Bills vs. Eagles predictions, score tracker, start time and streaming: Live updates
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After some uncertainty about their secondary coming into the week, the Bills head into the Eagles matchup with their full group of starting cornerbacks and safeties. Nickel cornerback Taron Johnson cleared concussion protocol on Friday and safety Micah Hyde, despite dealing with a stinger, is also good to go. That duo, along with cornerbacks Rasul Douglas, Christian Benford and safety Jordan Poyer will have their hands full with an excellent Eagles passing attack. DeVonta Smith and the return of Quez Watkins will be a challenge, but the focal point of the Eagles passing attack is A.J. Brown, who has had success against the Bills when he played for the Titans. Brown was held to just one catch for eight yards last week against the Chiefs, and there could be enhanced attention from the Eagles to get him going Sunday. The Bills will face a choice against the 6-foot-1, 227 pound Brown, as to whether they’ll have Douglas (6-foot-2, 209 pounds) travel with him. However, when Brown moves inside to the slot, it could force the Bills out of their usual formation by having Douglas travel with him, forcing the nickel corner Johnson out to the boundary.
The Bills got themselves going on offense for the first time in a month-and-a-half with new interim offensive coordinator Joe Brady last weekend. Now with a bit of a book on him for the Eagles to work from, the Bills will need to prove it wasn’t just the usual one-week coaching change boost that teams get and that their output is sustainable. One way the Bills helped their offense hit a new gear against the Jets was by sticking with James Cook and their rushing game. With that added dimension and threat to run, it helped unlock the Bills passing attack from their third drive through the rest of the game. It also helped that Allen looked a lot more comfortable and decisive than he has since early in the season, as he took a few more downfield shots once the running game and short passing game began to open them up. The Bills will need all the points they can get this week against the super-charged Eagles.