GameScope NFL research

BUF at DEN uncertain forecast

Fri, Dec 25 at 4:30 PM ET · Empower Field at Mile High

Most likely outcome
DEN wins — 61.1%
BUF win
38.9%
DEN win
61.1%

Expected score: BUF 20.4 – DEN 25.8

Total anchored to the league-wide baseline of 46.2 points — a shared baseline, not a matchup-specific forecast.

Home-field adjustment included (+65 Elo rating points)

Fair odds (display only): BUF 2.57 · DEN 1.64

How this forecast is calculated

Team ratings (Elo): BUF 1590.2 vs DEN 1603.8. 393 games trained (Oct 30).

Model: nfl-elo-v2 — Elo ratings trained on real ESPN results (2025 regular+postseason and 2026 regular season to date), chronological replay, K=20, home advantage = 65 Elo rating points, applied only at true home venues: games the feed flags neutral-site get no home bonus, in training and in prediction. Totals baseline is the mean total points of the training games (measured, not assumed). Score-model spread/total probabilities use the engine's bivariate-normal assumptions (score std 13.5, correlation 0.3) — documented approximations, not measured NFL parameters. No backtest against closing lines exists; treat all outputs as experimental uncertain forecasts.

What the win probability uses: Elo ratings only, plus a home-field adjustment of 65 Elo rating points at true home venues (no adjustment at feed-flagged neutral sites).

Contextual research (displayed, not in the calculation): Contextual research only — form, rest, injuries, head-to-head, weather, and travel do not change the win probability above.

Totals: Expected scores are centered on a shared league-wide totals baseline of 46.2 points (the mean total of the training games) — a baseline, not a matchup-specific forecast.

Score-distribution assumptions: Spread/total probabilities assume team scores are bivariate normal (score std 13.5, correlation 0.3) — documented approximations, not measured NFL parameters.

Validation status: No backtest against closing lines exists. Treat all outputs as experimental uncertain forecasts.

Data used

Form & rest contextual research

BUF (5-1) — 68 days rest

Last 5: 4-1 (2 straight wins)

Oct 18, 2026LVW33-30
Oct 12, 2026LARW37-34
Oct 4, 2026NEL26-29
Sep 27, 2026LACW24-16
Sep 17, 2026DETW41-31

DEN (5-2) — 61 days rest

Last 5: 4-1 (3 straight wins)

Oct 25, 2026ARIW30-16
Oct 15, 2026SEAW17-14
Oct 11, 2026LACW23-17
Oct 4, 2026SFL14-24
Sep 27, 2026LARW30-26

Head-to-head contextual research DEN 0 - BUF 0

Coverage: 2024-2026 regular+postseason schedules (ESPN)

DateScoreWinner
No meetings in coverage period

Injuries contextual research

Week 8 report — availability for Week 16 unknown. These designations were published for Week 8's games. They are the latest available report, kept as dated context; they do not say who will be available in Week 16.

BUF

Dalton KincaidQuestionableKincaid (chest) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.
DJ MooreQuestionableMoore (shoulder) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.
Joe AndreessenQuestionablequestionable
Ray DavisQuestionableDavis didn't participate in Thursday's practice due to an illness, Matt Parrino of The Syracuse Post-Standard reports.
Tyrell ShaversOutThe Bills designated Shavers (knee) to return from the reserve/PUP list Wednesday, but he will not play against the Ravens on Sunday, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports.
TJ ParkerQuestionablequestionable
Bradley ChubbQuestionablequestionable
Dee AlfordQuestionablequestionable
Spencer BrownQuestionablequestionable
Show all 25 (16 more)
C.J. Gardner-JohnsonSuspensionreserve-sus
Ed OliverActiveOliver (knee) was a full participant at the Bills' practice Thursday.
T.J. SandersActive
Sam Franklin Jr.ActiveThe NFL reduced Franklin's discipline from a one-game suspension to a fine of $14,926, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Dorian WilliamsActiveWilliams logged five tackles (three solo) and one pass defensed for an interception in the Bills' 33-30 win over the Raiders on Sunday.
Davison IgbinosunActiveDefensive coordinator Jim Leonhard praised Igbinosun's play earlier this week and plans to keep giving the rookie a good amount of playing time, Alec White of the Bills' official site reports. Said Leonard, "I think what he's done the last couple weeks, he's definitely earned a high majority of the snaps at the corner position. I know what I'm getting, play in and play out."
Dawson KnoxActiveKnox caught his only target for no gain during Sunday's 33-30 win at Las Vegas.
Tyler BassActiveBass converted all four of his field-goal attempts and all three of his extra-point tries during Buffalo's win over the Raiders on Sunday.
Ty JohnsonActiveJohnson logged a three-yard carry and caught both of his targets for 24 yards during the Bills' 33-30 win over the Raiders on Sunday.
Joshua PalmerActivePalmer caught one of two targets for 37 yards during Buffalo's 33-30 win over Las Vegas on Sunday.
Mike DannaActive
Jude BowryActive
Ar'maj Reed-AdamsActive
Keon ColemanActiveColeman brought in four of six targets for 59 yards and a touchdown in the Bills' 33-30 win over the Raiders on Sunday.
Khalil ShakirActiveShakir brought in four of six targets for 34 yards and a touchdown in the Bills' 33-30 win over the Raiders on Sunday.
Josh AllenActiveAllen completed 23 of 33 passes for 255 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions and rushed five times for one yard in the Bills' 33-30 win over the Raiders on Sunday.

DEN

Talanoa HufangaQuestionableHufanga (ankle) did not participate at the Broncos' practice Thursday, Aric DiLalla of the team's official website reports.
Zach AllenQuestionableAllen (hamstring) was a limited participant at the Broncos' practice Thursday, Aric DiLalla of the team's official website reports.
Jaylen WaddleQuestionableWaddle (chest) practiced in a limited capacity Thursday, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.
RJ HarveyQuestionableHarvey (knee) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.
Brandon JonesQuestionablequestionable
Garett BollesQuestionablequestionable
Tyler BadieInjured ReserveThe Broncos placed Badie (thumb) on injured reserve Saturday, Aric DiLalla of the team's official site reports.
Jonah EllissInjured ReserveThe Broncos placed Elliss (ankle) on injured reserve Saturday, Aric DiLalla of the team's official site reports.
Show all 25 (17 more)
Marvin Mims Jr.ActiveMims (ankle) practiced fully Thursday,Zac Stevens of TheDNVR.com reports.
Pat Surtain IIActiveSurtain (ankle) was a full practice participant Wednesday, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.
Alex SingletonActiveSingleton recorded 19 tackles (12 solo) including 1.0 sacks during Sunday's 30-16 win at Arizona.
Evan EngramActiveEngram caught one of three targets for two yards during Sunday's 30-16 win over the Cardinals.
Troy FranklinActiveFranklin failed to bring in either of his two targets in the Broncos' 30-16 win over the Cardinals on Sunday.
Kage CaseyActive
Tyler OnyedimActive
Jordan JacksonActive
Dallen BentleyActive
Courtland SuttonActiveSutton caught three of five targets for 45 yards during Sunday's 30-16 win over Arizona.
Jonah ColemanActiveColeman (ankle) rushed nine times for 54 yards and caught both of his targets for 15 yards in Sunday's 30-16 win over the Cardinals.
J.K. DobbinsActiveDobbins rushed six times for 23 yards and a touchdown and wasn't targeted in Sunday's 30-16 win over the Cardinals.
Bo NixActiveNix completed 15 of 29 passes for 222 yards and a touchdown while rushing seven times for 73 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 30-16 win over the Cardinals.
Wil LutzActiveLutz went 3-for-3 on field-goal tries and made all three of his PATs during Sunday's 30-16 win over Arizona.
Sam EhlingerActiveEhlinger (coach's decision) is inactive but will serve as the emergency third quarterback in Sunday's game against the Cardinals, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.
Jonathon CooperActiveCooper had his roster exemption removed by the Broncos on Saturday and is available for Sunday's road game against the Cardinals, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.
Kris Abrams-DraineActiveAbrams-Draine recorded six tackles (four solo), three pass breakups, including an interception, and one forced fumble in Thursday night's 17-14 overtime win over the Seahawks.

Labels: Out = confirmed unavailable; Doubtful = projected unavailable; Questionable = projected uncertain.

Weather & travel contextual research

44.4°F, wind 1.6 mph, precip — mm (next 1h),
Forecast for Sun, Nov 8 at 7:00 PM ET (updated Oct 30). Weather data: MET Norway (api.met.no), CC BY 4.0 / NLOD 2.0

Travel (BUF): ~1,373 miles, 2h time-zone shift west

Research only — not betting advice. All probabilities are uncertain forecasts from a simple model, never guarantees or 'locks'. GameScope places no wagers.
Scores/records/injuries: ESPN unofficial API (live). Weather: MET Norway.