenty more will come in just three hours’ time.
Your first-half open thread is here, friends. Remember to be civil to each other. If you want that classic game-thread experience, toggle the comments to “oldest.” And, most importantly, remember to enjoy the game wherever it is that you’re watching.
Go Bills!
