Bills-Panthers scouting report
Bills' run "D' may be in trouble, but secondary could have its pick
The News' Allen Wilson breaks down today's matchup.
Twice as nice
Panthers RBs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart form an explosive tandem that combined for 262 yards in a win at Tampa Bay last week. Williams has an NFL-high eight games with more than 100 yards and two TDs since last season. He relies on speed and shiftiness, while Stewart is a power back who can run. The Bills' NFL-worst run defense has allowed more than 200 yards in three of the past four games. The Bills' front seven got manhandled last week when the Jets rolled up 318 yards. Williams and Stewart are good cutback runners and will rip off big chunks of yardage if the Bills' linebackers abandon their gaps the way they did against the Jets.
Is Fitz the right fit?
With QB Trent Edwards out, Ryan Fitzpatrick gets his first start with the Bills. He wasn't overly impressive last week, but did engineer three scoring drives in the second half and OT. He's also not afraid to throw downfield, which should please WRs Lee Evans and Terrell Owens. The Panthers' second-ranked pass defense is skewed a bit by having faced a league-low 129 pass attempts. But their pass rush has come alive with Pro Bowl DE Julius Peppers recording four sacks in the past two games and DE Charles Johnson adding two sacks and two forced fumbles last week. OLB Thomas Davis is the Panthers' best blitzer.
No love for Delhomme
The Panthers' fans have been calling for QB Jake Delhomme's benching because his disastrous start (league-high 10 interceptions, 56.8 rating) has hindered the offense and made Pro Bowl WR Steve Smith feel like he's not an asset. Smith is off to a slow start (21 catches, 259 yards and no TDs) due to constant double teams. But he's capable of breaking out at any time, so look for the Bills to slide coverage to his side and make WR Muhsin Muhammad or someone else beat them. The Bills' preoccupation with stopping the run could create big-play opportunities for the Panthers' passing game. But the Bills want Delhomme to throw more because it might lead to more takeaways by their secondary, which had six interceptions last week.
Where's the end zone
The Bills enter Week Seven as one of just three NFL teams (joining the Rams and Chiefs) without a rushing touchdown. Part of the problem is RBs Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson haven't gotten many opportunities in the red zone. The Bills have had just 13 possessions inside the 20-yard line and only three (a league-low 23.1 percent) have ended in touchdowns. The Bills will look to get Lynch and Jackson going against a Panthers run defense that is 29th in yards allowed, but has yielded an average of just 99 yards in the last two games. If the Bills can establish a rhythm with the running game, maybe it will lead to more goal-line opportunities for Lynch and Jackson.
Less than special
Jackson could make the Bills look smart for benching return specialist Roscoe Parrish. The Panthers have given up two return touchdowns and are ranked last in kickoff and punt coverage. Their top special teamer, Dante Wesley, is suspended for the game after a premature hit on Tampa Bay return man Clifton Smith last Sunday. If the Bills clean up penalties on special teams, Jackson could have a big day. The Bills haven't been that great covering kickoffs, but the Panthers are still searching for an impact return man.
Prediction
The Bills haven't won back-to-back road games since 2004. Panthers, 23-16.
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