Bengals vs. Bills: Updated Odds, Stat Predictions for 2023 AFC Divisional Game

It's been quite some time since the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals have met in a playoff game, as the two teams last faced off in the NFL postseason in the AFC Championship Game at the end of the 1988 season. However, that will change Sunday.

The Bills are set to host the Bengals for an AFC Divisional Round matchup at Highmark Stadium, with kickoff set for Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on CBS. The winner will advance to face either the Kansas City Chiefs or the Jacksonville Jaguars in the conference championship game.

These two teams were among the best in the NFL all season, so this should be an exciting contest. Buffalo has won eight straight games after defeating the Miami Dolphins in the wild-card round. Cincinnati beat the Baltimore Ravens last weekend to extend its winning streak to nine.

Here's a look at the latest odds for the Bills-Bengals matchup, followed by several stat predictions for Sunday's game.

Updated Odds

Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

CINCINNATI, OH - JANUARY 02: Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott claps during the NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals on January 2, 2023, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Spread: Bills (-5.5)

Over/Under: 48.5 total points

Moneyline: Cincinnati +195 (bet $100 to win $195); Buffalo -230 (bet $230 to win $100)

Via DraftKings Sportsbook

Burrow, Allen Will Both Air It out in Great QB Battle

Kirk Irwin/Getty Images

CINCINNATI, OH - JANUARY 02: Joe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals looks to pass the ball during the game against the Buffalo Bills at Paycor Stadium on January 2, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)

Cincinnati's Joe Burrow and Buffalo's Josh Allen are two of the best quarterbacks in the league right now. So it should be quite entertaining to watch these talented young QBs go head-to-head on Sunday afternoon.

There's also strong reason to believe Burrow and Allen will each put up big numbers in this game. They both will likely need to, considering it could turn into a back-and-forth offensive shootout.

Of Burrow's 16 regular-season games, the 26-year-old accounted for multiple touchdowns in 13 of them. He also had seven performances with at least three TDs. And last week, Burrow passed for 209 yards and a touchdown and added a rushing score in the Bengals' playoff win over the Ravens.

Allen accounted for multiple TDs in 14 of his 16 regular-season games, and the 26-year-old had three or more in eight of those. He opened the postseason by passing for 352 yards and three touchdowns in a victory over the Dolphins.

The only aspect of Allen's play that has been hurting the Bills has been his turnovers. He's thrown five interceptions over Buffalo's past three games and will need to do a better job of holding on to the ball against Cincinnati.

Both offenses are stacked with playmakers, so plenty of points should be scored on Sunday. There is some snow in the forecast, but it likely won't be enough to slow the talented players surrounding Burrow and Allen.

Expect strong games from each of these quarterbacks. Because both should play well, the contest may end up getting decided by which team has the ball last.

Prediction: Burrow passes for 312 yards, three TDs; Allen passes for 289 yards, accounts for three TDs (two passing, one rushing)

Diggs Poised for Another Big Game That Will Lift Bills

AP Photo/Joshua Bessex

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) arrives on the field prior to an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex)

From Weeks 14-16 of the regular season, Stefon Diggs wasn't quite himself. The Bills' top wide receiver had only 10 catches for 123 yards over that stretch and didn't get into the end zone once. That's much less production from the 29-year-old than normal.

However, Diggs has since gotten back on track. He closed the regular season with a strong Week 18 showing against the New England Patriots in which he had seven receptions for 104 yards and a touchdown (his first since Week 13).

Last week, Diggs didn't get into the end zone in Buffalo's playoff opener. But he still had seven catches for 114 yards to help lead the Bills' offense to success.

It's highly likely that Diggs will have another big showing on Sunday against the Bengals. And Buffalo may just come out on top because of it.

Cincinnati's pass defense has proved to be beatable. During the regular season, it allowed 229.1 passing yards per game, the 10th most in the NFL.

The Bengals also don't have any cornerbacks who will likely be able to keep up with Diggs. He could draw plenty of coverage from Eli Apple, who was dealing with a neck injury earlier this month. Apple has struggled a bit this season, as his Pro Football Focus grade of 52.9 is below average.

Whether it's Apple or somebody else trying to stop Diggs, their efforts are likely to be unsuccessful. Allen should lean on Diggs in the passing game in a contest in which the Bills should be passing the ball quite a bit.

Diggs will put up impressive numbers and play a key role in Buffalo recording a victory and advancing to the AFC Championship Game.

Prediction: Diggs notches nine catches for 132 yards and two touchdowns

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