The Chicago Bears and Buffalo Bills aren't trending in exact opposite directions, but one team is clearly better off than the other at this point. Buffalo continues to make moves to try and make itself competitive, but it hasn't worked out. Quarterback E.J. Manuel is the man in charge, and he looked so-so in his rookie year and downright poor throughout the preseason.
Bills vs. Bears 2014 game preview: Buffalo trying to notch 1st ever win in Chicago for season opener
The Buffalo Bills have never won in Chicago, losing all five of their visits by a combined 135-39 margin. Will that change on Sunday?
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Buffalo finished 6-10 last season, while the Bears, under head coach Marc Trestman, went 8-8. They got the 2013 season started off with three consecutive wins, but were inconsistent throughout the rest of the year. Unfortunately, quarterback Jay Cutler went down with injury and Josh McCown was forced to start -- though McCown actually played quite well. Still, neither Chicago's offense nor its defense played to its potential last season.
Both teams have some talent and both have some promising players. Chicago hopes that its offense is still the real deal, while Buffalo is just trying to sort out what it’s offense is supposed to look like. It should be an interesting battle on Sunday. Let’s take a closer look at both teams below:
Meet the Bears
The Bears offense is a fantasy owner's dream: a strong-armed, veteran quarterback in Jay Cutler; three towering downfield targets in Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery and tight end Martellus Bennett; a powerful running back who make plays through the air as easily as he can on the ground in Matt Forte; all packaged behind a behind a reliable offensive line returning all five starters from a unit that ranked fourth in fewest sacks allowed last season. Marquess Wilson's broken collarbone creates a whole at the No. 3 wide receiver spot, but otherwise Chicago is loaded.
The Bears were similarly loaded on offense last season (No. 2 in scoring, No. 8 in yardage) but walked away with a .500 record and no playoff ticket. That's because they also had a horrendous defense (29.9 points per game) that ranked dead last in stopping the run. The offseason cure for the defensive front ailment was the free agent signings of versatile D-lineman Lamarr Houston and veteran end Jared Allen (Julius Peppers left for Green Bay). Throw in former Cowboy Jay Ratliff, who joined the team late last season, and the unit should be considerably upgraded.
Meet the Bills
The Bears' improved ability to stop the run will be critical against a Buffalo rushing attacked that ranked second in total rushing last season. Fred Taylor is still a productive back at age 33, and despite offseason trade rumors, C.J. Spiller returns with his electrifying speed and home run potential. The big question offensively for Buffalo is whether quarterback E.J. Manuel can make significant strides in his second pro season. He was up and down in 2013 and didn't do much to assuage concerns this preseason. That said, his job should be made easier by the presence of star rookie wideout Sammy Watkins, who appears ready to return from the bruised ribs that cost him the final two preseason games.
Injuries
For the Bears, they'll have safety Chris Conte in action. He sustained a concussion in the third preseason game, but was cleared earlier in the week and was a full participant in practice on Thursday and Friday. He's listed as probable on the injury report, so it's very likely he plays. Tony Fiammetta, a standout special teams player, is listed as questionable with a hamstring injury. Fortunately, there's not much else of note for the Bears.
Buffalo has to worry about wide receiver Sammy Watkins, who didn't look great in the preseason and who is dealing with sore ribs. He's got the probable designation, which is a good sign, but it's unlikely he gets as much playing time as he might when he's healthy. Lee Smith and Johnathan Meeks are both doubtful, while Anthony Dixon is questionable, though those are all minor players. Starting corner Stephon Gilmore is questionable with a groin injury, but he's expected to play.
Follow the Fun
Bears:
Bills:
Odds
The Bears and their hight-powered offense opened at 4.5-point favorites and the opening over/under total was 48.5. Stay up to date with the latest lines at Oddsshark.com.
Next Week
The Bills host their home opener against the division rival Miami Dolphins (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET) while the Bears head to San Francisco for a Sunday night (7:30 p.m. ET) showdown with the 49ers.
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