This Week 1 contest pits a franchise trying to escape the swamp of mediocrity it waded through the past few seasons (Arizona) against a side that, for the first time in a while, is not predicted to be a major Super Bowl contender (Buffalo). Can a healthy Kyler Murray rise to the occasion as he did in 2021? Will Josh Allen have Bills Mafia forget the moribund offseason their club experienced?

The NFL odds are putting their faith in the Bills to start 2024 on the right foot, pegging them as -6.5 favourites. The over-under is 48.

NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis

Although the Cardinals and Bills butt helmets infrequently given that they contend in different conferences, their last meeting was one to remember. It was 2020, the pandemic-handicapped campaign when an upstart Bills team saw Kyler Murray toss a 43-yard bomb into the endzone with two seconds left. It was miraculously corralled by Deandre Hopkins, resulting in a sensational 32-30 Arizona win.

That gave the Cardinals their first win against the Bills since 2008. Overall, the intraconference foes have split their last four games. Week 1 marks the first time since 2016 the teams contend in upstate New York.

In 2023 Arizona did rather well against the spread despite not even being close to playoff contention. They finished 9-7-1. Something to consider is that all nine of their covers came as the underdog, some without the services of QB Murray.

As for Buffalo, they had the reverse record at 7-9-1. They had started brightly, covering thrice in a row from September to early October for a 3-1 tally, but the wheels came off once a chill settled in the air. Buffalo also wasn’t especially good at handling the spread at home, only going 3-5 last season.

Arizona Cardinals

It feels completely justified to argue that the Cardinals get to start anew again. “Again” because even though Jonathan Gannon got the head coaching job last season, Kyler Murray missed 9 contests.

The franchise also made a big move in drafting WR Marvin Harrison Jr. this past April. He’s the son of the legendary Colts receiver Marvin Harrison from the Peyton Manning days. Lining up alongside him is Michael Wilson who is entering his sophomore campaign. Then there is TE Trey McBride, drafted by the Cardinals in 2022. In essence, this entire group has the chance to really work together with consistency for the first time. The word on the street is that if this ensemble stays healthy – which has been a challenge for Murray- there is no reason to believe the offence won’t soar in 2024.

The defence? That’s another story. In 2023 they were dead last by allowing 143 yards on the ground per match. They were second last in coughing up 26.8 points per contest. Players like Dante Stills, Mack Wilson Sr., and Kyzir White have a lot of work to do to clog a leaky line.

Buffalo Bills

In contrast to fans in the desert who have a few reasons to be moderately optimistic about the looming season, those in Buffalo have questions. Questions they want answered.

Gabe Davis is done. Stefon Diggs is gone. Micah Hyde is gone. Jordan Poyer is gone. What’s more, the last time we saw the Bills, they were playing another home Divisional Round playoff game that ended in defeat. Is this year’s edition of the Bills better than last year’s? If so, it needs to go out and prove it. WR Khalil Shakir is expected to be an important target for Josh Allen, as will be rookie Keon Coleman and TE Dalton Kincaid. Given the uncertainty in the passing game, RB James Cook would do well to replicate his 1,000+ season from a year ago.

Buffalo’s defence is already hampered, with CB Taron Johnson, FS Damar Hamlin, and SLB Nicholas Morrow all listed as questionable.

Who Will Win Cardinals vs. Bills?

• Regular Season

Cardinals Team Leaders

ARI

Touchdowns	James Conner 1
Rushing	Kyler Murray 57
Passing	Kyler Murray 162
Receiving	Greg Dortch 6
Sacks	Kei'Trel Clark 1
Interceptions	Isaiah Adams 0

BUF

Touchdowns	Mack Hollins 1
Rushing	James Cook 71
Passing	Josh Allen 232
Receiving	Keon Coleman 4
Sacks	Greg Rousseau 3
Interceptions	Josh Allen 0

• Regular Season

Bills Team Leaders

ARI

Touchdowns	James Conner 1
Rushing	Kyler Murray 57
Passing	Kyler Murray 162
Receiving	Greg Dortch 6
Sacks	Kei'Trel Clark 1
Interceptions	Isaiah Adams 0

BUF

Touchdowns	Mack Hollins 1
Rushing	James Cook 71
Passing	Josh Allen 232
Receiving	Keon Coleman 4
Sacks	Greg Rousseau 3
Interceptions	Josh Allen 0

Weather

temp	61
condition	partly-cloudy
wind	West 20mph

Injuries

Arizona

Max Melton (CB)

Ques Sun Concussion - 09 / 09 / 24

Jonah Williams (OL)

Out indefinitely Knee - 09 / 09 / 24

Joey Blount (S)

Ques Sun Back - 06 / 09 / 24

Xavier Weaver (WR)

Ques Sun Oblique - 02 / 09 / 24

Christian Jones (OL)

Early Oct Ankle - 30 / 08 / 24

Tip Reiman (TE)

Ques Sun Undisclosed - 30 / 08 / 24

Darren Hall (S)

Ques Sun Hip - 27 / 08 / 24

Elijah Jones (CB)

Early Oct Ankle - 27 / 08 / 24

Tony Jones Jr. (RB)

Early Oct Shoulder - 27 / 08 / 24

Darius Robinson (DL)

Ques Sun Calf - 27 / 08 / 24

Buffalo

Javon Solomon (DE)

Que Thur Oblique - 11 / 09 / 24

Josh Allen (QB)

Prob Thurs Hand - 09 / 09 / 24

Tommy Doyle (OT)

Out indefinitely Knee - 09 / 09 / 24

Ty Johnson (RB)

Ques Thurs Knee - 08 / 09 / 24

Dawuane Smoot (DE)

Out Thurs Toe - 06 / 09 / 24

Cole Bishop (S)

Que Thur Shoulder - 27 / 08 / 24

Will Clapp (G)

Ques Sept 8 Concussion - 27 / 08 / 24

Travis Clayton (OT)

Out indefinitely Shoulder - 27 / 08 / 24

Mike Edwards (S)

Ques Sept 8 Hamstring - 27 / 08 / 24

Darrynton Evans (RB)

Mid Oct Hamstring - 27 / 08 / 24

Injuries

Arizona

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Max Melton (CB)	Ques Sun	Concussion - 09 / 09 / 24	0-1	1-2	+ -
Melton is hobbled by concussion, and it has yet to be determined if he will suit up on Sunday versus the Rams.
Jonah Williams (OL)	Out indefinitely	Knee - 09 / 09 / 24	0-1	1-2	+ -
Williams has been placed on the injured reserve with a knee injury, and his return is unknown.
Joey Blount (S)	Ques Sun	Back - 06 / 09 / 24	0-1	1-2	+ -
Blount is battling with back injury, and it is unclear if he will suit up Sunday against the Rams.
Xavier Weaver (WR)	Ques Sun	Oblique - 02 / 09 / 24	0-1	1-2	+ -
Weaver is battling with an Oblique injury, and it is uncertain if he will suit up Sunday against the Rams.
Christian Jones (OL)	Early Oct	Ankle - 30 / 08 / 24	0-1	1-2	+ -
Jones is dealing with a ankle injury, and he will miss at least the first four games of the season.
Tip Reiman (TE)	Ques Sun	Undisclosed - 30 / 08 / 24	0-1	1-2	+ -
Reiman is dealing with an undisclosed injury, and it is unknown if he will suit up Sunday against the Rams.
Darren Hall (S)	Ques Sun	Hip - 27 / 08 / 24	0-1	1-2	+ -
Hall is nursing a hip injury, and it is undetermined if he will suit up Sunday against the Rams.
Elijah Jones (CB)	Early Oct	Ankle - 27 / 08 / 24	0-1	1-2	+ -
Jones is hobbled by an ankle injury, and he will miss at least the first four games of the season.
Tony Jones Jr. (RB)	Early Oct	Shoulder - 27 / 08 / 24	0-1	1-2	+ -
Jones Jr is hampered by a shoulder injury, and he will miss at least the first four games of the season.
Darius Robinson (DL)	Ques Sun	Calf - 27 / 08 / 24	0-1	1-2	+ -
Robinson is dealing with a calf injury, and it is uncertain if he will suit up Sunday against the Rams.

Buffalo

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Javon Solomon (DE)	Que Thur	Oblique - 11 / 09 / 24	1-0	0-1	+ -
Solomon is dealing with an oblique injury, and it is unclear if he will play against the Dolphins on Thursday.
Josh Allen (QB)	Prob Thurs	Hand - 09 / 09 / 24	1-0	0-1	+ -
Allen left the last game with a left hand injury, but is expected to face the Dolphins on Thursday.
Tommy Doyle (OT)	Out indefinitely	Knee - 09 / 09 / 24	1-0	0-1	+ -
Doyle is nursing a knee injury, and it has yet to be determined if he will return to action.
Ty Johnson (RB)	Ques Thurs	Knee - 08 / 09 / 24	1-0	0-1	+ -
Johnson exited Sunday's game against the Cardinals due to a knee injury, and his status against the Dolphins on Thursday is uncertain.
Dawuane Smoot (DE)	Out Thurs	Toe - 06 / 09 / 24	1-0	0-1	+ -
Smoot is out of action due to a toe injury, and he will not play against the Dolphins on Thursday
Cole Bishop (S)	Que Thur	Shoulder - 27 / 08 / 24	1-0	0-1	+ -
Bishop is laid up with shoulder injury, and it is uncertain if he will play against the Dolphins on Thursday.
Will Clapp (G)	Ques Sept 8	Concussion - 27 / 08 / 24	1-0	0-1	+ -
Clapp is out of action due to a concussion, and it is unclear if he will suit up to face the Cardinals on September 8th.
Travis Clayton (OT)	Out indefinitely	Shoulder - 27 / 08 / 24	1-0	0-1	+ -
Clayton is hampered by a shoulder injury, and it has yet to be determined if he will return to action.
Mike Edwards (S)	Ques Sept 8	Hamstring - 27 / 08 / 24	1-0	0-1	+ -
Edwards is battling a hamstring injury, and it is unknown if he will dress against the Cardinals on September 8th.
Darrynton Evans (RB)	Mid Oct	Hamstring - 27 / 08 / 24	1-0	0-1	+ -
Evans is bothered by a hamstring injury, and he is expected to be sidelined until mid October.