Bills vs. Packers preview and our writers’ picks: Struggling Aaron Rodgers faces NFL’s no. 1 defense

Orchard Park, N.Y. — Von Miller refuses to buy into the hype that’s been built around his Buffalo Bills.

The Bills, who are the heavy Super Bowl favorite after getting out to a 5-1 start this season, hosted the Pittsburgh Steelers a few back as a double digit favorite. Miller scoffed when he heard rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett was trying to hype up his teammates by playing the underdog card.

Now the reigning NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers are coming into Highmark Stadium for a Sunday Night Football showdown with the Bills, who are favored to win by 10.5 points.

Miller still couldn’t care less that the experts expect Buffalo to roll in the game.

“I really don’t fall into that underdog stuff,” Miller said. “I just have so much respect for Aaron Rodgers and his game, like, I don’t even read the media headlines or anything like that. … I’m just getting prepared for the same Aaron Rodgers I’ve played for my whole entire career.”

The Packers were considered a Super Bowl favorite when the season began, but they enter Week 8 riding a three-game losing streak. Rodgers, who is a perfect 13-0 in his last 13 primetime games, is averaging just 228 passing yards per game, 9.8 yards per completion, and 6.5 yards per attempt. All three of those marks are the lowest since he took over the starter job in 2008.

Green Bay’s offense hasn’t been the same without wide receiver Davante Adams, who was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders during the offseason. Without an elite playmaker in the passing game, teams have held the Packers to just 18.2 points per game, which ranks 23rd in the NFL. Receiver Allen Lazard has been Rodgers’ most trusted target, leading the Packers in receiving yards (340) and receiving touchdowns (4), but he won’t be available against the Bills because of a shoulder injury. All Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari missed last week’s game against the Washington Commanders with a knee injury and he’s questionable to play on Sunday.

Even if the Packers were at full strength, they’re facing a Bills defense that ranks no. 1 in the NFL in total defense (281 yards allowed per game) and points against (13.5). Miller enters the game with six sacks on the season and got to Patrick Mahomes twice two weeks ago to help lift Buffalo over rival Kansas City in a one-score game, 24-20.

Miller is 1-3 lifetime against the Packers and Rodgers, and the latest matchup came last season after he was traded to the Los Angeles Rams. Miller finished with zero sacks in that game in another loss to Green Bay. He said that Rodgers’ cadence and how he fools defensive linemen might be the best he’s ever seen in the NFL.

“He does everything well,” Miller said.

The Bills should win the game. They are undefeated off of the bye under coach Sean McDermott, are 3-0 on Sunday Night Football under McDermott, and the Bills are 6-0 lifetime against the Packers in Buffalo.

Buffalo’s injury report is the cleanest it’s been all season. The only injury of concern is right tackle Spencer Brown, who sprained his ankle against the Chiefs. He’s been ruled out against the Packers, opening up the door for veteran David Quessenberry to get a start. Quessenberry might have been better than Brown was when he entered the game against the Chiefs.

On the offensive side for the Bills, quarterback Josh Allen has been arguably the best player in the league through the first eight weeks of the season. The Bills rank no. 1 in the NFL in passing offense (323 yards per game) and no. 2 in scoring (29.3 points per game).

Allen’s matured into an elite quarterback since the last time he faced the Packers his rookie season. That was a day to forget.

“I didn’t know left from right at that point,” Allen said this week. “Just in terms of our scheme, blocking, our protection. It was all still a blur to me. They’ve had a really good defense for awhile now. They’ve got one of the top corners (Jaire Alexander in the game, they’ve got one of the best rushers (Rashan Gary) in the game right now, and some linebackers that fly around and make some plays. We’re going to have our hands full doing the right things and executing.”

Gary has been in the NFL’s concussion protocol this week but he practiced on Thursday and Friday and is listed as questionable.

PREDICTIONS

The Bills are the last team you want to play when you’re struggling to make explosive plays down the field. Rodgers’ offensive line has underperformed and that’s allowed teams to focus in on stopping the run game. The Bills offense finds ways to generate yards and points. The best hope for the Packers is that they find some Rodgers magic and hold the Bills to field goals. There is just too much going for Buffalo to pick against it in this spot. Bills roll. – Parrino

SCORE: Bills 34, Packers 17

Aaron Rodgers is a first ballot Hall of Famer, but Father Time is undefeated and the quarterback does not seem to have the ability to single-handedly carry the Packers’ offense anymore. The unit is already shorthanded with Allen Lazard out so the Packers will need their backs, Robert Tonyan, Romeo Doubs, Sammy Watkins and company to have career games. It’s possible, but not likely against a Bills team that has been excellent on both sides of the ball and is coming off of a bye. On Halloween Eve, Bills fans are in for a treat. – Ryan Talbot

SCORE: Bills 38, Packers 17

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