Win The Turnover Battle
Buffalo finished the regular season as one of the league’s best defenses when it came to taking the ball away.
The Bills’ 25 takeaways ranked in a tie for ninth while their 18 interceptions were good for sixth.
Buffalo Bills
Taking into account the Bills’ middle-of-the-pack points total – 22nd with 302 – the live and die by the turnover. Buffalo is 8-2 when winning the turnover battle this season.
While Blake Bortles has thrown a career-low 13 interceptions this season, he still was fifth highest.
Not to mention, after some stellar play, Bortles has struggled mightily of late, and even without facing a pass rush. He has had a passer rating of 76.9 when the pocket has been kept clean the last two weeks, according to PFF. That ranks 31st out of 38 qualified quarterbacks.
In fact, Bortles has thrown five interceptions in his last two games – facing the San Francisco 49ers and Tennessee Titans.
While Tennessee ranks toward the top of the league in sacks. The 49ers do not. They rank near the Bills. San Francisco has 30 sacks and Buffalo has 27.
Not to mention, Buffalo’s secondary is one of the best in the league when it comes to causing turnovers.
Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer each rank fifth in the league with five interceptions while Tre’Davious White ranks 12th in interceptions with four and leads the league in fourth-quarter forced turnovers with five.
Tre'Davious White finished the regular season leading the @NFL with five forced turnovers in the fourth quarter. #DROY pic.twitter.com/LtHWpZxvML
— Buffalo Bills PR (@BuffaloBillsPR) January 2, 2018
Buffalo has the ability to capitalize on Bortles mistakes.