The Buffalo Bills (7-2, 5-4 ATS, 5-4 O/U) are set to face off against the Indianapolis Colts (4-5, 7-2 ATS, 3-6 O/U) in an AFC showdown this Sunday afternoon. The Bills come off a victory at home against the Dolphins, while the Colts suffered a defeat against the Vikings during their last game. The last encounter between these two teams was in 2021, where the Colts emerged victorious.
Will the Colts manage to balance their record? Keep reading for insights on the Bills vs. Colts matchup.
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Buffalo Aiming for Fifth Straight Win
The Buffalo Bills are eager to secure their fifth consecutive win. This season, they have faced just two defeats, the first being against a strong Ravens team. Since week five, the Bills have remained undefeated, recently dominating the Seahawks with a 31-10 road victory, followed by a tight 30-27 win against the Dolphins at home. Currently, they hold a significant lead in the AFC East and have covered the spread in three of their last five games.
Quarterback Josh Allen continues to impress. In the past four games, he has thrown for at least 280 yards twice, including 235 yards last week. For the season, he has amassed 2,001 passing yards with a remarkable 17:2 touchdown to interception ratio, along with 211 rushing yards.
The Bills’ running game adds another layer of threat. James Cook recorded 111 rushing yards in the recent win against the Seahawks and has accumulated 496 receiving yards. Wide receiver Khalil Shakir is experiencing a breakout year, consistently achieving over 50 receiving yards in all but two games and totaling 471 receiving yards. Keon Coleman, with 417 yards, is a valuable asset, although his questionable status due to not practicing Thursday raises some concerns. Overall, the Buffalo offense has scored 30 or more points in all but three games this season.
On the defensive front, Buffalo has showcased its strength. The defense has allowed 23 or fewer points in four of the last five games, notably limiting the Seahawks to just 10 points. Despite a challenging outing against Miami, where they conceded 373 yards, the Bills maintain a solid pass defense ranked 15th and a rush defense also ranked 15th.
Buffalo averages 28.9 points per game, placing them fourth in the league and holding opponents to an average of 19.2 points, which ranks eighth.
Indianapolis Seeks Redemption After Back-to-Back Losses
The Indianapolis Colts are looking to even their record at .500. They have faced two consecutive defeats, including a narrow 23-20 loss to the Texans and a 21-13 defeat against the Vikings, where they were 5.5-point underdogs. With three of their next four games on the road, this matchup is crucial as they are just one game away from a wildcard spot. The Colts have managed to cover the spread in four of their last five games.
Recent changes at quarterback have impacted the team. Anthony Richardson was benched due to his inconsistent performance, having accumulated only 958 passing yards with a 4:7 touchdown to interception ratio. Veteran Joe Flacco took over last week but struggled with 179 passing yards and one interception. Flacco’s performance has been slightly better than Richardson’s, boasting 895 passing yards and a 7:2 touchdown to interception ratio.
Running back Jonathan Taylor remains a significant threat on the ground, achieving over 100 rushing yards in three of his last five games. Despite earlier injury setbacks, he has tallied 502 rushing yards this season. However, wide receiver Alec Pierce has been less productive, recording 41 or fewer receiving yards in four of his last five games, totaling 435 yards. Michael Pittman Jr. has also been dealing with a back injury, managing only 366 receiving yards and is currently questionable after missing practice on Thursday. The Colts have struggled offensively, scoring 20 or fewer points in four of their last five games.
Defensively, the Colts have shown resilience, managing to contain proficient offensive teams. They held the Texans to 23 points and allowed only 21 points against a high-powered Vikings offense, despite giving up 415 yards. The Colts’ defense has allowed 23 or fewer points in four of their last five outings, though their pass defense ranks 26th and their rush defense is a notable weakness at 31st.
This season, Indianapolis averages 20.9 points per game, placing them 22nd, while allowing an average of 21.4 points, ranking 11th.
Key Bets for the Buffalo Bills vs. Indianapolis Colts
