The Buffalo Bills have allowed 90 points and given up 979 yards in the last six quarters, as the much advertised improved defence at the start of the season has been abysmal at best.
Their fortunes, however, may turn around against a banged-up Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
The host Cardinals will be without their top two-running backs, Beanie Wells and Ryan Williams, and the whole offensive unit has yet to gain more than 300 yards in any of their five games this season.
And if there was ever a contest for the $100-million man, Mario Williams, to prove his worth it’ll be this one. The Cardinals have allowed a grand total of 17 sacks in the last two games.
However, the NFC West leading Cardinals (4-1) will be looking for some vengeance after a Thursday night loss to St. Louis last week.
Arizona quarterback Kevin Kolb will be looking to continue the success of the league’s other passers who have averaged 278 yards against Buffalo’s defensive backs Stephon Gilmore and Aaron Williams, good for 22nd in the league.
Kolb will look consistently to perennial 1,000 yard receiver Larry Fitzgerald, and third-year man Andre Roberts, who has four touchdowns already in this young season.
The Bills however will have a healthy Fred Jackson and CJ Spiller back in the lineup for the second game in a row.
Both seemed to still be recovering from nagging injuries last week against San Francisco, although they didn’t get a lot of touches on offence after Buffalo fell behind early and needed to play catch up.
Jackson is even hoping to shed the brace he’s been wearing the last two weeks on his right knee.
It all will probably come down to whose defence is better.
The Cardinals had looked nearly impenetrable the first four weeks, and especially against New England and Philadelphia, might were simply pedestrian against St. Louis last week.
Buffalo’s defence has been shredded in recent weeks.
And if it weren’t for games against two weak teams in Cleveland and Kansas City, Buffalo’s defence would probably be ranked dead last in the league.
Fortunately for them, they will be facing an injured team in Arizona, one that has had trouble protecting their quarterback.
If there was ever a game for the Bills defence to show fans that this is the intimidating defence GM Buddy Nix envisioned in the off season it will be this one.
Whether or not it happens will be determined at University of Phoenix Stadium in Arizona at 4:05 pm ET on Sunday.
