Oct 13, 2013; Foxborough, MA, USA; New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton during the second half of a game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
Each week we go behind enemy lines and get a little bit of info from the editor of the fansided site that the Buffalo Bills are playing. This week is no different as we head to the Big Easy, New Orleans as the Bills get set to take on the Saints.
Chris Roling, editor for Who Dat Dish was nice enough to answer some questions for us. This is what Chris had to say…
1. Bills fans know about Brees, Graham, and Colston. So far this year, who should the Bills fans watch out for that may not be as well known?
"There are a couple of guys to watch on offense. One is veteran Ben Watson, who may be playing in place of Jimmy Graham. He’s no Graham, but Watson did catch three passes for over 60 yards against New England two weeks ago when Graham suffered the injury. There’s also rookie receiver Kenny Stills, who has been nothing short of explosive out of the slot and is essentially another Lance Moore."
2. We are almost halfway through the season, are there any player disappointments that have not lived up to their potential?
"Easily the running backs not named Darren Sproles. Mark Ingram has been hurt, but when healthy he’s been miserable to the point of trade rumors. The usually reliable Pierre Thomas has been majorly disappointing as well."
3. There are a number of Saints and Bills connections that have happened throughout the years. One of them being Marrone serving under Payton as offensive coordinator. What are the Saints thoughts on Marrone?
"Nothing but love. Marrone was one of Sean Payton’s first hires in 2006 and helped him deal with the issues of Hurricane Katrina. Obviously the organization has a lot of respect for him as a person, but as a coach too given what he’s done so far in Buffalo and how he’s handled Thad Lewis."
4. What are three keys that the Bills need to do to upset the Saints and come out with a win?
"1. Run the ball well — New Orleans has a great pass rush this year but the run defense has been spotty. It’ll also open thing up for Thad Lewis in the passing game — the secondary has struggled at times in protecting against the big play. 2. Pressure Brees consistently — It sounds simple, but Brees gets the ball out quickly and negates great pass rushes. Mario Williams and Co. will need to hit him early and often to get in his head and impact the game. 3. Don’t falter in the Dome — It’s not an easy task to go to New Orleans, which is one of the loudest stadiums in the NFL. The Bills are a young team led by an inexperienced quarterback — not a bad thing by any means, but the ability to maintain composure will have a huge impact on the outcome."
5. What are your predictions for the game this week?
"These are two teams in different spots right now. Buffalo is a young team on the rise without its star quarterback and has yet to hit its stride. The Saints are in full swing and ready to compete for a Super Bowl. At home, the defense is going to force a lot of Buffalo mistakes and the Saints offense will do its usual thing on the way to a victory."