The Buffalo Bills wiped the floor with the tattered remains of the New York Jets last Monday. They attempt to do the same this week against the Cleveland Browns.
Browns vs. Bills 2014 live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch online
Cleveland and Buffalo play for continued relevance in the playoff hunt.
For a team that dropped its general manager and head coach this offseason, Cleveland's success this year has come as somewhat of a shock. That surprise is only compounded by the fact that superstar wide receiver Josh Gordon sat out the first 11 weeks of the season while serving a suspension for a second substance abuse violation. What has kept the Browns afloat this year has been the improved play of the defense. Though it struggled early on, the secondary led by All-Pro cornerback Joe Haden has tilted the field in recent weeks.
The Bills have battled elements outside of the normal realm of football. Several feet of snow forced the team miss multiple days of practice last week. Ultimately, the team decided to move the corresponding game to Detroit's Ford Field. Despite the distractions, quarterback Kyle Orton had his best game in weeks, completing 75 percent of his passes for two touchdowns. Buffalo won in a landslide, 38-3.
For all of the faults of Cleveland QB Brian Hoyer, the veteran signal caller doesn't turn the ball over very often. Through 11 games, he's thrown only eight interceptions and hasn't fumbled. Unfortunately, he's completing only 55.9 percent of his passes and tossed just 11 touchdowns. At running back, Isaiah Crowell appears to have taken over the starting job. Last week, he carried the ball 12 times for 88 yards and two touchdowns. Crowell now leads the team with seven rushing touchdowns on the year.
Though the Buffalo media has speculated that Orton could get benched at some point this season, he's pushing the ball down the field without forcing dangerous throws. In seven starts, the veteran is completing 65.4 percent of his passes for 12 touchdowns against only three picks. Helping his cause are receivers Sammy Watkins and Robert Woods. Watkins leads the team in both receiving yards (684) and touchdowns (five) while woods comes in second in both categories (479 and three respectively).
The Browns enter Sunday’s game with a record of 7-4. The Bills come in at 6-5.
How to watch
Where: Ralph Wilson Stadium, Orchard Park
When: 1 p.m. ET
TV: CBS
Announcers: Greg Gumbel, Trent Green, Evan Washburn
Online streaming: Verizon NFL Mobile
Odds
OddsShark puts even odds on Sunday’s game.
Further reading
For more on the Browns, check out Dawgs by Nature. For additional coverage of the Bills, head on over to Buffalo Rumblings.
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