MNF: Bills and Boys

Monday Night Football rolls to Orchard Park tonight as the 1-3 Bills host the undefeated Cowboys. It’s the first time the Bills have hosted MNF since the last time the Democrats had a majority in the House (Fall of 1994, for those outside the Beltway). After a heartbreaking, last-second opening loss to the Broncos, the Bills have lost as expected on the road to Pittsburgh and New England then upset the Jets at home. The Boys on the other hand have steamrolled through Giants, Fins, Bears and Rams winning by nearly twenty points per game.

It will be an uphill battle, but look for the Bills to try to control early with RB Marshawn Lynch, considering rookie and former Stanford Cardinal QB Trent Edwards will be making his second start. Protecting the football will be imperative as the Cowboys lead the NFL in turnover margin (+7). Ideally, the Bills don’t want to be in a position where they will have to ask Edwards to make big plays, but if the Boys have any weakness, it is their pass defense.

On the opposite side of the ball, Tony Romo will try to rip apart the worst defense in the NFL; opposing quarterbacks have averaged nearly 285 yards per game, easily the worst in the league. Watch for TE Jason Witten to have a big game catching balls across the middle. With the game in hand, the Cowboys can control the tempo with Marion Barber III (his friends call him Trip) and Julius Jones.

My prediction is that the Bills keep it interesting in the first half, but quick scores in the third quarter lead to an easy Dallas victory. Holding with my prediction from the Pickem Challenge, I’ll say the Bills add a late score to cover.

Dallas 28

Buffalo 20

What's your prediction? What are the keys to the game? Who will have a fantasy breakout? Post in the comments.