DENVER (8-6) At BUFFALO (5-9)
Saturday, 1 p.m., CBS
OPENING LINE—Broncos by 3
RECORD VS. SPREAD— Denver 7-7; Buffalo 6-7-1
SERIES RECORD—Bills lead 19-15-1
LAST MEETING— Bills beat Broncos 30-23, Dec. 21, 2008
LAST WEEK—Broncos lost to Patriots 41-23; Bills lost to Dolphins 30-23
BRONCOS OFFENSE—OVERALL (19), RUSH (1), PASS (31)
BRONCOS DEFENSE—OVERALL (22), RUSH (20), PASS (20)
BILLS OFFENSE—OVERALL (14), RUSH (13), PASS (15)
BILLS DEFENSE—OVERALL (26), RUSH (29), PASS (16)
STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES—Bills coach Chan Gailey is friends with Bob Tebow, father of Broncos QB Tim Tebow, going back to when the two attended Florida together in early 1970s. Gailey, who spent 2002-07 as Georgia Tech coach, attempted to recruit Tim Tebow to play for Yellow Jackets, but lost out to Florida. … Broncos have won five of past six meetings. … Denver, 7-2 in past nine, controls own destiny in attempting to clinch first playoff berth since 2005. … Broncos averaging NFL-leading 161.3 yards rushing, and facing team that’s allowing 139.5 yards rushing a game, including season-worst 254 last week. … Tebow has engineered 18 scoring drives in fourth quarter or OT in past 10 games. … RB Willis McGahee facing former team for third time since Buffalo traded 2003 first-round pick to Baltimore in March 2007. With 990 yards rushing this season, he’s 10 yards from joining Ricky Watters in becoming second NFL player to reach 1,000 with three teams. … LB Von Miller is second among NFL rookies with 11 1/2 sacks, and has matched franchise rookie record set by Rulon Jones in 1980. … WR Demaryius Thomas leads NFL with 338 yards receiving this month. … Bills have lost seven straight, their longest skid since 0-8 start last season. Destined for seventh straight losing season and will miss playoffs for 12 straight year—AFC’s longest drought now that Houston clinched postseason berth this season. … After outscoring opponents 211-142 in getting off to 5-2 start, have been outscored 224-100 in past seven. … QB Ryan Fitzpatrick has NFL worst 19 interceptions, 12 coming in past seven games. … Bills’ defense generated 18 takeaways (14 interceptions, four fumbles) in first seven games; has two interceptions and six fumbles in past seven. … RB C.J. Spiller had career-best 167 yards from scrimmage (91 rushing, 76 receiving) last week. … DT Marcell Dareus has 5 1/2 sacks, most by team rookie since Aaron Schobel had 6 1/2 in 2001. … Bills 1-4 all-time on Dec. 24.
