Bills-Panthers Preview

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• Countdown Daily Recap: Bills-Panthers

SCOUTING REPORT

Bills-Panthers: 10 observations After breaking down film of both teams, Scouts Inc. offers 10 things to watch in this week's Bills-Panthers matchup. 1. Run Carolina out of their Cover 2. The Panthers prefer to use a lot of two high-safety looks and trust their front seven to stop the run. Though that can be problematic with the current state of Carolina's defensive tackle position, Hollis Thomas looks like a welcome addition in the middle who will eat up space. Buffalo must have success on the ground to force the Panthers to bring a safety closer to the line of scrimmage, which could make more room for Lee Evans and Terrell Owens.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
BUF	3-7	155	228	1-3	2-4	1-2	1-6
CAR	4-6	193	239	2-3	2-3	2-2	4-4
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

Buffalo Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Edward... 60.2 1170 6 7 Fitzpa... 51.9 659 3 6

Carolina Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Delhom... 57.1 1885 8 14 Moore 50.0 63 0 1

Buffalo Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Jackso... 129 528 4.1 0 Lynch 87 272 3.1 1

Carolina Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Willia... 181 982 5.4 7 Stewar... 110 509 4.6 6

Buffalo Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Owens 35 563 16.1 2 Evans 28 396 14.1 5

Carolina Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Smith 45 599 13.3 4 Muhamm... 33 337 10.2 0

Full Player Stats: Buffalo | Carolina

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	BUF	276.0
	CAR	336.0
Yards Passing	BUF	173.5
	CAR	177.3
Yards Rushing	BUF	102.2
	CAR	159.1
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	BUF	366.7
	CAR	315.7
Pass Yds Allowed	BUF	200.8
	CAR	185.0
Rush Yds Allowed	BUF	165.9
	CAR	130.7

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Buffalo leads 2-1
Nov 27, 2005	BUF 9, @CAR 13
Dec 9, 2001	BUF 25, @CAR 24

Buffalo Bills quarterback Trent Edwards will sit out Sunday after his second concussion in a little over a year, leaving Ryan Fitzpatrick to deal with Carolina Panthers star Julius Peppers.

Facing one of the NFL's most effective pass rushers, the Bills and their porous offensive line will be blocking for Fitzpatrick as they visit the Carolina Panthers.

Buffalo (2-4) got a much-needed confidence boost last Sunday, beating the New York Jets 16-13 in overtime, but Edwards left the game after sustaining a concussion while being sacked in the second quarter.

Fitzpatrick will start this game after going 10 of 25 for 116 yards and a touchdown to rally Buffalo last week.

"It was really an outstanding job," coach Dick Jauron said. "I like him because he can throw it, he can direct it and hopefully he can get us another win."

Edwards has already been sacked 19 times this season, but the Jets never got to Fitzpatrick. The Bills, with a young offensive line, rank 29th in the NFL in sacks allowed.

They'll now have to find a way to block Peppers, who is on perhaps the best two-game stretch of his career.

The veteran defensive end had four sacks, five tackles for a loss, four quarterback hurries and a forced fumble to help Carolina (2-3) win two straight. Peppers and the Panthers held Washington to 198 yards in a 28-17 win Oct. 11 and limited Tampa Bay to 245 in a 28-21 victory last Sunday.

Carolina also had a dominant running game against the Buccaneers, gaining 267 yards after failing to find much consistency on the ground in its previous four contests. DeAngelo Williams (152 yards, 2 TDs) and Jonathan Stewart (110 yards, 1 TD) had performances that were reminiscent of last season.

The Panthers continue to have trouble passing, though. Jake Delhomme went 9 of 17 for 65 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions while leaving his star receiver unhappy.

Steve Smith was upset after being held to one catch for four yards.

"I'm no longer an asset to this team," said Smith, who has 21 receptions for 259 yards and has yet to score.

But the constant double-teams Smith faced helped open up holes for Williams and Stewart.

"I can't call the opponent up and ask them not to do that. They get to do what they want," coach John Fox said. "That opens up other things for our football team and gives us an opportunity to win."

Delhomme and Smith have yet to connect for a pass longer than 30 yards. Delhomme has thrown 10 INTs while finding the end zone four times.

"(Smith) is a competitive guy, who has a drive and a fire like no other," Delhomme said. "I'm sure he was frustrated. I get frustrated, too, because I'm trying to get him the ball. I know what he can do with it in his hands."

Buffalo's passing game certainly has plenty to work on. The Bills are averaging 169.5 yards in the air, failing to take advantage of a strong duo at wide receiver in Terrell Owens and Lee Evans. Both players have fewer than 17 receptions and 230 yards.

"I felt really comfortable out there on Sunday, and even today in practice," Fitzpatrick said Wednesday. "The best part of being in this offense is the weapons. And we just have to find a way to get the ball in Terrell's hands and Lee's hands."

Fitzpatrick was inconsistent after taking over last week for Edwards, but he was able to tie the game in the third quarter by hitting Evans on a slant for a 37-yard TD. It was the longest reception of 2009 for Evans, who has TD catches of 83 yards or more in each of his previous three seasons.

The Bills' defense has its own problems, struggling terribly against the run. Buffalo allowed 318 yards rushing against the Jets and has surrendered 961 in its last four games.

Neither the Bills nor the Panthers got much going on the ground in their last meeting, combining for 168 rushing yards in a 13-9 Carolina road win Nov. 27, 2005. Delhomme completed 20 of 27 passes for 191 yards and a TD.

Source: Bills reach out to Cowher, who declines

The Buffalo Bills have reached out to former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher, but he has informed them that he's not interested in interviewing for the job at this time, a source said Monday.

'Messed-up hand' limits Panthers DE Peppers

Julius Peppers' hand is a touchy subject in the secretive world of NFL injuries. Coach John Fox would only call it a "messed-up hand."

Bills RG Wood has surgery to fix broken left leg

Bills starting right guard Eric Wood is recovering after surgery to repair a broken left leg that was so severely damaged CBS elected against showing replays of the hit.

Panthers' Gross has broken right leg, not ankle

Panthers left tackle Jordan Gross broke his right leg, not his ankle, as the team first announced.

Kim brings new tips to Bills' defenders

The Buffalo Bills have a martial arts expert working with their players this week.

Bills' Maybin offers path to success

Buffalo Bills rookie defensive end Aaron Maybin asked a question of about 180 high school football players getting ready to practice at the team's fieldhouse Tuesday evening.

BILLS: Road back for Bowen nearly complete

The road has always been long for Alvin Bowen. Originally, Bowen's football odyssey took him from New Jersey to a Kansas junior college, then later to Iowa State - a long way from a New York City suburb.

BILLS: Corner not afraid of competition

Good thing Reggie Corner isn't afraid to come back clawing and scratching after getting picked on.

To Help at Receiver, Buffalo Adds Fire to Ice

Count Lee Evans as a fan of Terrell Owens . With teams preparing for the coming season, keep up with all the off-season news on the Times's pro football blog.

Panthers become big losers - of excess weight

There's much less to see when you look at the Carolina Panthers' sideline these days.

Moore making most of shot with Panthers

The Panthers' Kenny Moore, shown with students at First Ward Elementary School on March 10, is among the candidates to enter the season as the team's No.

New fullback has Hoover a bit on edge

When it comes to locker room grief, Carolina Panthers fullback Brad Hoover gives it as well as anyone.

Brown's focus is on technique

If the Carolina Panthers were truly worried about Everette Brown's size, they wouldn't be lining him up the way they are.

Hoover doesn't plan to go without a fight

Brad Hoover was walking off the practice field Monday shortly after beating most of his Carolina Panthers teammates in a series of sprints when he told a reporter he couldn't talk until later.