Bills-Saints: Who you got? Buffalo News writers make their predictions for Sunday's game

Bills-Saints: Who you got? Buffalo News writers make their predictions for Sunday's game

Here are predictions from The Buffalo News sports staff for the Bills' Sunday afternoon matchup against the New Orleans Saints.

buffalonews.com

Jay Skurski​

There are two primary objectives for the Bills going into this game. The first is to play a complete game, which means eliminating the lulls we’ve seen at times during their 3-0 start. Get off the field on third down on defense. Avoid three-and-outs on offense. The second is to put the Saints away early. Josh Allen should be firmly planted on the bench by the third quarter. Take care of business, rest the starters as much as possible and move on to preparing for a divisional opponent in a "Sunday Night Football" matchup in Week 5. Bills, 40-14.

Katherine Fitzgerald​

The Saints were keeping it competitive until last week, when they got blown out by the Seattle Seahawks. Expect a similar dismantling this week, this time at the hands of the juggernaut Buffalo Bills. The Bills have had ample time to rest and prepare for the 0-3 Saints, and even if Buffalo is still without a few defensive starters, it shouldn't matter much. In fact, the goal Sunday is to build a big enough lead that more starters can rest. New Orleans coach Kellen Moore eventually could get the Saints on track, but his first win will elude him one more week. Bills, 38-17.


Wide receiver Keon Coleman and the Buffalo Bills are heavy favorites Sunday against the New Orleans Saints at Highmark Stadium.
Harry Scull Jr., Buffalo News

Lance Lysowski​

The talent gap between these two teams is significant. On defense, the Saints are 25th in points allowed (90), 26th in expected points added per play allowed and 23rd in passing yards per play allowed (6.5). On offense, second-year quarterback Spencer Rattler is in jeopardy of losing the starting job to rookie Tyler Shough. They have the weapons to test Buffalo's defense, most notably running back Alvin Kamara and receiver Chris Olave, but the Bills will put this game away by forcing at least one turnover and avoiding the early three-and-outs that allowed Miami to hang around in Week 3. Bills, 45-21.

Steve Trosky​

If Josh Allen and James Cook weren't enough to deal with, the Saints have a tendency to shoot themselves in the foot with penalties. Their lack of discipline could help the Bills put this one away early. New Orleans' defense is pretty stout against the run, allowing just 3.3 yards per carry, so look for Allen to have a big game against the Saints' zone coverage. New Orleans running back Alvin Kamara, who is 30, has yet to have one of his electrifying games and is averaging 3.7 yards per carry. He has been a force catching passes out of the backfield during his career, but he has just nine grabs this season. The Saints may try to get him more involved, but it won't matter. Bills, 42-20.