Week 3: Bills, Browns matchup
Buffalo at Cleveland
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET, at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland - TV: CBS; DirecTV: 708
*TV announcers: Spero Dedes, Steve Beuerlein
*Keys to the game: The Browns zero in on hemming in Bills RB C.J. Spiller, who brings an average of over 10 yards per carry (29 carries, 292 yards) into the game, and take their chances with QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. The Bills needed just 10 complete passes to put up 35 points last week. Cleveland's patchwork secondary could be inviting. Absent LCB Joe Haden (suspension) and RCB Sheldon Brown (shoulder) last week, Buster Skrine was the No. 1 cornerback and the Bengals scorched Cleveland's pass defense repeatedly. The Browns bounced back from a dreary opener from their offense. Brandon Weeden upped his passer rating by triple-digits (114.9), completed 70.3 percent of his passes and threw for 322 yards in Sunday's loss and Trent Richardson rushed for 109 yards, including a 32-yard score. There's still some question of where Weeden will go when he needs a critical conversion, but he showed a good connection with Greg Little last week.
*Matchup to watch - Bills LT Cordy Glenn vs. Browns DE Jabaal Sheard: Sheard is giving up almost 100 pounds to Glenn, who paved the path for many of Spiller's big gainers last week, but also tantamount is Sheard's edge in first-step quickness as a pass rusher.
*Player spotlight - Browns ILB D'Qwell Jackson: Signed to a five-year, $42.5 million contract in February, some were stunned by the numbers considering Jackson missed 26 total games with separate pectoral tears in 2009 and '10. The AFC's leading tackler in 2011, the Browns can now point to a new set of numbers -- three sacks and two interceptions through two games.
*Fast facts: Spiller is the first running back since Jim Brown in 1963 to have a yards-per-carry average of more than 10.0 through two games. ... The Browns have allowed multiple sacks in 15 straight games.
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
Slashing speedster C.J. Spiller allows coach Chan Gailey to temper his full-throttle aerial attack, commanding the attention of opposing secondaries, a glaring weak spot for the Browns at the moment. That opens up passing lanes for Ryan Fitzpatrick to pick his spots to Stevie Johnson.
*Our pick: Bills 27-17
