Thursday Night Football: Buffalo can foot your bill at home

Romilly Evans
15 November 2012

Danger man, CJ Spiller

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Romilly Evans reckons that the inconsistent Bills can hit top running form in tonight's big game

"Ryan Tannehill has connected with just one touchdown in his past three games and looks a little lost as their supposed Field Marshal."

The Miami Dolphins may have prevailed in six of last eight meetings against tonight's bitter AFC East rivals, but don't be fooled into opposing the Buffalo Bills. Yes, they hold an inferior divisional record to the Phins (3-6 plays 4-5). Okay, running back Fred Jackson, renown for his hard-yard gains, is missing in action. And it's true that they're one of the most inconsistent outfits in the league.

Nevertheless, the Bills have plenty going for them in a home match-up at Ralph Wilson Stadium, having showcased all the signs of producing a peak performance last week in New England. Firstly, their quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick enjoyed a confidence-boosting day (even in the shadow of their 31-37 defeat to the play-off perennials), throwing some lasers for 337 yards and two touchdowns.

Although Fitzy came up short in both the final analysis and the final minute (yielding his first pick into the grateful arms of Patriot, Devin McCourty), he will have found solace in taking the Super Bowl regulars to the wire at fortress Foxborough. More happily ensconced at home this evening (where he has nine touchdown passes in his past three games), expect Fitzpatrick to come out swinging, with wide man Stevie Johnson his most likely port of call.

With their passing game finally clicking and the aforementioned Jackson out with a concussion, one might opine that Buffalo appear a bit one-dimensional. However, that would be reckoning without the rise and rise of fellow RB, CJ Spiller, who has become one of the breakout stars of the season. Spiller continues with his tail up after registering some decent data against the Pats (nine carries for 70 yards). However, his overall average per carry this term (7.3 yards) is even more impressive. Expect this Clemson turnout to flex his foot speed in Primetime for more of the same. And if he can break a few defensive seams along the way, then the highlight reel could roll.

So while the Bills promise to bring balance to their offense tonight, the Dolphin Nation are is disarray as their team continue to falter offensively. No sooner had Ryan Tannehill been earmarked as one of the rookie finds of the current campaign, than the burden of expectation started to weight heavy on his young shoulders. Tannehill has connected with just one touchdown in his past three games and looks a little lost as their supposed Field Marshal.

He hasn't even been able to rely on the ground gains of running back, Reggie Bush, who admits he's been "visited by Sadim" recently (that's a hilarious reference to channeling the evil twin of King Midas by the way). However, while fumbles and finding brick walls in the open field have blighted his latter-day efforts, Bush has maintained his sense of humour and pledges to do better on Twitter: "you guys deserve better. I'll bring it."

The Bills have struggled to stop the run this year and a motivated Bush is probably the last thing they want to see in their headlights. Whether he darts off with the evasive skills of an elusive deer, or lumbers into the windscreen like a heedless stag could be the decisive factor in this head-to-head. The former Heisman Trophy winner posted a career-best 203 yards against Buffalo last year and that's a tough trauma to repress. However, the Bills D has looked more secure of late, forcing 14 sacks and seven turnovers in their three victories to date. Therefore, if they can destabilise Tannehill early on, the resultant reliance on Bush could make their defensive strategy easier to execute.

Take the Bills on the Money Line and the first-half spread in what should be an open encounter where the scoreboard glows white hot.