Oddsmakers See Buffalo Bills VS Kansas City Chiefs As Pick Em

NFL News - December 7th, 2009 - Written by John

Matt Cassel and Terrell Owens made headlines when they were two of the big acquisitions made during the offseason. To-date they have kept pace with each other, both becoming relatively irrelevant in the league by putting up pedestrian stats.

So it is symmetrical that Buffalo's game against the Chiefs would be a toss-up. Early lines have this game as a coin-flip, according to BetUS, likely because of both teams' schizophrenic personalities. The over/under is 37 1/2 according to the NFL Week 14 Betting Odds.

Coming into the NFL Network's Thursday night game last week, the Bills had just breezed past the Miami Dolphins with 31 points and another dazzling day by Terrell Owens. In weeks 11 and 12 combined, Owens had 293 yards and two touchdowns, and interim head coach Perry Fewell seemed to look a whole lot smarter with Ryan Fitzpatrick under center.

But against the New York Jets, Buffalo was limited to only 13 points on a season-low passing performance by Fitzpatrick and Lee Evans led the team in receiving with 38 yards, all of which came on one play.

The Chiefs are just three weeks removed from their dramatic 27-24 overtime win against the Pittsburgh Steelers. But after a recent mudslide by the Steelers, that win looks less and less impressive, and Kansas City has dropped two division games since by a combined score of 77-27. Quarterback Matt Cassel was limited to only 84 passing yards last week against the Broncos, and the team only gained 222 total yards.

Cassel was lifted from the game in favor of Brodie Croyle, who wasn't much better, and it is unknown if the move will carry over to next week.

Meanwhile, the Chiefs allowed 245 rushing yards to Denver, primarily from Correll Buckhalter and Knowshon Moreno. Moreno scored two touchdowns for the first time in his career, and Buckhalter led all rushers with 116 yards.

Kansas City's defense has been pourous up front all year, ranking second-to-last, and that bodes well for the Bills.

With Marshawn Lynch back, Buffalo boasts one of the best one-two punches in the conference, certainly in the division. Fred Jackson elevated himself to first team since Lynch began the season with a four-game suspension and hasn't relinquished the role yet. He has 632 yards with just over four per carry and adds 287 yards through the air.

Owens leads the team in receiving with 690 yards, but is two touchdowns short of Evans (5) for team lead.