Bills vs. Lions: Previewing Buffalo's Week 4 of the Preseason

The Buffalo Bills, coming off a 43-19 victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers last week, travel to Ford Field on Thursday evening to take on the Detroit Lions in both teams’ final preseason appearance. It’s been a busy week in Buffalo; among other things, last week’s game produced a rash of new injuries, a popular running back was cut, and the team (finally!) named its starting quarterback. But more on that in a minute.

Bills coach Rex Ryan, having named several first-teamers this week, plans to rest all of Buffalo’s starters, according to Bills Insider Chris Brown. But while the team’s Week 1 lineup may be set, questions linger farther down the depth chart. Given Buffalo’s injury woes at wide receiver and running back, Thursday’s game offers several players their final shot to demonstrate value and earn a roster spot.

The Lions defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 22-17 last week, and the team’s starting offensive line should see playing time. But, as with the Bills, most of their marquee players—including receiver Calvin Johnson and quarterback Matthew Stafford—aren't expected to play.

When: Thursday, 7:30 p.m. ET

Where: Ford Field, Detroit

TV: WKBW 7 (ABC, Buffalo); WHAM (ABC, Detroit)

News and Notes

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Former Buffalo RB Fred Jackson

First, Rex Ryan announced Monday afternoon that Tyrod Taylor will be the team’s starting quarterback. According to the Democrat and Chronicle’s Sal Maiorana, Taylor has impressed throughout camp with his running ability, surprising pocket presence and accuracy, and he won the job after a hard-fought battle with Matt Cassel and E.J. Manuel.

Given the performance of all three quarterbacks last week—a combined 30-of-33 for 395 yards and three touchdowns—it seems likely all three will remain on the roster. Fourth-stringer Matt Simms will start Thursday and may play the entire game, according to Brown.

Ryan also announced Seantrel Henderson as the team’s starting right tackle.

Second, the Bills cut running back Fred Jackson on Monday, along with 13 other players. Jackson is the third-leading rusher in Bills history, and his departure leaves the team with a hole to fill behind LeSean McCoy.

Boobie Dixon, who is coming back from a calf injury, may see the field on Thursday; Bryce Brown and rookie Karlos Williams (who are both also battling injury) round out the running back corps. They’ll be fighting for the official backup job.

Injury Updates

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Buffalo RB LeSean McCoy

The Bills have been decimated by injury this preseason, especially on offense. No. 1 receiver Sammy Watkins and offseason signing Percy Harvin are returning from injuries, and while they’re expected to play in Week 1, they won’t play Thursday. Receivers Marquise Goodwin (ribs), Austin Willis (head) and Marcus Thigpen (lower back) are also battling health issues.

Meanwhile, at running back, ESPN's Josina Anderson reported Wednesday that No. 1 option and prized offseason acquisition LeSean McCoy may not be healthy enough to play in Week 1 of the regular season. He hurt his hamstring in practice earlier in the preseason, and while his rehab has been generally positive, the news is troubling.

McCoy’s potential absence not only makes Jackson’s departure even more perilous but places more pressure on Dixon and Brown.

Key Matchup

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Buffalo WR Deonte Thompson

Deonte Thompson, Chris Hogan and Andre Davis vs. Detroit Secondary

The top targets in Buffalo’s receiving corps are set. Sammy Watkins, Robert Woods and Percy Harvin are virtual locks for the 53-man roster. Several others, meanwhile, are fighting injuries: Marquise Goodman is out indefinitely with the rib injury he suffered against Pittsburgh, while Austin Willis and Marcus Thigpen are also hurt. That leaves questions farther down the line.

Fourth-year pro Deonte Thompson, third-year wideout Chris Hogan and rookie Andre Davis are all in the mix for a roster spot. Hogan injured his ankle in the team’s second preseason game but set career highs in Buffalo last year and seems the most likely of the three to make the squad. Thompson, meanwhile, has had a strong preseason but has also received trade attention from several teams in need of receiving depth. Davis is a healthy but fairly unknown commodity who has been neither terrible nor splendid thus far.

Presumptive Detroit secondary starters James Ihedigbo, Rashean Mathis and Darius Slay will see limited (if any) playing time. But youngsters like Alex Carter and Quandre Diggs will likely play a lot. If Thompson, Hogan and Davis want to solidify a spot on the final roster, they’ll need to make a splash on Thursday.

X-Factor

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Buffalo CB Ronald Darby

CB Ronald Darby

Darby makes our preview for the second straight week, mostly because he can’t seem to find any consistency.

After a poor performance in the team’s first preseason game, Darby played well in preseason Week 2. But last week, he surrendered a 67-yard touchdown pass and was called twice for pass interference.

When Darby plays well, he’s good. When he plays poorly, he’s terrible and the weakest link on what should be a dominant Buffalo defense. Rex Ryan and his staff need Darby to perform well heading into the regular season.

Detroit’s star wideout Calvin Johnson will rest on Thursday, as will Golden Tate. But Darby may still have his hands full. While Buffalo is fighting health issues at receiver, the Lions have too many receivers to put on the roster. That means Darby will primarily compete against players who are fighting to make their team—a powerful incentive and one likely to test Buffalo’s up-and-down youngster.

Prediction

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Buffalo coach Rex Ryan

Lions 22, Bills 21

This week’s matchup is particularly tough to predict because it’s not just a preseason game—it’s the last preseason game. Most of both teams’ stars will not see the field, and those who do won’t play much. Coaches will try new schemes, adjust on the fly and place players in as many different situations as possible.

But Detroit has a couple of advantages. First, its starting offensive line will play, while no Buffalo starters will see the field. So while Lions starting quarterback Matthew Stafford will sit the bench, backups Dan Orlovsky and Kellen Moore will have the benefit of starting-caliber protection.

Second, Darby is coming off a poor performance and needs to play well. But at this point he seems bound for the Week 1 roster, and he'll be competing against several Detroit wideouts with no such confidence. Those receivers will continue what has been a lengthy and fierce battle for a roster spot.

Finally, the Bills appear to have a nonexistent running game in this matchup. Now-departed Fred Jackson led the team in rushing last week against Pittsburgh; the only other players to run the ball (apart from quarterbacks) were Cierre Wood, Bronson Hill and Ricky Seale—none of whom ran for more than 31 yards. Resting players will help Buffalo down the road but will hurt the Bills this week.

All stats courtesy of ESPN.com.