Published: October 04, 2008 11:52 pm            

BILLS GAMEDAY: Buffalo heads to the desert to meet Arizona

Television: CBS

PLAY-BY-PLAY: Bill Macatee

COLOR ANALYST: Steve Beuerlein



Buffalo’s 2008 leaders

- PASSING: Trent Edwards, 78-of-119, 930 yards, 65.5 completion percentage, 4 TDs, 2 ints., 93.5 passer rating

- RUSHING: Marshawn Lynch, 79 carries, 275 yards, 3.5 yards per rush, 4 TDs

- RECEIVING: Josh Reed, 17 catches, 192 yards, 0 TDs

- TACKLES: Paul Posluszny, 35

- SACKS: Marcus Stroud, 2

- INTERCEPTIONS: Terrence McGee, 2



Arizona’s 2008 leaders

- PASSING: Kurt Warner, 94-of-141, 1,222 yards, 66.7 completion percentage, 8 TDs, 4 ints., 100.8 passer rating- RUSHING: Edgerrin James, 71 carries, 277 yards, 3.9 yards per rush, 2 TDs

- RECEIVING: Anquan Boldin, 27 catches, 366 yards, 5 TDs

- TACKLES: Gerald Hayes, 32

- SACKS: Bertrand Berry, 3

- INTERCEPTIONS: Chike Okeafor and Adrian Wilson, 1 each



Buffalo’s player to watch

Leodis McKelvin, cornerback

The 11th overall pick in April’s draft gets to show just why he was that today. With Terrence McGee expected to miss the game with a knee injury, McKelvin should make his first career start. The test now is for McKelvin to show what he’s learned in facing a pass-happy, Kurt Warner-led offense that put up 426 yards passing in a 56-35 loss to the New York Jets last weekend.

It won’t be easy, but McKelvin didn’t sound overwhelmed earlier this week in an interview with the Associated Press.

“I learned this in college: Do my job,” he said. “As long as I do my job, I feel like I’ll be OK.”

As much as they like McKelvin, the Bills have been cautious by gradually working him into games. Prior to last week, McKelvin was mostly used returning kicks, something he excelled in at Troy University.



Arizona’s player to watch

Larry Fitzgerald, wide receiver

The NFL’s highest-paid receiver at $10 million this season, Fitzgerald has shown why through the first four games of this season, with 24 catches for a team-leading 415 yards and two touchdowns.

Fitzgerald led the NFC last year in catches (100) and receiving yards (1,409). Even though his buddy, Anquan Boldin, will miss today’s game, Fitzgerald still poses a huge challenge for the Bills. At 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, he has a decided size advantage over Jabari Greer (5-11, 180), who will likely draw the defensive assignment for Buffalo.

“He’s a big, physical receiver that has speed and can catch,” Greer said of Fitzgerald.

The Cardinals use a lot of three- and four-receiver sets and catch the ball on any defense, but Buffalo’s ability to limit Fitzgerald with Boldin out will be particularly important.



Where the advantage lies ...

Running game — BUFFALO: Jackson continues to emerge as a viable second option for Buffalo. Cards’ James has lost a step.



Passing game — ARIZONA: Even without Boldin, Cards are dangerous. Warner has found the fountain of youth in the desert.



Run defense — BUFFALO: Stroud is questionable, but should be able to go. Bills are a different team without him in the middle.



Pass defense — BUFFALO: If you saw last week’s game against the Jets, you know why Arizona doesn’t get the nod here. McGee being out hurts.



Kicking game — BUFFALO: Moorman punted six times last week and put five of them inside the 20-yard line. That’s insane. The other one? At the 20.



Return game — BUFFALO: Among 21 players with at least 10 kick returns, McKelvin has the sixth-best average (27.7 yards). He’ll be busy today if he also handles punts.



Coaching — BUFFALO: Coaching staff has shown the ability to make adjustments, now it must have the team ready for the start of games.



Jay Skurski’s Outlook

Looking at the advantages, it seems to say Bills in a blowout. The Cardinals, though, are tough at home, where they’ve won four straight. Bills must protect against the deep ball. If they do that, I like them to make it five straight.



Prediction

Buffalo 23, Arizona 20

        

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