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Buffalo Bills: 5 keys to upsetting the Minnesota Vikings

By Shaun Brennan

ORCHARD PARK, NY - SEPTEMBER 15: A Buffalo Bills helmet sits on the bench before the game against the New York Jets at New Era Field on September 15, 2016 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NY - SEPTEMBER 15: A Buffalo Bills helmet sits on the bench before the game against the New York Jets at New Era Field on September 15, 2016 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /

1. Establish a running game

Two weeks into the 2018 NFL season and the Bills have yet to establish any kind of running game. They currently rank 25th in the NFL, averaging 83.5 yards per game on the ground.

Of the 167 rushing yards the Bills have gained this season, 58 of those yards belong to quarterback Josh Allen. That means in two games the Bills have gained 109 yards from their running backs, a staggeringly bad 54.5 yards per game. For a team that desperately needs to run the ball to remove some of the stress on their rookie quarterback, that is simply unacceptable.

If you have seen any of the All-22 footage you will have seen horrendous run blocking by the Bills offensive line that has failed to create many running lanes for the Bills running backs. In terms of offensive line play the line’s pass blocking has not been that horrible, but it’s run blocking has been disgraceful and is the main reason why the Bills have struggled to run the ball early in 2018.

On Sunday it is imperative that the Bills find a way to run the football. This will help take some of the pressure off of Josh Allen, help establish the play-action pass and downfield passing lanes, and allow the defense to rest all while the clock runs.

The problem that the Bills will face (other than their own run blocking woes) is that the Vikings currently have the 13th ranked run defense in terms of yards allowed per game at 94.0. However, the Vikings have not faced a running back as talented as LeSean McCoy either.

The added element of the mobile Josh Allen should also throw a wrinkle to the run game that the Vikings have not faced so far in 2018. In Week 1 they faced immobile Jimmy Garoppolo and in Week 2 they faced a hobbled Aaron Rodgers. If the Bills run blocking can get its act together one could easily argue that the Bills run offense is the best that the Vikings have faced this season.

Establishing the run game is paramount to upsetting the Vikings on Sunday. Without a good running game the Bills will find the task of pulling off the upset nearly impossible.

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