Cleveland Browns at Buffalo Bills, Ralph Wilson Stadium, Orchard Park, New York
Sunday, December 12, 2010, 1:00 pm EST, TV: CBS
Opening Line: Bills -1.5
Current Line: Bills -1
Opening Total: 43.5
Current Total: 39.5
Money Line: Bills -115 / Browns -105
The Cleveland Browns (5-7) and Buffalo Bills (2-10) have both shown flashes at certain times this season, but neither team has been able to string together more than two straight wins. That could change on Sunday when the Browns visit the Bills (-1) after winning consecutive games for the second time this year.
The Browns have won their last two games by a combined four points following a 13-10 win at Miami last week. Cleveland safety Mike Adams picked off Dolphins quarterback Chad Henne in the last minute to set up a game-winning 23-yard field goal by kicker Phil Dawson a week after the team saw Carolina miss a potential game-winner against them when it hit the left upright.
This has been quite the reversal of fortunes for the Browns, who went 1-5 in games decided by seven points or less in their first 10 to start the season. Cleveland’s two biggest wins of the season remain routs over New Orleans and New England in back-to-game games on either side of the bye week. The team has not won three straight since closing out last season on a four-game winning streak.
Meanwhile, Buffalo lost a game by more than three points for the first time since Week 5 when they suffered a 38-14 defeat at Minnesota last Sunday. The Bills remain 5-1-1 against the spread in their last seven games despite the loss but were not even competitive for the first time in nearly two months. The only positive is that they recorded four interceptions against the Vikings, knocking out Minnesota quarterback Brett Favre on his first pass attempt and also returning a pass from Tavaris Jackson for a touchdown.
Buffalo’s previous four losses had all been decided by three points, including three games that went to overtime against potential playoff teams in Pittsburgh, Kansas City and Baltimore. The UNDER has cashed in the team’s last three home games, and the last two meetings with Cleveland at Ralph Wilson Stadium have seen a combined 17 points scored between them.
Running back Peyton Hillis could be the key for the Browns in this matchup, as he is just 38 yards away from his first 1,000-yard season. Hillis will be facing the NFL’s worst run defense, surrendering 170.9 yards per game on the ground. The Bills have given up an average of 208 rushing yards in losing to Minnesota and Pittsburgh in their last two games.
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