The GameDay Opening Drive 12/21: The Bills Come Marching To Town
Let's see if the Browns can challenge Josh Allen and company this afternoon.
It’s gameday again folks, and the Cleveland Browns host the Buffalo Bills today in a matchup that hasn’t been seen in Cleveland since 2019. The two sides got together back in the 2022 season for trips around each division but the weather in Buffalo leading up to the game forced the venue shift to Detroit. The Bills recent trajectory atop the NFC East has meant the Browns haven’t found them on their schedule often and it feels like another repeat trip to that outcome for next year.
The Bills enter today with a 10-4 record and are trying to keep their hopes alive pushing the Patriots for the division title after their comeback win last week. They have to win today and when you look at their remaining games on the schedule it’s just an outside chance. But nonetheless, the pressure is on. The Browns will try to play spoiler in this one but the injury list is long yet again and the recent track record of performances doesn’t bode well.
Most of the country will be able to watch this game on CBS so buckle up America, you’re about to see the Cleveland Browns front and center. So, stay warm inside for as long as you can today and while you do that, we start your day with the podcast you all love and trust.
GameDay Preview Podcast: Week 16, Browns vs Bills
It's your game day edition of the Browns Film Breakdown! The Browns are ready to host the Bills for their Week 16 tilt at Huntington Bank Field today. We have all the essential information you need for the game, including TV broadcast details, announcers, the injury report, weather conditions, and much more. As always, we provide our Browns film breakdo…
Inside the weekly GameDay Opening Drive you will get all the pieces of information paired with your GameDay Podcast to enhance your Sundays with this team.
So, sit back, pour some coffee, turn on the best pre-game Browns song known to man, and enjoy a fresh delivery of crucial Week 16 information from yours truly.
Forecast calls for cold temperatures but not nearly as cold as the team experienced last week in Chicago. The temperature is likely to hover around 27 to 28 degrees throughout the game and some decent wind that could become stronger up to 13 mph at various points of the game. The chance for serious precipitation is low.
The Browns and Bills history started at the 1970 merger with the two teams getting together for the first time in 1972 as the Browns beat the Bills in Cleveland 27-10. The Browns would go on to beat the Bills in eight of their first 10 matchups including five in a row from 1984-1990. The Browns also won the lone playoff game between the two in the 1989 season in a classic.
Since the return the new Browns and Bills have played eleven total times with the Bills holding a slight 6-5 record edge. Overall, the Browns lead the all-time series 13-10-0.
For the first time this year we lean into who the Browns are at this point. We tap into Myles Garrett’s sack pursuit but then we also know they won’t run the ball well, we know there will be plenty of Harold Fannin targets, and the Bills will have their way in this game. Sadly enough, I do feel best about this parlay than ones we have posted in the last few months. Let’s at least make some money off their poor play.
The Browns go to their classic brown top and white pant uniform combo they wear for non-AFC North games. This is just the nostalgia look I don’t think they wear enough at all. One of the NFL’s best uniforms.
The Bills go with the blue pants instead of the white and I think it helps the overall look. If they wore the red helmet then the all white uniform combo would look great but with the white helmet the blue pants helps tie the look together well.
Let’s revisit the Browns comeback win over the Bills in the divisional round of the playoffs in the 1989 season. Cleveland was out in front most of the day, but it was at risk of losing a 34-30 lead when the Bills marched to the Browns’ 11-yard line with nine seconds left. As Kelly looked at the defense before attempting one last shot at cracking the end zone, Browns linebacker Clay Matthews was staring back at him, ready to back-pedal to the goal-line and prevent a touchdown through the middle of the field.
Kelly took the snap and then fired a pass. The crowd briefly quieted as the pass sailed through the air with a trajectory to RB Thurman Thomas in the end zone, but the ball never made it there.
Matthews stepped in front and snagged the interception, and the fans were sent into another frenzy as he fell to the dirt and solidified the win.
“It was one of those crazy, wild football games that you get in about once every three years,” said Browns coach Bud Carson, who gained his first playoff victory as a head coach.
Catch us LIVE after the game on the Browns Film Breakdown Show where we will cover everything Post-Game at 4:25PM on our YouTube Channel.
As always, Go Browns!
