Published: December 15, 2007 07:37 pm      

BILLS GAMEDAY: Buffalo visits Cleveland

Buffalo’s 2007 leaders

- PASSING: Trent Edwards, 113-for-180, 1,212 yards, 62.8 completion percentage, 5 TDs, 5 ints., 80.1 passer rating

- RUSHING: Marshawn Lynch, 219 carries, 858 yards, 3.9 yards per rush, 6 TDs

- RECEIVING: Lee Evans, 47 receptions, 768 yards, 16.3 yards per catch, 4 TDs

- TACKLES: Angelo Crowell, 115

- SACKS: Aaron Schobel, 4.5

- INTERCEPTIONS: Terrence McGee, 3



Cleveland’s 2007 leaders

- PASSING: Derek Anderson, 249-for-435, 3,247 yards, 57.2 completion percentage, 26 TDs, 14 ints., 87.4 passer rating- RUSHING: Jamal Lewis, 218 carries, 921 yards, 4.2 yards per rush, 9 TDs

- RECEIVING: Kellen Winslow, 69 carries, 943 yards, 13.7 yards per rush, 5 TDs

- TACKLES: D’Qwell Jackson, 92

- SACKS: Kamerion Wimbley, 5

- INTERCEPTIONS: Sean Jones, 5



Buffalo’s player to watch

Donte Whitner, strong safety

Buffalo’s emotional leader returns home for the biggest game of his young career. Though he’s in just his second season, the Cleveland native has become the most important player on Buffalo’s defense. With 87 tackles and a pair of forced fumbles, Whitner’s had a solid season. But in a lot of ways, he’s about more than stats. Whitner’s been a leader, a teacher and a spokesman at various times, even hosting the members of Buffalo’s secondary at his house in an effort to bring the group together.

“The most important thing for us, the reason why we drafted him and what we still see is he loves to play the game and he’s very competitive,” Bills coach Dick Jauron said of Whitner. “He wants to win and he plays to win. (I’m) really, really happy with Donte’s progress both as a player and a leader.”



Cleveland’s player to watch

Braylon Edwards, wide receiver

At 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, Edwards has a considerable size advantage over 5-foot-9 Bills cornerback Terrence McGee, whom he’ll be matched up against today. Bills coach Dick Jauron wasn’t kidding this week when he said, “we certainly have a tall order in front of us.”

In his third year out of Michigan, Edwards is having a breakout campaign, with 65 catches for 1,106 yards and 13 TDs. He expects the Bills to use plenty of contact in an effort to throw him off his game.

“Just being physical, they can disturb a lot of routes, whether they’re tall or small. If they play physical, it makes us alter our routes, which takes the timing off a little bit,” he said.

With four members of the Bills’ secondary on injured reserve, the Browns will look to establish the pass first. Edwards will undoubtedly be at the center of those passing plans.



What they’re saying ...

“Probably his best strength is that he’s got a really strong arm. He’s got some size and is a classic pocket passer. Once he got the starting job he’s taken off and run with it.”

— Cleveland head coach Romeo Crennel, on his starting quarterback, Derek Anderson



Gamebreakers

1. Kellen Winslow (CLEVELAND) — Browns tight end might have the best hands in the league

2. Jim Leonhard (BUFFALO) — Bills safety steps back into the starting lineup

3. Kamerion Wimbley (CLEVELAND) — Browns outside linebacker is the team’s most potent pass rusher



Buffalo’s stat of the week

3 — The number of teams to start a season 0-3 and still make the playoffs. The Bills have done it once, in 1998, and look to repeat the accomplishment this season. San Diego (1992) and Detroit (1995) are the other teams to do it.



Cleveland’s stat of the week

32 — Where the Browns rank in both yards allowed per game (389.7) and points allowed per game (27.4), both last in the league.



Where the advantage lies ...



Running game — BUFFALO: On paper, the matchup between Marshawn Lynch and Jamal Lewis is about even, but that doesn’t take into account the three games Lynch missed because of injury. The fact Fred Jackson has emerged as a viable second option out of the backfield gives the Bills the edge.



Passing game — CLEVELAND: The Browns have the height advantage all over the field and Derek Anderson is playing at a Pro Bowl level. The biggest question for the Browns is whether the weather will be decent enough to throw the ball. Browns tight end Kellen Winslow presents a matchup problem for any team.



Run defense — BUFFALO: Quietly, the Bills have moved up to 18th in the league against the rush. Lewis has found the fountain of youth with the Browns, but the Bills should be able to keep him in check. Having Chris Kelsay back in the lineup should help keep the defensive ends fresh. John McCargo needs to make a play.



Pass defense — CLEVELAND: The Browns and Bills are equally inept in this department, so the advantage goes to the home team. With George Wilson out, Jim Leonhard steps back into a starting role for the Buffalo defense. Remember Ashton Youboty? The Bills’ second-year cornerback will need to be at his best in coverage today.



Kicking game — BUFFALO: The weather won’t matter to Bills punter Brian Moorman and kicker Rian Lindell, both of whom are used to the conditions. Lindell will be anxious to start a new streak after his franchise record of 18 straight field goals came to an end against the Dolphins. Look for Moorman to control field position in a game that should be close.



Return game — CLEVELAND: Very rarely does a team get the advantage over the Bills, but that’s how good Josh Cribbs has been for the Browns. Cleveland’s third-year man leads the league in kick return average and has taken two back for touchdowns. He’s also averaging more than 10 yards a return on punts. Roscoe Parrish had a punt return for a touchdown called back on a penalty last week for the Bills.



Coaching — CLEVELAND: Romeo Crennel went from genius to dunce, but he’s worked his way back toward the smart end of the scale this year. Bills defensive coordinator Perry Fewell needs to come up with creative blitzing schemes against a solid Browns offensive line. It will be interesting to see how the Bills offense does under departing coordinator Steve Fairchild.



Injury report

Buffalo Bills

Name Pos. Status Ailment

Copeland Bryan DE Out Knee

Coy Wire LB Out Neck

George Wilson S Out Ribs

Anthony Hargrove DE Probable Personal matter

Chris Kelsay DE Probable Ankle

Ryan Denney DE Probable Foot



Cleveland Browns

Name Pos. Status Ailment

Antwan Peek LB Doubtful Ankle

Joe Jurevicius WR Questionable Knee

Willie McGinest LB Probable Hip

Orpheus Roye DL Probable Knee

Kevin Shaffer OL Probable Knee

Robaire Smith DL Probable Back

Lawrence Vickers FB Probable Flu



Jay Skurski’s Outlook

The weather is the big factor today. If the snow and wind neutralizes Cleveland’s passing offense, the Bills have a much better shot. Buffalo running backs Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson will have to keep the chains moving so the Bills can keep Cleveland’s offense off the field. As crazy as it sounds, I like the Bills in a battle of defenses.



Prediction

Buffalo 20, Cleveland 17