Bills Present Challenge for Packers

GREEN BAY, Wisc. -- Typically, it's the third preseason game when you see starters get the most playing time. Since the Buffalo Bills are playing five games instead of four, they only expect to use their starters into the second quarter at Lambeau FIeld.

The Packers should use their top players for around 20-25 snaps Saturday night at Lambeau Field. That should even out fairly well. When the Bills have the ball, the Packers will face something they aren't used to seeing.

The Bills will present a unique challenge for the Packers and their new 3-4 defense. Facing a team that struggled to communicate well last season, the Bills will run a no-huddle offense. The last time Green Bay faced a no-huddle team was last season, and they smothered Peyton Manning and the Colts to the tune of a 34-14 whitewashing. However, it was a rare solid performance for the Packers on defense, and that's a big reason why Dom Capers was brought in.

In just their second game, they now have to deal with the nuances of a no-huddle attack, which tests a defense's communication, chemistry, and understanding of its own schemes.

Even without Terrell Owens in the lineup, the Bills have a chance to do some good things on offense. There is still no word on what Packers starters will play on defense. Indications during the week were that both defensive linemen Johnny Jolly and B.J. Raji would play, but nothing was said about the schedules of cornerbacks Al Harris and Charles Woodson, who were healthy scratches (so to speak) last week.

Trent Edwards seems to have grasped the new offensive wrinkles quite well. The second-year starter has looked sharp in the no-huddle so far, hitting all ten passes he threw last week against the Bears.

The Bills also look forward to the kind of test the Packers can give their defensive starters. Green Bay's offense scored touchdowns on both drives against the Browns, but quarterback Aaron Rodgers could have been a bit sharper. He missed badly on a couple of his throws, but was able to recover to make some big plays for touchdowns or first downs. It gave him something to work on through the rest of the preseason.

Since Buffalo plays in the same division as Tom Brady and the Patriots, it's good for their pass defense to get tested heavily in the preseason. No offense intended to the Titans or Bears, but neither of those teams present the weapons through the air that Green Bay does.

Notes

The Packers have to solve their punting situation. Durant Brooks and Jeremy Kapinos are probably still too close to call a winner. Kapinos appears to be more consistent, but Brooks is more prone to the boomer punt. Unless Brooks can become more consistent, smart money is on the left-footed Kapinos winning the job.

After signing his deal Friday, Bills first-round pick Aaron Maybin did not make the trip to Green Bay and will not play.

Green Bay head coach Mike McCarthy was non-committal about the playing status of first-round pick Raji, but it sounds like he will rotate in with the first team at some point. If he is in good shape, he could see more time with the backups.