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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) /

5. Create turnovers

It is a simple but true statement, but if the Bills are able to create some turnovers and create extra possessions for themselves on Sunday then they will be in great shape to pull off the upset.

In the 2017 upset of the Falcons the Bills won the turnover battle 3-0 and won the game despite being out gained offensively by 100 yards. A similar turnover margin on Sunday would do wonders for the Bills chances to win.

While Kirk Cousins is a good quarterback, he is certainly not allergic to turnovers and creating turnover opportunities. In both the 2017 and 2016 seasons combined Cousins threw 25 interceptions and lost eight fumbles. That is a total of 33 turnovers or just over one turnover per game.

Additionally, Cousins fumbled 14 more times where his team was lucky enough to recover the football. If you add the other fumbles to the turnovers you get a turnover amount of around 1.5 turnovers per game for Cousins. Simply put: There should be opportunities for the Bills to create and recover turnovers on Sunday.

To do this they will need to generate a good pass rush and force Cousins into bad throws and/or strip-sack fumbles. If the Bills defense that we saw in the second half against the Chargers shows up on Sunday then Cousins may be ripe for the taking.

Winning the turnover margin and creating turnovers on Sunday may be the what ultimately decides if the Bills can shock the NFL and get the upset on Sunday. It certainly won’t hurt their chances.

While the Bills are certainly underdogs for good reason on Sunday it is not nearly the impossible task that some are making it out to be. I do not think the Bills are as bad as they looked in Baltimore and in the first half last Sunday, and I do think that they are more like the team we saw in the second half on Sunday. If that is indeed the case then I do believe the Bills have a chance at the upset victory and in turn can re-energize a fan base that is pretty depressed at the moment.

Next. 10 best seasons in franchise history. dark

Can they do it? Any given Sunday…

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