The return of Joe Burrow sparked the Cincinnati Bengals to a win last week ending a stretch of eight losses in nine games. Cincy is in the hunt in the AFC North with no team having a winning record however there is no margin for error with time running out. Their Week 14 clash with the Buffalo Bills takes place on Sunday, Dec. 7 at 1 p.m. ET from Highmark Stadium in Buffalo and can be seen on FOX.
Bengals at Bills Preview
The Bengals made sure Burrow was ready to go and they got the most out of him in the 32-14 win over Baltimore on Thanksgiving night. In his first action since Week 2, Burrow was 24 of 46 for 261 yards with 2 TDs and no interceptions. He attempted 42 passes through the first three quarters with Cincy building a 26-14 lead.
The NFL’s worst defense also had one of its best games allowing a season-low point total but was still gouged for 6.1 yards per play. The Bengals did squelch five Baltimore drives with takeaways matching the number from their previous seven games combined. “This was kind of the first all-around game we’ve played all season,” coach Zac Taylor said.
- The Bengals are the only team in the NFL allowing more than 400 yards per game (410.0) and more than 30 points per contest (31.2).
- Cincinnati has won its last eight games started by Burrow with the former No. 1 overall draft pick throwing 17 TD passes in that span.
- The Bengals have payouts in two straight games after going 3-7 against the NFL betting line in their first 10 contests.
- Cincy is next to last in 3rd down defense allowing opponents to convert 47.3 percent of the time.
The Bills need to find more consistency after splitting their last eight games. They remain a threat in the AFC because Josh Allen can do things other QBs can’t, but the defense hasn’t played to the high level expected by coach Sean McDermott. The group has allowed more than 30 points three times matching the number from last regular season.
Allen and the offense aren’t immune. In half of their last eight games they scored 20 points or less, losing all of them. Overall the Bills have the No. 2 total offense and they are fifth averaging 28.1 points per game. They have been plagued by turnovers with Allen responsible for 12 of the team’s 17 giveaways.
- Buffalo has scored 20 or more points in the second half of a game four times, tied for the most in the NFL.
- James Cook had his 7th 100-yard rushing game of the season last week and is 2nd in the NFL with 1,228 yards.
- The Bills are 5-1 at home this season and have won more than 77 percent of their home games started by Allen.
Bengals at Bills Predictions
The emergence of James Cook has transformed the Bills into a run heavy offense. They lead the NFL with 31.3 rush attempts and 155.7 yards per game with the second-most rush TDs. They’ll likely continue with their successful ways while also keeping the ball out of Joe Burrow’s hands. That makes the UNDER on a high total a tantalizing play.
Bengals at Bills Betting Tips
- The early NFL betting odds have Buffalo as a 5.5-point home favorite.
- The Bills have won 14 of their last 15 games as a home favorite but are just 8-7 ATS in that span.
- Buffalo was list at -254 on the moneyline with Cincinnati +218.
- The Bengals are 2-4 SU and ATS on the road this season.
- The total opened at 53.5, the second-highest on the Week 14 board.
- Cincinnati has cashed the UNDER in its last 3 games with the total more than 50 in the last 2.
- The UNDER is 6-2 in Buffalo’s last 8 games.
Bengals at Bills Head to Head and Key Stats
- The Bengals won the last two meetings and six of the last with four straight payouts.
- They are 3-1 SU and ATS in their last 4 trips to western New York.
- The teams have combined to average 36.2 points in the last matchups cashing the UNDER in all five.
- Burrow is 2-0 against the Bills and Allen in his career completing 67.5 percent of his passes for 590 yards with 4 TDs and no interceptions.
