BLEAV in Bills: After unimpressive win over Browns, Eagles are a big test
Sal Maiorana and Adam Benigni discuss the importance of the Bills playing better against the Eagles Sunday than they did last week in Cleveland.
The Buffalo Bills are jockeying for position in the AFC playoff picture and a marquee matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles could be marred by chilly rain.
When the Bills and Eagles square off at Highmark Stadium Dec. 28, some rain is expected in Orchard Park. Buffalo is still chasing its sixth AFC East title but will need the New England Patriots to lose in at least one of its remaining games.
Orchard Park weather for Bills vs. Eagles game
The National Weather Service in Buffalo expects temperatures in the lower 40s when the nationwide CBS broadcast kicks off at 4:25 p.m. The rain is expected to be occasional, with cloudy skies and mild winds, but with a precipitation potential greater than 90%.
The AccuWeather forecast calls for temperatures in the mid-30s, cooler than the weather service, and rain throughout, though at a lower precipitation potential. Wind gusts will reach 15 mph and cloud cover will be nearly absolute.
How Bills vs Eagles weather will impact odds, betting
Betting sites are already flagging the game for its weather impacts, with RotoGrinders giving the game a yellow to orange rating due to the rain, with chances of heavy rain, and predicted winds stronger than forecast elsewhere (10-15 mph with gusts of 20 mph). OddsTrader expects poor weather, with light impacts on offensive production from precipitation and temperature. RotoWire expects there could be impacts from showers and moderate wind with strong gusts impacting the passing and kicking games.
Any kind of rain decreases passing production by about 12%, according to Covers. Field goal percentage actually increases in the rain, but the average distance on kicks is shorter. The Bills are without kicker Matt Prater, with Michael Badgley expected to make his second start. Badgley made two of three extra points and a 41-yard field goal.
The 11-4 Bills are favored by 1.5 points against the 10-5 Eagles, winners of the NFC East. The over/under for the game is set at 44 points.
- Philadelphia leads the all-time series against Buffalo, 9-6. The Eagles have won three in a row against the Bills, most recently a 37-34 overtime victory in November 2023.
- The Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills will play at 4:25 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 28 at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. The game will be broadcast on FOX affiliates, including WUHF channel 31 in Rochester. Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady will call the game with sideline reporters Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi.
— Steve Howe reports on weather, climate and the Great Lakes for the Democrat and Chronicle. An RIT graduate, he has covered myriad topics over the years, including public safety, local government, national politics and economic development in New York and Utah.
