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INDIANAPOLIS – Well, the weather will at least be better in this year’s meeting.
Unlike the blizzard conditions the Colts and Bills played in last December, the teams will welcome the controlled environment inside of Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The 13-7 overtime ‘win’ for the Bills last season actually catapulted them into the playoffs as a Wild Card team.
Postseason aspirations have already dwindled majorly for both teams with this year’s meeting coming in Week 7.
The Colts are 1-5 and tied for the worst record in the NFL.
The Bills are 2-4 and in last place of the AFC East. Plus, they could be playing their 3rd different quarterback this season come Sunday.
Buffalo looks to be without starting rookie QB Josh Allen on Sunday after the 7th overall pick suffered an elbow injury in last week’s loss to the Texans.
Options at quarterback this Sunday for the Bills are either the incompetent Nathan Peterman or newly signed veteran Derek Anderson.
Even with Allen at quarterback this season, Buffalo has been woeful on offense, ranking 32nd in several key categories (yards per play, points scored).
The Bills do not have a single skill player with at least 200 receiving yards through 6 weeks. There are 94 NFL players with at least 200 receiving yards at this point of the season.
The defense is the reason why the Bills have won two games this season, including a convincing road victory in Minnesota back in September.
Buffalo ranks 3rd in total defense, with former Colt Jerry Hughes leading the team with 4.5 sacks.
For the Colts, this is their only home game in the month of October, with 3 other road games.
2018 Record: 2-4, 4th place in the AFC East.
Head Coach: Sean McDermott, head coach (2nd season as the head coach of the Bills, 11-11 overall in regular season, 0-1 in the postseason).
2018 NFL Rankings: Offense – Overall, 31st (222.5); Rushing, 20th (99.5); Passing, 32nd (123.0). Defense – Overall, 3rd (311.7); Rushing, 8th (92.5); Passing, 6th (219.2).
2018 Leading Quarterback: Josh Allen (75-of-139 comp., 832 yards, 54.0 pct., 2 TDs, 5 INTs, 61.8 rating).
2018 Leading Running Back: LeSean McCoy (61 carries, 243 yards, 0 TDs).
2018 Leading Receiver: Zay Jones (16 receptions, 199 yards, 1 TD).
2018 Leading Sacker: Jerry Hughes (4.5).
2018 Turnover Breakdown: Plus 1 (tied for 13th in the NFL).
2018 NFL Draft Results: Buffalo came into the 2018 Draft season with a pair of first-round picks, and primed to move up for a quarterback. They did that by trading all the way up to the 7th overall spot, where they took Wyoming QB Josh Allen. The Bills weren’t done making moves, deciding to trade up in Round One to take Virginia Tech linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, who is the team’s leading tackler through 6 weeks. Buffalo only had one pick on Day Two of the draft, choosing to select Stanford defensive tackle Harrison Phillips.
2017 Review: Sean McDermott’s first season as an NFL head coach got off to a great start. The Bills were 5-2 after the first two months of the season. Securing a playoff spot would not be that easy though with the Bills then losing 4 of their next 5 games. But, starting with a snow bowl win over the Colts, Buffalo won 3 one-possession games in the final month of the season to claim a Wild Card spot. The Bills lost, 10-3, to the Jacksonville Jaguars during the Wild Card Round of the Playoffs.
Last time in Playoffs: 2017 season. Lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars, 10-3, in the AFC Wild Card Round of the Playoffs
Last time in Super Bowl: 1993 season. Lost to the Dallas Cowboys, 30-13, in Super Bowl XXVIII.
Super Bowl Championships: None.
2017 Pro Bowl Selections: RB-LeSean McCoy, OG-Richie Incognito, S-Michah Hyde.
