2 min read • January 20, 2023
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The Bills and Bengals, on an eight-game and nine-game winning streak, respectively, will face off once again in Buffalo only 20 days after Damar Hamlin's sudden cardiac arrest put an abrupt end to their first meeting.
Joe Burrow has proven capable at overcoming strenuous circumstances, and he faces another seminal challenge in Buffalo behind a damaged offensive line and an offense SIC score of 79.1.
Left tackle Jonah Williams became the third starting Bengals’ lineman to go down in the last three weeks when he suffered a dislocated knee mid-way through their win over the Ravens, closely following veterans La'el Collins and Alex Cappa.
Former second-round pick Jackson Carman will step in for Williams, joining Hakeem Adeniji at right tackle and Max Scharping at right guard as newly-dubbed starters.
Carman made six starts at right guard in his rookie 2021 season before Adeniji took over in Week 9 and started through the playoffs.
In the second half, Cincinnati opened with a 12-play touchdown drive but gained five total yards and punted three times in the final three drives.
Cornerback Eli Apple returned after an injury scare last weekend and practiced fully all week, while reserve corner Tre Flowers is trending towards being out with a hamstring injury.
The secondary has done well to weather the loss of No. 1 cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, allowing eight touchdowns on a 59.6% completion rate against five interceptions and 16 sacks in the seven games after their bye week.
Bills' pro-bowl quarterback Josh Allen, SIC score 94, suffered a right UCL sprain in Week 9 and the Pro Football Docs expressed concern for further elbow damage if he suited up.
Allen, as he is known to do, flirted with danger and played through the injury until it healed and the Bills have coalesced during their seven-game winning streak.
The full-tilt playmaker has continued to both create and destroy, scoring nine touchdowns and committing six turnovers on 13.65 yards per pass completion over the last three completed games.
The Bills’ pass defense, SIC score 72.46, will remain without star safety Micah Hyde for at least one more week as he continues his neck surgery recovery, but could still return later in the playoffs.
Cornerback Dane Jackson, SIC score 75, returned to practice from his Wild Card leg injury that sparked the emergence of Kaiir Elam, both of whom will be essential against Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd.
Tre'Davious White, SIC score 78, had 20 tackles, six passes defended, and one interception in six games after he returned from a torn ACL exactly one year later.
From Weeks 12-18, Buffalo allowed 199 passing yards on six yards per attempt with seven touchdowns allowed against four interceptions in those games.
The Bills are favored by 5.5 points at home and the over/under is 49.5, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
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