The Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs will square off against each other in such a toe-to-toe matchup that every single edge matters.
Even who's punting the football for you and boy, did the Bills receive some good news on special teams on Saturday. The team is releasing punter Matt Haack from the practice squad, who was recently signed to the team as an insurance policy to Sam Martin's injury.
That roster move is telling: It's all pointing toward Martin to be ready to go on Sunday versus the Chiefs. The Bills' starting punter suffered a hamstring injury on Monday versus the Pittsburgh Steelers and was listed as questionable on the final injury report.
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Martin is still hurting but he's clearly been given the green light ahead of this week's showdown versus the Chiefs.
Make no mistake about it, this is no small development. Although many fans take advantage of fourth downs to make a quick trip to the bathroom or to the refrigerator, Martin is an important weapon for the Bills.
The Bills are third in the NFL in percentage of punts nailed inside the opponent's 20-yard line. The Chiefs are 22nd.
In what's expected to be a tight and relatively low-scoring game (for these two team's standards, at least), no edge should be overlooked.
Sam Martin being available won't win the Bills the game but it sure helps. Especially considering how hurt the team is entering this game: CB Christian Benford, WR Gabe Davis, S Taylor Rapp, and LB Baylon Spector have been declared out. Meanwhile, CB Taron Johnson, LB Terrel Bernard, CB Rasul Douglas are questionable.
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