Bills vs Browns predictions and keys to game moved to Detroit because of Buffalo snowstorm

What a weird week this has been for the Buffalo Bills thanks to the latest Snowvember storm that crippled the region around Highmark Stadium and forced Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns to be shifted to Ford Field in Detroit.

But now that the weather issues have been dealt with, it’s back to focusing on the reality of the Bills’ on-field situation: They have lost two games in a row, two games they really had no business losing, and in the blink of an eye they have tumbled from the top-seeded team in the AFC and Super Bowl favorite to the third-place team in the AFC East and barely hanging on to a playoff seed.

This certainly hasn’t reached must-win territory for the Bills, but given the strength of the division and conference, they really can’t afford to stub their toes anymore, especially not against a 3-6 Browns team whose playoff hopes are on the verge of becoming extinct.

JUMP TO: Sal's Buffalo Bills vs Cleveland Browns prediction

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“We’ve got to make the adjustments that we have to make,” coach Sean McDermott said. “And I think it really comes down to taking care of the football and playing better in some certain situations and situational football. And that all leads to the complementary piece that you need to win games.”

No doubt, the Bills have faced some obstacles so far - a very tough first-half schedule, big-time injuries to the defense, and now this crazy weather week that impacted practice, life away from the team, and has resulted in the loss of a true home game.

The Bills are being tested in every way, and they have to find a way to get their season - one that began with over the moon expectations - back on track.

“Every year we talk about it,” general manager Brandon Beane said. “No matter what predictions are, whether you’re going to be 4-13 or 13-4, whatever people think your organization’s going to be, I’m not aware of a team other than maybe the ‘72 Dolphins - and they probably went through some we just don’t know about - that doesn’t go through a stretch of adversity.”

Here’s my preview of the game:

Buffalo Bills on offense: Stop turning the ball over

The Bills have killed themselves the last two weeks with turnovers, and the crazy thing is that five of the six have come in the red zone, either Buffalo’s or the opponents. The Bills wasted one scoring opportunity against the Jets and gave the Jets a drive start at the Buffalo 19 which turned into a touchdown. Against the Vikings, Josh Allen’s two interceptions came in the red zone, and his fumble at his own 1-yard-line handed Minnesota a touchdown. Think about the points impact for and against that those turnovers had. Brutal.

Allen needs to get it back together in a hurry and this seems like an opportunity. The game is now being played indoors so he’ll have the full offense available to him, and if the offensive line can hold up against edge rushers Myles Garrett and Jadaveon Clowney, Allen should be able to work effectively against a pass defense that ranks 19th in the NFL.

One area to worry about is Allen’s struggles against zone defense. Teams have confused him with some of their coverages and Cleveland is primarily a zone team, so this is a big game for offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey to provide Allen with answers for what he’s seeing. With only four WRs currently on the active roster, you may see the Bills use RB Nyheim Hines in the slot this week with an added snap count.

The Browns rank 31st in the league with 3.1 touchdowns allowed per game, and where they really struggle is in the fourth quarter as they’ve allowed a league-worst 92 points. Of course, the Bills have been awful lately after intermission with no TDs and just 12 points in the last three games.

Buffalo Bills on defense: It’s all about Nick Chubb

Never mind that weather is no longer a factor. The Browns’ primary offensive weapon remains Chubb, and the focal point of Buffalo’s game plan has to be stopping him at all cost. That approach worked great against the Titans and Derrick Henry in Week 2. That night the Bills were not concerned with Tennessee’s passing game and they loaded up on Henry and held him to 25 yards.

There really shouldn’t be much concern about Browns QB Jacoby Brissett, either. His main target is very good, WR Amari Cooper, and Donovan Peoples-Jones is a serviceable No. 2. But that’s pretty much it if TE David Njoku - who has missed the last two games and is questionable for this one - can’t play.

Chubb has 904 rushing yards, five 100-yard games, a 5.7 average per carry, and he’s most dangerous when he gets out on the edge which is where the Bills have struggled recently. Exhibit No. 1 being Dalvin Cook’s 81-yard game-changing TD last week.

The Browns have a very good offensive line and the Bills - who admitted their gap integrity has not been great the last three weeks while getting gouged on the ground by the Packers, Jets and Vikings - really need to be better at the point of attack.

Problematic in that endeavor is they won’t have LB Tremaine Edmunds, so Tyrel Dodson needs to step up in a big way. The good news is that Matt Milano is off the illness list and is ready to go, and it looks like SS Jordan Poyer will return.

Sal’s prediction: Buffalo Bills 27, Cleveland Browns 16

Not having a full house and a true homefield advantage at Highmark Stadium is obviously not ideal, but if this game was being played in Orchard Park, outside of the crowd noise, the Bills would not have the same advantages they do playing indoors.

Allen won’t have to contend with wind and snow and cold, and the Bills passing game should enjoy a big edge. That’s enough for me in a game the Bills need much more than the Browns. Does that mean the Browns won’t compete and make it tough? No, I think they will, but the Bills have the better team and without weather playing the role of equalizer, they should get it done in Detroit.

Buffalo Bills injury report for Week 11

Coach Sean McDermott said Friday morning that three players are ruled out for Sunday's game: Defensive end Greg Rousseau (ankle), linebacker Tremaine Edmunds (groin) and cornerback Tre'Davious White (knee).

The loss of Edmunds is tough because of his every-down presence on the field and particularly in how he plays against the pass. His injury is one of the reasons why the Bills signed linebacker A.J. Klein Thursday following his release by the Bears. Klein played the previous two years for the Bills and obviously is well-versed in the defense.

As for White, all McDermott said, which he has said right along, is that "He's not ready to play."

Josh Allen is progressing through the week and managing his elbow injury, and it seems as if he'll be ready to go the game.

Bills vs. Browns: News and notes

▶ Last week Allen had his second career game with at least 300 passing yards and 75 rushing yards, just the third player to do that in multiple games joining Michael Vick (3) and Russell Wilson (3). He had 330 passing and 84 rushing against the Vikings, and in 2021 he had 308 passing and 109 rushing against the Buccaneers.

▶ Allen now has 3,209 combined passing and rushing yards this season and is the third QB to reach that level in his team’s first nine games of a season in NFL history joining Peyton Manning (3,222 in 2013) and Andrew Luck (3,214 in 2014).

▶ Yards haven’t been a problem for the Buffalo offense as it ranks No. 1 at 424.1 yards per game. Last week, the Bills (486 yards) topped 300 for the 14th game in a row and they have now done that in 35 of the last 36 games.

▶ On the downside with the offense, it now leads the NFL with 18 turnovers and Allen leads the league with 10 interceptions and 13 total turnovers.

▶ The Bills have 27 sacks over the first nine games of season for the first time since they had 30 in 2016.

▶ Tyler Bass is one of only five NFL players since 1950 to record 350 or more points in his first 42 regular season games, along with Harrison Butker (402), Wil Lutz (375), Justin Tucker (355), and Chris Boswell (350).

Buffalo Bills schedule 2022

Thur. 9/8 at Rams, W 31-10

Mon. 9/19 vs. Titans, W 41-7

Sun. 9/25 at Dolphins, L 19-21

Sun. 10/2 at Ravens, W 23-20

Sun. 10/9 vs. Steelers, W 38-3

Sun. 10/16 at Chiefs, W 24-20

Sun. 10/23 Bye week

Sun. 10/30 vs. Packers, 8:20 p.m.

Sun. 11/6 at Jets, L 17-20

Sun. 11/13 vs. Vikings, L 30-33

Sun. 11/20 vs. Browns, 1 p.m.

Thur. 11/24 at Lions, 12:30 p.m.

Thur. 12/1 at Patriots, 8:15 p.m.

Sun. 12/11 vs Jets, 1 p.m.

Sun. 12/18, vs. Dolphins, TBD

Sat. 12/24 at Bears, 1 p.m.

Mon. 1/2 at Bengals, 8:30 p.m.

Sun. 1/8 vs. Patriots, TBD

Sal Maiorana can be reached at maiorana@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @salmaiorana.To subscribe to Sal's new twice-a-week newsletter, Bills Blast, please follow this link: https://profile.democratandchronicle.com/newsletters/bills-blast

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Bills vs Browns predictions, keys to game moved to Detroit due to snow