Cleveland Browns at Buffalo Bills: Bills Will Give the Browns All They Can Handle

Cleveland Browns at Buffalo Bills   Ralph Wilson Stadium

Sunday, 12/12/10   Time: 1:00 PM EST

TV: CBS /  DirecTV: 705

Radio: CLE: WMMS  BUF: WGRF

When the Cleveland Browns enter Ralph Wilson Stadium Sunday afternoon, they will have an opportunity to surpass their 2009 win total with four games remaining. Standing in the way is the (2-10) Buffalo Bills.

On the surface this seems like a game the Browns should win.  After starting the season 1-5, the Browns have gone 4-2 in their last six. Among the wins are victories over the New England Patriots and the New Orleans Saints.  The two teams they did lose to are division leaders Jacksonville and the (9-3) New York Jets.

Browns supporters love to point to the fourth quarter leads as an example of how good the team is.  If Browns wide receiver Chansi Stuckey doesn’t fumble against the Jets, then maybe we’re looking at a 6-6 squad.

The Buffalo Bills have “ifs & buts” of their own. Most notable among them is a week 12 three-point loss to Pittsburgh. In overtime, Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick tossed a perfect pass to wide receiver Steve Johnson in the end-zone. The ball slipped through his hands ala Dennis Northcutt in the playoff loss to Pittsburgh. (Browns fans know what I’m talking about).

Browns Head Coach Eric Mangini acknowledged the effort during his Wednesday press conference as reported by the Cleveland Plain Dealer:

 "In looking at Buffalo, I'd say the thing that stands out is they're resilient. They play everybody tough, took Baltimore into overtime, took Pittsburgh into overtime had great chances in both those games, took Kansas City into overtime. Put up a lot of points against Cincinnati and New England and they're resilient, they fight through every game.”

With a revolving door at quarterback, Cleveland has struggled to find offensive consistency.  There’s a tendency to put up big first half numbers, only to disappear in the second half.

In last week’s win over the Miami Dolphins, the Browns managed only 13 total points, their second lowest total of the season.

Where Buffalo is really dangerous is on the offensive side of the ball. Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has put up impressive numbers. Buffalo is currently ranked 22nd in points per game at 20.2. For comparison, the Cleveland Browns are ranked 26th with only 19.1.  

The Browns secondary will be tested by Ohio native Lee Evans and big play guy Steve Johnson. Cornerback Joe Haden had a breakout game against Miami and it will take a bigger effort from the rookie on Sunday if the Browns are to get the win.

Browns Coach Eric Mangini on Johnson and Evans:

“I think when you look at a guy like Steve Johnson, there's a guy who his first two seasons only had 12 catches now he's at 61, he's really emerged. Lee Evans a guy that's caused problems, caused problems year in and year out when I was in the AFC East and still causes problems.”

The Browns have improved dramatically since last year, but so have the Buffalo Bills. Don’t be fooled by the record or surprised if this is another game that goes down to wire.

The Bills have talent and, if the Browns stumble in any way, this could be an upset in the making.