The 6-3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers will play a second straight game against an AFC East contender in Week 11 when they head to Buffalo to take on the 6-3 Bills. The Buccaneers will be trying to get their first-ever win in Buffalo and their third victory this season against an AFC opponent after victories over Houston and the New York Jets. To find out how to watch, listen and livestream the game, click here.
In making their predictions for the Bucs-Bills showdown, several analysts expressed concern about how the visitors from Florida would handle the Western New York weather in November, with low temperatures and possible rain showers in the forecast. Others added that the Bills were likely to have extra motivation following a lackluster Week 10 loss in Miami, and that the game will “mean more” to the home team. While that may be debatable, it is fair to note that Buffalo is now two games back of the Patriots after New England’s win on Thursday night. Those who think the Bucs have a shot at the upset note that the Bills’ run defense has struggled and that their passing game has been inconsistent. One noted that Tampa Bay’s plus-eight turnover margin bodes well for the visiting team.
Ali Bhanpuri of NFL.com has a simple reason for siding with the Bills, backed up with stats:
“Because this game will be played in Buffalo. Home-field advantage can often be a bit overstated; after all, home teams have won at just a 54.7% clip this season. But the Bills aren’t just any average team when they play at Highmark Stadium: They’ve won an NFL-best 83% of their regular-season home games since the start of the decade (39-8), and have been particularly potent when the calendar flips to November, capturing nine straight dating back to the 2023 season (longest active streak).”
The Buccaneers are 6.0-point underdogs on the road and are not drawing a lot of backing from the experts in Week 11. Here’s what some of them are predicting will occur on a potentially wet and chilly Sunday at Highmark Stadium:
NFL.com – The Bucs find no backers among five analysts
ESPN.com – Among 11 NFL knowers, only Jeremy Fowler and Jason Reid pick the Bucs
CBSSports.com – Pete Prisco predicts a Buffalo victory
USA Today – All six experts pick the Bills, though mostly in very close finishes
Bleacher Report – Picking against the spread, a pack of seven analysts lean slightly toward Buffalo, 4-3
Pro Football Talk – Mike Florio and Chris Simms agree on the Bucs for once, but not in favor of them
Sports Illustrated – It’s six-for-six for the Bills from the SI crew
Sporting News – Bill Bender foresees a three-point Bills win