Buffalo Bills at Philadelphia Eagles: Three Keys to the Game
By DJ Eberle
It’s another week and another big game for the Buffalo Bills.
As the push to the playoffs continues, the Bills begin their three-game tour of the NFC East with a trip to Philadelphia.
It’s a reunion game for LeSean McCoy, and reunion games have been good for the Bills this season. Buffalo is 3-0 in reunion games this year, beating the New York Jets once and the Miami Dolphins twice. Now Buffalo will look to go 4-0.
Here’s this week’s Three Keys to the Game for the matchup with the Eagles, which kicks off Sunday at 1 p.m. from Lincoln Financial Field:
1) Feed LeSean McCoy.
LeSean McCoy is a dynamic running back and playmaker each and every week. And then there’s Sunday.
Coming back home to Philadelphia to face Chip Kelly and the Eagles will be an emotional one for McCoy, but considering how he left the team chances are good he’ll be playing with a chip on his should. No pun intended.
Don’t be surprised if McCoy has his best game as a pro. With Karlos Williams out once again Buffalo will feed him early and often.
2) Attack the Philadelphia secondary.
The Eagles’ secondary is easily the weakest link on the roster, and Buffalo has to take advantage of it.
Tyrod Taylor and Sammy Watkins finally seem to have some chemistry together, and after back-to-back big games, expect the good times to keep rolling.
The Eagles are going to send out the 24th-best passing defense and a unit that gave up 312 yards and three touchdowns to a New England Patriots offense that was missing its best weapons.
The Bills have the talent to take advantage of the weakness, and should be able to do it.
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3) Get the Eagles into third-and-long.
The Eagles’ offense is a unit that needs to sustain its drives in order for its no huddle to truly take an effect.
It’s an offense that doesn’t work well out of third-and-longs, so if Buffalo can play good defense on first and second down they’ll be in good shape.
The key is to keep the Eagles out of sync and they won’t be able to put many points on the board.
Prediction: Bills win 31-17
LeSean McCoy and the Bills will keep their playoff hopes alive Sunday with a satisfying win. This is another game where the Bills can make some strides on offense, and as long as the defense can keep Philadelphia out of sync they’ll be in good shape. Don’t be surprised if McCoy rushes for over 200 yards.