Bills/Panthers: Final Predictions with Cat Scratch Reader
by Brian Galliford on Oct 24, 2009 1:00 PM EDT
in News
49 comments
It's Saturday, which means that it's prediction day here at Buffalo Rumblings. Tomorrow afternoon, the Buffalo Bills will look to milk a little momentum out of their most recent overtime victory by extending their winning streak on the road against the Carolina Panthers. Carolina, however, has some momentum themselves, as they've won two straight games and are looking to re-establish their dominant home field advantage (minus a playoff loss, the Panthers were 8-0 at Bank of America Stadium in 2008).
Joining us in our prediction festivities is Jaxon from Cat Scratch Reader. His prediction - which has been on the record since Wednesday - and mine are after the jump. Yours will be in the comments section.
Jaxon's game prediction (read the full analysis here):
This could very easily be the week we reach .500. The Bills are battered and bruised, but also showed a lot of heart winning in OT against the resurgent Jets. We are a team who lives by the run, and dies by the run, and they will need to show up this week. On paper we have all the advantages in this matchup, however, we had all the advantages against Washington and Tampa also and the game was closer than I care to remember.
That being said, I think more of the team comes together this week in Charlotte. With a chip on their shoulder to show the hometown crowd that they can come back from their horrendous start I think they play with a vast amount of fire and emotion. Last week I called the game 28-10 Panthers, it was 28-21. So, I might not be as overly confident as last week with my prediction. I think it will be a hard fought game, but with a battered LB corps the Bills can't stop double trouble. Panthers 24, Bills 17
My prediction:
I mentioned last week that the Bills didn't match up well with the Jets because the Jets are a run-oriented, physical football team. I was right. New York ran for 318 yards, and the Jets knocked Trent Edwards out of the football game. Only the kind generosity of Mark Sanchez allowed Buffalo to leave the Meadowlands with a much-needed victory. Carolina is eerily similar to New York - run-oriented, physical and with a very mistake-prone quarterback. Buffalo doesn't match up well with Carolina, so I'm sticking to my guns.
I started the year out 4-0 in predicting Bills games. I've predicted incorrectly in each of the past two weeks - I took them to beat Cleveland (whoops), and I took the Jets at home last week (double whoops). I'll happily continue to pick against them if it means the team's winning streak continues as well. Panthers 31, Bills 17
Your predictions, as always, are encouraged in the comments section.
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Panthers 24-13
I just don’t see how we can slow down their running game. Williams is going to break at least one long run, and both he and Stewart will be wearing down the shorthanded defense all game long. Plus, I don’t envision Fitzpatrick leading us to many points.
Tough match-up since the Panthers strengths go against our weaknesses…
~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."
by Kurupt on Oct 24, 2009 1:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
running game
shrumming game. All this friggn talk about the Panthers running game. I’m sick of it, I really am. They are not God’s gift to running in the NFL. Plus, unless you can throw it in the NFL, you ain’t going to win. This game will not come down to how many yards the Panthers run, as much as it will come down to which QB makes plays in the passing game. I’ve just got a feelling about this Bills team, that last week’s win was a sigh of relief, a monkey of their backs and now they can go play football. I see a 20-17 Bills win
MARVelous - "I went from America's team to North America's Team" Terrell Owens
by MARVelous on Oct 24, 2009 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
In case you haven't noticed
our run D is the worst in the league and the Panthers rush for 130+ per game. You can’t simply dismiss that issue like you did. If we can’t stop them on the ground, it’s going to be extremely tough to win. Do you really think Fox will have Delhomme throwing wounded ducks like Sanchez was allowed to do all last week?
~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."
by Kurupt on Oct 24, 2009 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
run D
Theirs isn’t much better.
Keepin' the faith!
by nickdaniels on Oct 24, 2009 4:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yes
they can run all they want in between the 20’s but how many rushing TD"s has our Def given up? Yards are great, but our defense doesn’t allow points, except Miami which a) we had a ton of injuries and b) they are the #1 running team in the league. This isn’t the triple option of the Sooners. You can’t win in the NFL if you can’t pass, and the only way Carolina wins is if they can pass on us on Sunday and I don’t see it…you cannot be one dimensional in the NFL. It’s a passing league, not a running league
MARVelous - "I went from America's team to North America's Team" Terrell Owens
by MARVelous on Oct 24, 2009 6:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
but how many rushing TD"s has our Def given up?
8. Which is the fourth most in the league. And the 18 rushing TDs they gave up last year was the ninth most. The Bills zone D shuts down the opposing teams passing attack in the red zone, but teams can still run on us. I agree with you that Carolina won’t score a ton of points though. You guessed 17, I guessed 20.
I signed up for Second Life about a year ago. Back then my life was so great that I literally wanted a second one. In my Second Life I was also a paper salesman and I was also named Dwight. Absolutely everything was the same. Except I could fly. - Dwight Schrute
by kaisertown on Oct 24, 2009 6:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well
We still have a ton of injuries and Carolina is one of the better running teams in the league, so I don’t get your point. Kaiser has pointed out how many rushing touchdowns we’ve given up. We’ve already lost games this year where the oppnent could run, but struggled through the air (Saints, Browns, Dolphins). Heck, we won last week without being able to throw it.
I’m sorry but I don’t see how Carolina needs to pass to beat us. Sure they need to not turn it over 5 times, but if they run all over us, that will be good enough…
~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."
by Kurupt on Oct 24, 2009 11:57 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
Miami has the top-ranked rush attack and a really bad passing attack. They handled the Bills easily.
Twitter: helping to make anti-social people anti-socially social.
by TheAfghanTwilight on Oct 25, 2009 9:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Running games
Tough match-up since the Panthers strengths go against our weaknesses…
True, but the opposite is true as well: The Bills has the same ypa rushing as the Panthers, and the Panthers are the 29th against the run themselves.
by hythlodaeus on Oct 24, 2009 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Passing D
The Bills have also given up the forth least passing yards per game.
Founding member of the Dick Jauron Fan Club.
by taskersd on Oct 24, 2009 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why would teams pass when they can run?
The only way the Bills stop the run game is to load the box, which will make it easier for the Panthers to throw.
Of course we could make things more challenging, Lisa, but then the stupider students would be in here complaining, furrowing their brows in a vain attempt to understand the situation--Seymour Skinner
by Ron From NM on Oct 24, 2009 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If you know the answer to that, let me know. The truth is, as obvious as this seems to us, teams get all smart about themselves and over think the situation. I very much can see Carolina trying to go through the air if they have a tough time on the ground at the start of the game. Or they might come out passing just to “catch us off guard”. It won’t work. It might be close, but the Bills win this one regardless of how many yards the Panthers pile up on the ground.
by syrbillsfan on Oct 25, 2009 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
A difference between the Jets and Panthers is that the Jets have a slightly better defense, I’m willing to wager that without Trent leading the offense 2 yards at a time the Bills will score more than we’ve seen before. It’s gonna be close. 21-17 Bills.
Bills fan? In Colorado? It's more likely than you think.
by UZ on Oct 24, 2009 1:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
24-16 panthers
Bad day for Bills fans but another good day for fantasy owners of Lindell. I would not be suprised if Williams/Stewart go off for 350 yards.
by dragonwag0n on Oct 24, 2009 1:49 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs
21-20 cats
don’t see us stopping that running game.but I do see a pick or two taken to the house to keep things close.hope I’m wrong about the outcome, but these days?
"This is what happens Larry!, This is what happens! "-Walter Sobchak
by BigEasyBillsKrewe on Oct 24, 2009 2:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Panthers 33-Bills 27
I think Buffalo stuffs the run this week. After being gashed the past two weeks the Bills will sell out to stop the run. Unfortunately, as bad as Delhomme has played recently, the Panthers still have Steve Smith. I think this is the week that Delhomme rebounds from his horrible string of bad games, throwing for 3 TDs (Panthers get 4 FGs as well) and 250+ yards….including a number of 3rd and medium completions to keep the chains moving.
Because it’s Jake Delhomme I see Buffalo getting a pair of INTs returns for touchdowns. I also see the special teams until breaking out of its collective funk and picking up a TD while also giving the offense ridiculously short fields for a pair of FGs. The offense? Well, they play like they’ve played for the past month and don’t make it past the 50 on their own.
Of course we could make things more challenging, Lisa, but then the stupider students would be in here complaining, furrowing their brows in a vain attempt to understand the situation--Seymour Skinner
by Ron From NM on Oct 24, 2009 2:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Oh, and I, for one, am delighted that this will be the last Bills game to kick off at 2 pm (MST). 8 of the next 9 games start at 11 (MST) which will give me time on Sundays to start breaking down the individual performances by the offensive line.
One other thing, assuming Meredith completes the entire game he will have as many full games starting at RT as Scott. Scott played the Dolphins game at LT and didn’t take over for Butler until halfway through the Bucs game.
Of course we could make things more challenging, Lisa, but then the stupider students would be in here complaining, furrowing their brows in a vain attempt to understand the situation--Seymour Skinner
by Ron From NM on Oct 24, 2009 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not going to choose, as I did last week...
in the hopes of us pulling out another victory. I think Fitz plays better than last week with a whole week of preparation as the starter. I think we go vertical a couple times to Evans and possibly TO. We have to load the box up all day and commit to stuffing it, which can be done. It hasn’t been a down in down out problem stuffing the run as much as it has been overpursuit andpoor gap discipline leading to big plays. Let’s have a little faith that the coaching staff has been pounding this fact into their heads and players like Stroud, Poz, Ellison, etc show a little pride this week. If we give up under 175 yds rushing in this game we will win it. I assure you of that. Oh and Ron, if we do stuff the run as you predicted there’s no way in hell Carolina wins this game because Delhomme is possibly the worst starting QB in the league this year.
by live6453 on Oct 24, 2009 3:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I see the Panthers winning 38-13. They are going to run the ball down our sore throat, which will set up Delhomme for some long bombs to Steve Smith. I expect the Panthers to blitz all day with success, and I see Fitz throwing a pair of picks. This is, to me, likely going to be an ugly one, especially if we get behind early and are forced to abandon the run.
by BillsfanfromDenmark on Oct 24, 2009 3:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Lightning strikes twice?
They can run the ball, we can run the ball. Their run D sucks, our run D sucks. Question is whose QB is going to show up ready to play? Is Delhomme really as crappy as he’s seemed lately? I think he probably is. But will he gift us the game like Sanchez? And what is Fitz going to show us?
Figuring that Delhomme really is THAT bad, and that Fitz might be at least OK, we’ll win 24-20.
I also heartily second Ron’s comment about late games. I’m going to miss this one.
by Applsoss on Oct 24, 2009 3:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Bills 42 Panthers 5...
Moorman finds the end zone twice!
Founding member of the Dick Jauron Fan Club.
by taskersd on Oct 24, 2009 3:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Who is going to score the other 28?
And a safety? If this score is correct, we need to get you a prize.
by bluecollarbuffalo on Oct 24, 2009 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
G. Hamdin enters the game in second quarter.
Bills win 34 – 27, the rest is history.
Excuses are a sign of weakness!!!!!!
by VanScottM on Oct 24, 2009 4:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Buffalo 16 - Panthers 13
Fred Jackson punt return for a TD should quiet our 7th string WR.
by teq on Oct 24, 2009 4:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Bills 27 Panthers 14
this is the week the o line comes together and protects as well as making big holes and you nea sayers will see how good fitz’s really is Evans and TO break loose
by White Lightnin on Oct 24, 2009 6:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I’m surprised to see so many people predicting the Panthers score 30+ points. They havn’t done it yet this year and the Bills have only given up 30 one time. I’ll guess it’s another low scoring, ugly football game.
Carolina wins 20-10
I signed up for Second Life about a year ago. Back then my life was so great that I literally wanted a second one. In my Second Life I was also a paper salesman and I was also named Dwight. Absolutely everything was the same. Except I could fly. - Dwight Schrute
by kaisertown on Oct 24, 2009 6:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Look for a close game...
deep into the 3rd Quarter, perhaps courtesy of Jake Delhomme, who has developed a penchant for the INT. After that it depends on how gassed the Bills D has become.
"They're Killin' Me Whitey. They're Killin' Me" -- Lou Saban
by NJBill on Oct 24, 2009 6:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Panthers 20-13
the combo Williams – Stewart is too much for our run D.
Peppers with 4 sacks in 2 weeks could create a lot of trouble for our inexperienced D all day.
And Fitzpatrick will play, I’m not buying him at all.
Hope to be awful wrong tomorrow though.
by hightower_mc on Oct 24, 2009 7:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Bills 20-16
This is probably wishful thinking, but I’m predicting Buffalo finds a way to slow the run. Byrd hopefully learned how to tackle a RB from the safety position this week, and Buffalo is prepared to stop the run knowing Delhomme sucks, which is different than what they expected of Sanchez.
They are hard to play but not hard to beat.
- Mike Lombardi on the Buffalo Bills
by Sluss88 on Oct 24, 2009 7:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Kitty Cats win.......
23-10……….
yuck.
"In every adversity there lies the seed of an equivalent advantage. In every defeat is a lesson showing you how to win the victory next time." (Robert Collier)
by norcaliangelsfan on Oct 24, 2009 8:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Of course, I took Buffalo in my picks. How could I not?
Of course we could make things more challenging, Lisa, but then the stupider students would be in here complaining, furrowing their brows in a vain attempt to understand the situation--Seymour Skinner
by Ron From NM on Oct 24, 2009 9:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Mediocre team with bad run defense vs Mediocre team with bad run defense, no shame in picking the one who you would rather win.
Most likely this will come down to who will rush better and which QB will make the least amount of mistakes.
"Did you feel you did well against Lindland?" "
Hell no.. I wanted to break the law"
---Rampage
by TearsofaClown on Oct 25, 2009 7:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Panthers 24 Bills 13
Bank of America Stadium is a grass field. The only Bill who is good on grass is Marshawn :-) Grass negates speed, which the Bills D is supposedly based on. Bills keep it close until the second half. Fitz starts to force some balls trying to make a play, knowing this is his last chance to win a staring job. The D starts to tire out from being on the field to long. The Panthers run for 100 yds in the 4th quarter alone.
Poor ball security leads to very painful outcomes
by Joe P. on Oct 24, 2009 10:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
So a typical Bills game?
Good Marshawn comment, although in reality I don’t think he’s done that well on grass or grass.
~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."
by Kurupt on Oct 25, 2009 12:02 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
Pretty much
With Lynch putting on that extra weight, I assume his speed has taken a hit, but his power has improved. Either way, the only way the Bills don’t get smoked is if Lynch rolls a fat one hundred on the Panthers.
Poor ball security leads to very painful outcomes
by Joe P. on Oct 25, 2009 9:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ellison Can't Stop these guys. Panthers 34 Bills 26
If I were the panthers I would pick on Ellison because he is a horrible LB. He cannot stop the run, over pursues all the time and has trouble in coverage. Their game plan should be attack Ellison and we will win. The Jets proved this as they gashed the Bills Run D. The only good LB on our team is Poz, so if I were them I would stick to the off tackles and sweeps. Ellison can’t make those plays Bills lose here in a close one because our offense will be better with Fitz….. Panthers 34 Bills 26
by csc06258 on Oct 24, 2009 10:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
keep it up
how many of you prognosticators picked correctly last week? hmmm? I did! Carolina has no film-based game plan for the first week Fitz-led Bills O. I trust that Perry has made some worthwhile adjustments to the D. Bills 24-16.
most of my posts get deleted :(
by dzil on Oct 24, 2009 11:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I called a win last week.
But I call a Bills win every week.
Just because.
by Applsoss on Oct 24, 2009 11:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well you may be a homer
But at least your a buffalo one =0)
"Did you feel you did well against Lindland?" "
Hell no.. I wanted to break the law"
---Rampage
by TearsofaClown on Oct 25, 2009 7:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Does it matter what adjustments Perry makes?
How many linebackers have come and gone since the start of the year? The same question applies to the safety positions as well. At some point it doesn’t much matter what the defensive coordinator does or doesn’t do—he’s got to have NFL caliber players on the field to stop offenses manned by NFL caliber players.
Of course we could make things more challenging, Lisa, but then the stupider students would be in here complaining, furrowing their brows in a vain attempt to understand the situation--Seymour Skinner
by Ron From NM on Oct 24, 2009 11:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
what team doesn’t deal with injuries and substitutions? Poz is back and knows he needs to step it up. I agree, our LB core is horrible. But, you also consider the fact that they’ve barely even practiced together. Look at the O line 4/5 rookies but doing a decent job. Not saying any part of the Bills team is great, but the Carolina is getting more credit than due IMO.
most of my posts get deleted :(
by dzil on Oct 25, 2009 12:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
how many of you prognosticators picked correctly last week? hmmm? I did!
So, you called for a Bills victory gift wrapped with 5 INTs? Or did you have the score correct? If you are going to thump your chest and say “look at me”….better have something for us to see :-)
Poor ball security leads to very painful outcomes
by Joe P. on Oct 25, 2009 9:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
go back and look for yourself. I’d say predicting a close game til the end is quite different than the epic blowout that most predicted. diminish it however makes you feel best.
most of my posts get deleted :(
by dzil on Oct 25, 2009 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Carolina may not have much film on Fitzpatrick as a Bill, but Fitzpatrick has next to no gameday experience with the team.
Twitter: helping to make anti-social people anti-socially social.
by TheAfghanTwilight on Oct 25, 2009 9:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Panthers, 27-13
The Panthers will rush for over 200 yards, while the banged up Bills defense will not be able to depend upong 5 interceptions this week, maybe 3, to win the game. How sad it is that last week the Bills had 5 interceptions and could not really turn those turnover into points. Not a sign of a good offense at all. And teams have been running all over us for weeks, that probably will not change today.
by BuffaloWhiner on Oct 25, 2009 10:56 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Bills by 4
My guess is that the Bills will pull this one out by 4 points or so. The big questions for me is how much Kyle Williams’ absence (assuming he doesn’t play) impacts the run defense. Can McCargo fill in for him at all, or will we have to keep Stroud and Spencer Johnson on the field the whole game? If it’s the latter, then all bets are off. I’m thinking that Fitzpatrick will surprise and that the Bills will pile up a fair number of yards through the air, but they will still need to keep the Panthers under control on the ground. If they can do that we could be 3-4.
by Macktruck on Oct 25, 2009 11:12 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Ashley Palmer goes nuts
17 – 14 Bills
"Hold ya chin up...nuh nuh nuh...gone" -Marshawn Lynch-
by billsoferie on Oct 25, 2009 2:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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