Broncos vs. Bills: Preview, score prediction in Week 3

Denver Broncos vs. Buffalo Bills

The Denver Broncos try to stay undefeated as they face the Buffalo Bills on Sunday with an East Coast trip on the docket for Week 3. Denver looked great in Week 2, after almost blowing a 17-point lead to the Los Angeles Chargers in their opening game. Last Sunday the Broncos hosted the Dallas Cowboys and dominated the game from start to finish, winning 42-17.

Meanwhile, the Bills opened up with a solid win over the New York Jets, as was to be expected. They took a loss in Week 2 against the Carolina Panthers, but their defense showed up well as it was a grinding 9-3 defeat.

So, what happens when these two teams face off on Sunday?

Keys to Victory

The Broncos will need to prove that they can play just as good on the road as they at home, as this will be their first road game of the season. The Denver run defense will also be vital to getting a win in Week 3.

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Last Sunday, the Broncos held reigning NFL rushing leader Ezekiel Elliott to only eight yards on the ground. The Bill enter this game with the eighth-ranked rushing attack, averaging 129.5 yards per game. Since Buffalo is currently ranked 27th in passing yards per game, they will struggle to score if their rushing attack is snuffed out.

Buffalo’s defense will need to step up at home if they hope to stop a Broncos offense that has been surprisingly effective through the first two games of the season. The Broncos enter this game averaging over 350 offensive yards per game, ranked 11th in the league, and have 59 points on offense over the first two weeks.

The Bills will also need quarterback Tyrod Taylor to perform at a much higher level against this elite Broncos defense. In Week 2, Taylor went 17-of-25 for 125 yards and no touchdowns. Taylor did well in not turning the ball over after a Week 1 performance in which he threw two interceptions. Protecting the ball might not enough for Taylor, who will need to step up if the Broncos take LeSean McCoy out of the game.

Betting Odds

Point Spread: Denver -3
Moneyline: Denver -161, Buffalo +141
Over/Under: 40

All betting odds provided by BookMaker via Sportsbook Review

Next: NFL 2017: Picks against the spread for Week 3

Prediction

The Broncos seem to be the significantly better team in this matchup. However, we don’t know how traveling is going to affect this team or offense or defense. Both teams have strong rushing attacks and talented defenses, so this game could come down to whichever quarterback is able to perform best.

Taylor only has 349 passing yards and two touchdowns on the season, whereas Trevor Siemian has 450 yards and six touchdowns. I think Denver is in for a tough game, but in the end, will pull out a win on the road.

Final Score: Denver Broncos: 24, Buffalo Bills: 21