Bills vs. Browns Weather Report: Whipping Winds Could Keep Scoring Low
The elements could be the great equalizer in a matchup of an AFC heavyweight and a bottom-dweller, and we're diving into what the wicked winds will bring in our Bills vs. Browns weather report.
The Bills are pushing for AFC East supremacy, and they're heavily favored today at -9 as you make your NFL Week 16 predictions. But strong winds off the shores of Lake Erie could quickly make covering that spread difficult once action begins at 1 p.m. ET from Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland (CBS).
💨 Bills vs. Browns weather forecast: NFL Week 16
Latest weather forecast via NFL Weather for Week 16.
| Category | Forecast |
|---|---|
| 🌡️ Temp. | 27 degrees at kickoff and staying at that temperature throughout; feels like 17-19 degrees with the wind chill |
| 💨 Wind | NW winds around 15 mph with gusts up to 18 mph |
| 🌧️ Prec. | Clear, with only a 15% chance of precipitation |
| ☀️ Humidity | 67% humidity at kickoff, and rising a little to 70% late in the game |
The shores of Cleveland can often be a bone-chilling place early in the winter. That's very much the case today, with heavy winds swirling and making taking deep shots downfield difficult.
We don't need to look far for a case study in what happens when strong winds are present. There were similar conditions during a colossal divisional clash last night in Chicago between the Bears and Green Bay Packers. The two teams needed an extra frame to score 38 points, easily below the closing total of 44.5.
🌤️ NFL Week 16 weather report
Our NFL expert Liam Fox breaks down the NFL weather report for every Week 16 game with the expected betting and fantasy football impact.
💰 Bills vs. Browns betting impact
The Bills boast the fourth-highest scoring offense leaguewide and they're used to playing in tough conditions. But their likely strategy to adapt will be to become an even fiercer version of their best selves offensively while turning to the ground.
I'm already fading Allen's passing in this game as part of our Bills vs. Browns player props. Here are the key betting concerns given the blustery conditions:
- Buffalo is content to grind the clock away. The Bills are run-focused even during a balmy and sun-soaked day. So they'll look to lean on that strength even more, as they should while boasting the league's best rushing offense (158.5 yards per game). Look for James Cook, who enters this week as the league's second-best rusher (1,415 yards), to be heavily involved, leading to a churning clock and contributing to lower scoring.
- Passing will be a problem. This would also true at the best of times. Despite their general blundering, Cleveland trots out the league's best pass defense (169 yards allowed per game), and the Bills are only a few ticks behind (169.5). Now throw in the chilly temperatures and intense winds, and there's a reason Allen's passing yards total has fallen from 210.5 at the best sports betting sites to now as low as 205.5.
- Sanders set to struggle. The awful passing environment could hit Shedeur Sanders especially hard. It'll be tough for Allen too, but at least he's logged plenty of experience in harsh weather. Sanders comes with questionable accuracy without winds while putting up a completion percentage of 52.2. He's averaging 224.8 passing yards per game across four starts, two of which have finished under 200 yards.
💡 More NFL predictions
Want more NFL betting advice? Check out all of our NFL analysis and expert analysis for every game this season.
📺 How to watch Bills vs. Browns
- Date: Sunday, Dec. 21
- Kickoff: 1 p.m. ET
- Location: Huntington Bank Field (Cleveland)
- TV: CBS
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