Once again we'll be featuring our Game Day Tipsheet every Friday, which will include everything you'll want to know, some things you may not have known and probably a few things you didn't care to know, but find interesting anyway.
Top 3 Individual Matchups
1. Derrick Dockery vs. John Henderson - The Pro Bowl defensive tackle is a menace to opposing offensive linemen. He not only stuffs the run, but gets good penetration and can pressure the quarterback. Dockery has the size and strength to hold his own with Henderson, but likely won't refuse assistance from center Melvin Fowler.
2. Langston Walker vs. Paul Spicer - Spicer might be one of the most underrated defensive ends in the league. He's stout against the run and offers more pass rushing ability than most left ends. Spicer is freakishly strong and will be an entertaining matchup for Walker on the edge.
3. Lee Evans vs. Terry Cousin - With Rashean Mathis (groin) not expected to play the matchup on the outside becomes much more favorable for the Bills. Cousin is a veteran journeyman and will need plenty of help with Evans. Veteran Aaron Glenn is also a possible option.
Top 2 Bills Advantages
Good advantage: Punt return - Jacksonville isn't bad covering punts ranking eighth in the league, but that's due more to their punter Adam Podlesh. The rookie is excellent with his directional kicking and it enhances the team's coverage as a result. If Roscoe Parrish can still manage to field the ball despite Podlesh's directional exploits, he could provide Buffalo with a valuable field position edge.
Best advantage: Lee Evans - With Mathis not expected to play the Bills have a distinct advantage outside with the remainder of Jacksonville's cornerback contingent either lacking in talent or lacking in youth. Buffalo has to move Evans around throughout the game to get matchup advantages every series.
Bills Number One Must
Big plays: Buffalo's offense is going to need to deliver at least three-big plays if they are to have a chance at winning this game. Winning time of possession against the Jaguars is supremely difficult. The only way to counter that is by scoring or getting into scoring territory with big plays. The Bills are capable of it with players like Evans and Parrish and must make every effort to get each of them the ball several times to maximize the chance for big plays. A big play on special teams or defense couldn't hurt either.
Scouting Eye
Missing pieces: Jacksonville's defense has taken a few hits the past couple of weeks similar to what Buffalo experienced in the first month of the season. DT Marcus Stroud is out serving the third game of a four-game suspension for violation of the substance abuse policy. MLB Mike Peterson is out after suffering a broken hand last week. And the aforementioned Rashean Mathis is not expected to play after suffering a groin injury last week. Their kicker Josh Scobee however, is back after missing the first nine games with a quad injury.
Fine in the middle: Despite lacking those starters on defense, Jacksonville has capable talent filling the void at two of those positions. Rob Meier is a steady defensive tackle and will line up inside next to Henderson. Daryl Smith, who normally starts at outside linebacker now mans the middle in place of Peterson. Smith did the same thing last season and excelled finishing third in the league with 170 tackles last year.
Two-headed monster: The running back tandem of Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew is as productive as ever. The combo averages 117.3 yards per game on the ground. As a team the Jags average 140 rushing yards a game good for third best in the league. Jacksonville is the only team to have two running backs with at least 550 rushing yards this season. Taylor and Jones-Drew, with some assistance from David Garrard, hung 207 rushing yards on the Bills last season. The Jags have had 100 yards rushing or more in eight of their 10 games this season.
Touchdown maker: In addition to his rushing exploits, Jones-Drew also has a nose for the end zone. The Jaguars running back has 23 touchdowns in his last 24 games. Of those 23 scores, 19 have been rushing TDs, two receiving and two kickoff returns.
Ground and pound: Unlike most NFL teams when it's 3rd-and-3 or 3rd-and-4 Jacksonville will run the ball rather than pass. The reason why is in many cases even if they don't pick up the first down on that third down play, they'll run it again on fourth down. The Jaguars lead the league in fourth down attempts (25) and fourth down conversions (13).
Third down machine: David Garrard has put up several impressive statistics thus far this season. His passer rating (104.6) is fourth best in the league behind Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger and Tony Romo entering this week's action. And he has yet to throw an interception. But his most impressive work has come on third down. Garrard leads the NFL with a passer rating of 125.1 on third downs where he is 37-51 (72.5%) for 366 yards and five touchdowns.
Emerging?: Former first round pick Reggie Williams may finally be turning the corner for the Jaguars. He currently leads the team with a career-high five touchdown catches and is second on the team in receiving yardage (322). Meanwhile 2006 first-round pick Marcedes Lewis (TE) is also getting more involved in the passing game, now standing third on the team in receptions with 22.
No giveaway points: The Jaguars don't give the ball away much to begin with as they stand third in the league with just 13 turnovers. But even when they do cough up the ball they rarely let an opponent score off of that turnover. Opponents have scored just 20 points off of Jacksonville's 13 giveaways making it the third lowest scoring percentage in the NFL (11%).
Buffalo Chips
Quote of the week: "We know they want to beat us since we beat them here last year and we welcome the challenge. And then it's a game. It's a game where we're racing with them to get to the playoffs. So we really need this win and they need this win to keep us off their heels. It's going to be a big game."
--Donte Whitner
Stat of the week
Five of the six games between the Bills and Jaguars have been decided by six points or less.
Milestones in reach
Roscoe Parrish (330) needs 55 yards to break the Bills all-time record for punt return yards in a season held by Donnie Walker (384 in 1974).
Rian Lindell needs six more field goals without a miss to break the Bills record for most consecutive field goals made currently held by Steve Christie (17 in 1994).
Terrence McGee needs one kickoff return for a touchdown to tie the league record for most kick returns for touchdowns in a career with six.
Final note
Four of the six games between the Bills and Jaguars have been won with 1:03 or less remaining in the game. Three of those four have been won on the final play of the game.
